Growing up, my family enjoyed watching game shows on TV. One of my all time favorites was “Minute To WIn It”. I loved the physicality of the contestants and the time factor to finish the task. It was amazing how many talented people would appear on this show. My siblings and I competed with one another creating similar games after each episode.

Family Fun Summer Yard Games

^[1]Minute to Win It is an American game show and was first released on March 14, 2010, on NBC with host Guy Fieri. Contestants competed against one another, playing games using household items to win cash prizes. They began at level one and were shown a challenge. This challenge would have to be successfully completed within 60 seconds to move to the next level. Each level became more difficult. If the contestants were able to complete all 10 levels, they could have won up to one million dollars.The difficulty of the games progressively increases throughout the show. Some of the challenges the contestants were faced with are Stack Attack, Ping Pong Bounce, Junk in the Trunk.

Here are some ideas for you and your family to enjoy!

^[2]The Red Cup Challenge

Items Needed:

1. Red cups
2. A 15” small size ball slightly larger than the opening of the cups
3. Chalk
4. Timer

Description:

Partner up with family members. Find a cemented area in your yard. With chalk, draw two sets of three squares about 3-4 feet in diameter, one behind the other beginning 6 feet from each partner. Each player will need two red cups, one for each hand, and one shared 15 inch nerf ball. The challenge will begin by having each Partner stand 6 feet away in their first square facing each other.

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How to Play:

1. Each player will hold a red cup in each hand, with the opening of the cups facing inward.
2. One player starts the challenge by holding the ball with the red cups.
3. On the signal and starting the timer, toss the ball using the two openings of each cup to your partner.
4. See how many successful cup catches you both can complete without the ball touching the ground or any part of the body in one minute.
5. If the ball touches the ground or any body part at any time, they must start counting from the beginning.
6. The team to complete this task with the most catches is the winner.
7. Continue the game by having each of the players step back to their next square.
8. Repeat the challenge in each of the 3 squares.

Adaptations: If you use a mobility device

1. Use a larger size ball
2. Make the starting distance closer to each partner
3. Allow one bounce before each catch
4. The players may sit on a chair inside the squares.

^[4]

Fox in the Den –

Items Needed:

One hula hoop for each group, 5 washcloths for each group, a rope for each partner, a bag of rice or beans, and strong rubber bands.

To Make the Foxtail:

Place a handful of rice or beans (about 1 cup) in the middle of each cloth (more or less depending on the size of the cloth). Wrap the cloth and bunch it together with a strong elastic band to look like a foxtail.

Description:

Divide the group of players into partners. Give each team 5 foxtails.

1. One partner stands behind a rope or line about 8 feet away, facing the hula hoop. The other partner stands beside the hula hoop ^[5].
2. The players behind their rope receive 5 foxtails each.
3. On the signal and starting the timer, the players with the foxtails begin to underhand toss them into the hoop (fox den), one at a time, staying behind the rope.
4. If the foxtails do not land inside the hoop, their partner underhand tosses it back to them to retry.
5. The team that gets all their foxtails inside the hoop within a minute or less wins the challenge.
6. Each team may place the rope one foot back, repeating each challenge.

Adaptations: If you use a mobility device

1. You may execute the skill in a wheelchair, possibly at a closer distance. ^[6]
2. Use a grab stick to reach and grab the foxtails if your partner misses the hoop. Then toss the foxtail back to your partner.

Human Ring Toss

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Items Needed:
One Blow up Pool Inner Tube for each group.

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Description:

1. Divide the group into partners. One player is the ring “tosser” and the other player acts as the human stake.
2. The ring tosser must stand at a marked area holding a pool ring standing at least 6 feet away from their teammate.
3. The teammate that is acting as the stake stands with their arms straight up in the air so that the pool ring can move over and around their body.
4. The human stake must toss the ring back to the ring tosser with each attempt, counting the total amount of ringers.
5. Each ringer counts for 3 points. The challenge is to complete 21 points in one minute.
6. Modify the distance according to age and ability.

Adaptations: If you use a mobility device

1. You may execute the skill in a wheelchair, possibly at a closer distance.
2. Put your arms up in the air for the ring to catch over your arms.
3. Have your partner or an extra player retrieve the ring or remove it from your arms to continue the game. If the players are capable of removing the ring themselves, they may toss the ring back to their partner.

More Fun Activities ^[8]

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This post originally appeared on our May/June 2022 Magazine ^[23]