Outdoor Ball Games for This Summer

The Great British Summer is here again, promising another year full of fun and (hopefully) sunshine. While the weather might be unpredictable, the fun is a sure thing! At SkateHut, we have some exciting new outdoor ball games perfect for the garden, along with some timeless classics. Getting the family outdoors to stay active and entertained will be easy this year, so charge up those game controllers, disconnect the wi-fi, log off Netflix, and take a look at our selection of outdoor toys for Summer 2024!

Outdoor Ball Games

It's incredible how much joy you can derive from a collection of round objects, and Petanque is just that. This classic ball game is ideal not only for your garden but also for parks and even vacations because you can take it anywhere! Here's how you play... along with a quick lesson in a few French terms:

1. Setup:You need a flat, open area with gravel or sand (referred to as a piste or terrain) and a set of metal balls (boules). Generally, the game involves two teams, each consisting of one to three players.

2. Tossing the Cochonnet:The game begins with one player tossing the cochonnet (a small wooden ball, also known as a jack or pallino) onto the playing area. This becomes the target for the game.

3. Taking Turns:Players take turns throwing their boules, aiming to get them as close to the cochonnet as possible. The team that threw the cochonnet goes first with their boules, followed by the opposing team.

4. Scoring:Once all the boules are thrown, the team with the boule nearest the cochonnet scores points. They receive one point for each boule closer to the cochonnet than the closest boule of their opponents. The game usually continues until one team reaches a predetermined number of points, often 13 or 15. It's a bit like bowls... but better.

5. Strategy:Players can use various strategies, such as throwing to knock the opponents' boules away from the cochonnet or positioning their boules strategically to block the opponents' shots.

6. Winning:The game proceeds in rounds until one team reaches the target number of points and is declared the winner.

7. Etiquette:Petanque is a social game, so it's key to be a good sport and adhere to proper etiquette. This means not distracting opponents during their throws, not stepping into the playing area while others are playing, and avoiding other mischievous antics, but we don't make the rules.

You can explore our range of Petanque kits from our outdoor games collection right now, so get ready to showcase your skills at tossing balls... at other balls... to score points. It's a sport, everyone!

Croquet is Making a Comeback!

Is Croquet another French term? I kind of think it is. Anyway, this blog post is turning into a wonderful little French lesson as we explore another outdoor game involving multiple balls, but this time with a mallet! If you’re not in the mood for throwing balls, you can always hit them. Plus, you can pretend you're part of high society in a period drama while playing on the green... or lawn. Just don't forget the cucumber sandwiches and Earl Grey tea. Anyway, just in case you’re curious, here’s how to play Croquet:

1.      Setup:Set up the croquet course on a flat lawn or grassy area. You'll need a set of croquet mallets, balls, hoops (wickets), and a peg (stake) at the center of the course.

2.      Teams:Croquet can be played by two to six players, either individually or in teams. Each player or team is assigned a different colored ball.

3. Starting Order:Determine the starting order of players or teams. This can be decided by a coin toss or any other fair method.

4.      Objective:The aim of croquet is to complete the course by hitting your ball through all of the hoops in the correct sequence and then striking the peg at the center of the course.

5.      Gameplay:

• Players take turns hitting their balls with the mallet, starting from a designated starting point.
• Each turn consists of one stroke, where the player hits their ball with the mallet to move it through the course.
• Players must guide their ball through the hoops in the correct order, starting with hoop 1 and finishing at the peg.
• Players can "roquet" (hit) their opponent's ball with their ball, which allows them to take another shot from where their ball ended up.
• If a player's ball goes out of bounds or knocks another ball out of bounds, they must place their ball one mallet head's distance back into play.
• The game goes on until a player successfully completes the course by hitting the finishing peg.

6.      Scoring: The player or team that completes the course first and hits the finishing peg wins the game. In some versions, extra points might be awarded for various achievements during the game.

7.      Etiquette:I already mentioned this for Petanque. It's pretty similar for Croquet.

Yes, you guessed it. You can also get Croquet sets from SkateHut! Prepare for summer and make sure you get some practice in before challenging family and friends. Just keep it a secret that you’ve bought it until you’ve mastered it. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone. We should probably nominate this post for “The Best Outdoor Games for 2024”, so take a look at our outdoor games range...

Oh, and make sure to sign up to our awesome newsletter to receive the latest news and offers on our extensive range of scooters, roller skates, skateboards, and much more!