Leisure Sports: A Fun Alternative to Intramurals
Why Leisure Sports?
Fortunately, not all sports require intense physical conditioning, abs of steel, and a full-ride scholarship. There are, and have always been, sports for the rest of us: they're called leisure sports. Think bowling, billiards, bocce ball, shuffle board, darts, ping-pong, and horseshoes. While some campuses still have billiard halls and ping-pong tables, they are increasingly losing appeal among college students. And with the recent explosion of the Nintendo Wii, who would want to pitch horseshoes when you can swing a controller right in your dorm room? Talk about sports at leisure!
A new generation of less-refined, though no less fun, leisure sports has emerged. Think Ladder Golf, Cornhole, and Washers. While their roots may be redneck, they provide even the most civilized among us a healthy dose of fun. Ladder Golf involves hooking two balls attached to the same rope onto a three-rung ladder. Cornhole (sometimes called Bean Bag Toss) requires eight bean bags and two angled boards with a hole cut near the center. Points are scored for landing the bags on the board or in the hole. Washers requires a handful of 2.5" washers and two tin cups. Points are scored by landing the washers in or near the cup.
Advantages
More than a change of pace from the rigors of studying, leisure sports provide excellent opportunities to meet new people, compete in a non-threatening environment, and actually master something. There are several advantages to introducing these fast-growing leisure sports on campus:
They're cheap! Since the budget of most college freshman is lamentable, leisure sports are ideal because they're free. Even materials to get started cost next to nothing, and can often be cobbled together without too much trouble.
Anyone can play. No real skills are required to play, just the will to have a good time with a group of friends. Since most of us didn't grow up playing these games, the playing field is relatively even. Anyone can play, and anyone can excel. Games can be kept as fun or competitive as you like.
Play anywhere. These leisure sports are extremely convenient because they can be played practically anywhere, which helps if nobody has a car.
Where Do I Start?
Game rules and a list of materials are easy to find online. Start there. Once you've gotten the supplies together, organize a tournament, or form a club. Since leisure sports can be played while enjoying a picnic, bring food. The most important thing is to get outside and have fun.
Daniel Todd is a freelance writer and editor living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a frequent contributor to CityBeat, Cincinnati's arts and entertainment weekly, and is senior editor for the poetry review Smartish Pace.
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