A summer day at the beach is one of life’s great pleasures. But what if you want to make it even better?
Here is a list of games that can be played on the beach, ranging from cooperative to competitive, and easy to more difficult. The list includes old favorites like Frisbee and badminton as well as new ones like Cornhole (bean bag toss) and Horseshoes (also known as quoits). We hope this list will help you enjoy your next trip to the beach!
Frisbee
Playing Frisbee at the beach is a great way to have fun and get some exercise. It’s a great opportunity to work on your arm strength and hand-eye coordination, as well as the speed of your throwing arm.
You can play with just one other person or a group. You’ll need a decent-sized space on the beach so that the Frisbee doesn’t go too far out into the water.
Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee is a fast-paced game that can be played with as little as two people or as many as seven. It’s pretty simple to learn – you just have to know the rules and have some passing skills.
One person from each team stands at either end of the playing area (usually around 150 yards long) and throws the disc to the other team. The object of the game is to complete passes without letting it touch the ground, catch it with one hand, or catch it in the middle (this is called a “brick”). The game is played by two teams on opposing sides of an end zone-like field. Ultimate Frisbee tries to mimic soccer rules, but with less complicated rules for running and catching.
Badminton
While traditionally played indoors, badminton is a great outdoor sports game that can be played on grass or sand. For badminton, you don’t need a lot of equipment, just a net, and some rackets. The rules are pretty simple: when you win a point you get to serve until the other player wins a point. Officially you play 3 sets of 21, but you can also just play for fun! It’s a very fast-paced game that can be played practically anywhere!
Spikeball
Spikeball is probably one of the newest games that you’ll commonly see played on the beach. It only requires a ball, maybe some tape for marking, and at least 2 people to play.
A player starts a point by serving the ball down onto the Spikeball net, which it rebounds up at his opponents. The returning team has up to three hits (a bump, set, and spike) between them to return the ball back onto the net. The rally continues until one of the teams fails to put the ball back on the net.
Volleyball
Another common game that you might see being played on the beach is volleyball. Beach volleyball is usually paired with one partner, but for informal games you can have as many people on each side as you like! The game consists of the best of three sets, where the first team that reaches 21 points wins the set. If a third set is needed, it’s the first team to reach 15 points. The team that wins the previous point gets to serve for the next point.
Horseshoes or Quoits
Like volleyball, horseshoes are another common outdoor game that people play on the beach. Horseshoe pitching can be played by two players or two teams. Players stand on opposite sides of the horseshoe “pitching” area and take turns throwing their horseshoes towards a mark at the other end. Horseshoes that land within 12 inches from each other are called a ringer – these bring double points!
Cornhole/Bean Bag Toss
If your family is looking for something a little more light-hearted and easy to play in the sand, then check out Cornhole or Bean Bag toss! This game doesn’t require any special equipment and is great for kids and adults of all ages. The rules are pretty simple: you try to get your bean bags to land in the hole on your side of the board. There are two boards – one red and one blue- where you can play with a partner or take turns going solo. If you’re playing as teams, then it’s best played by alternating shots between players instead of throwing all at once!
Beach Flags
Beach Flags game requires two teams of at least six people. One person from each team runs out to the playing area (usually about 30 yards long) with a pole, flag, or umbrella in hand. Then they try to grab their partner’s belt loop on either side of them before running back across the finish line without letting go. If a player’s flag falls during the race, they must stop and get it before continuing to run back across the finish line.