Hobbies And Interests
Relay Races
Relay races work well as individual games or as part of a larger family or office Olympics or field day. Try classic relay races such as the potato sack race or the three-legged race, or get creative with sillier races such as the balloon sandwich. In this relay race, players must pair up and race to the finish line with a filled water balloon between their backs. If the balloon pops or falls to the ground, the pair must return to the starting line and begin again with a new water balloon between their backs. For another wet and wild relay race, try the sponge race, in which players on each team take turns racing to soak their team's sponge in a water-filled bucket before returning to the starting line to empty the water in their team's bucket. The first team to fill their bucket with water wins.
Hula Hoop Pass
Children and adults alike will enjoy this deceptively challenging game. Players stand in a circle facing each other and join hands. Break the circle for a moment to place a hula hoop over one player's arm, and then instruct the group to pass the hula hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other's hands.
Towel Volleyball
Divide the group into teams of three or more players, and give each team a large beach towel or blanket. Players collaborate to hold the towel outstretched. Teams then begin launching volleyballs, beanbags or filled water balloons at their opponents. Teams must work together to maneuver the outstretched towel to catch as many balls or balloons as possible. The first team to drop a ball or balloon launched in its direction is out of the game. The last team standing at the end wins.
Color Guard
Fill a bucket with two or three times as many water balloons as you have players. Use water balloons in a variety of different colors. Select one person to play the role of "color guard." That person closes her eyes while the remaining players each take a water balloon from the bucket. These players hold their water balloons behind their backs so that the color guard can't see them when she opens her eyes. The color guard then yells out a color, and any player with water balloons of that color must attempt to get the balloon back into the bucket before being tagged by the color guard. Players can throw their balloons to the bucket, but if the balloon pops, that player is out. If a player successfully gets her balloon into the bucket, he must take one of a new color. Play until only one player remains who has not been tagged.