Hobbies And Interests
Cornhole
Cornhole is a competitive bean bag game that requires more accuracy than physical strength and can be played by single competitors or in teams of two. Cornhole tournaments are a popular fundraiser event in the southern U.S. Gameplay involves contestants tossing bean- or corn-filled bags at an angled platform with a single scoring hole, until a score of 21 points is reached. Game equipment is two angled platforms placed the front edges 27 feet apart and eight bean bags, four in each of two colors. Pitchers stand at either the side of the platforms and pitch bean bags in turn at the hole in the opposite platform. During the pitch, players may not step beyond the front edge of the platform. Children, seniors, and anyone with physical limitations may pitch from behind a position 21 feet from the hole in the platform if all participants agree.
After all eight bags have been thrown, any bag that went in the hole, including those knocked in by another pitch, is worth 3 points. Any bag remaining on the board is worth one point. Bean bag uses cancellation scoring, meaning that your opponent's score can cancel out all or part of yours. Add your score and compare it with your opponent's. If you score 3 points and your opponent scores 3 points, no score is tallied. If you score 4 points and your opponent scored 3 points, 1 point is added to your score and you win the round. The first team to reach 21 points wins. If a bean bag touches an obstacle, a spectator or the ground before landing on the board, it is considered a foul and removed from play.
Hot Potato
Hot Potato is a fast-paced party game usually played by children. Players gather in a circle and toss a bean bag around the circle while music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the "hot potato" is out. Play continues until only one player is left standing.
Preschool Bean Bag Toss
Bean bags help develop motor and cognitive skills in preschool children while while playing a game. Gather or make bean bags in various primary colors, enough for each player to have one bag in each color. Set out 3 big plastic storage containers in a row with signs attached to the front. For very young children, put colors or shapes on the signs. For older children, use letters, numbers, or even small words. Tape a play line far enough from the containers to be a challenge, but not farther than the children are capable of tossing the bean bags.
To begin play, an adult or older child announces a bean bag color and a bucket designation, for example "red five." The children must toss the red bean bag into the bin marked 5. Have a stack of signs ready to change the sign on the bin after it is called or after 3 bags are tossed. Score one point for the first bag in the bin or make up your own scoring rules. Scoring is optional. Applause is often the best score for toddlers.