10 Memorable Backyard Sports Games You Played as a Kid
Before video games took over, kids spent hours outside playing backyard sports with makeshift rules and endless energy.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The best childhood memories often came from unorganized, neighborhood games where creativity was key. Whether it was using a tree as first base or arguing over the invisible boundary lines, these games turned any backyard into a stadium. Here are 10 classic backyard games that every kid remembers playing.
1. Kickball
Cpl. Michelle Piehl on Wikimedia Commons
A perfect mix of baseball and soccer, kickball required little more than an open space and a rubber ball. Home runs were often judged by how far the ball soared into the neighbor’s yard.
2. Wiffle Ball
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With a lightweight plastic bat and a perforated ball, wiffle ball was the ultimate backyard baseball game. The unpredictable curve of the ball made pitching an art form.
3. 500 (Flyers Up)
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One kid tossed the ball in the air while yelling a point value, and everyone scrambled to catch it. First to 500 points won, but the real thrill came in out-jumping your friends for the best throws.
4. Pick-Up Basketball
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Any hoop on a driveway or nailed to a tree was enough to start a game. There were no refs, and fouls were only called if someone got really hurt.
5. Backyard Football
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There are no pads and no refs—just a bunch of kids calling their own plays and arguing over first downs. Tackling was allowed until someone got too aggressive, and then it switched to two-hand touch.
6. Four Square
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A driveway or patio was the perfect court for this schoolyard favorite. The rules are simple: stay in the game to avoid getting eliminated. If you were in the “king” square, you ruled the court.
7. Manhunt
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Part hide-and-seek, part tag, Manhunt turned any backyard into a battlefield. It was best played at night when the darkness made every hiding spot feel legendary.
8. Home Run Derby
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Whether using a tennis ball, a wiffle ball, or even an old baseball, this was every backyard slugger’s dream. The goal was simple—hit the ball as far as possible.
9. Street Hockey
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If you had a stick and a ball (or a puck, if you were fancy), you could turn any street or driveway into an arena. The game only stopped when someone yelled, “Car!” and resumed as soon as the coast was clear.
10. Red Rover
Kyra Malicse on Wikimedia Commons
Equal parts strategy and brute strength, Red Rover was all about breaking through human walls. The strongest kids were nearly impossible to stop, while the smaller kids relied on speed and agility.