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Consider these sports to refresh your camp recreation lineup

When campers are ready to return, directors and counselors are tasked with keeping them happy and occupied, but it’s also important to create camp programs that stand out. What is interesting enough to make kids share their experience with friends—who, in turn, will ask their parents if they can attend, too?

Several sports (or variations on sports) have gained popularity recently, all of them interesting and fun for kids, particularly at a recreational level. And while the ability to incorporate any sport is limited by space, budget, and restrictions governing land use, as well as its suitability to campers’ ages and skill levels, there are a few universal options that provide a jumping-off point.

Beach Volleyball: First seen as an Olympic medal sport in 1996, it has been growing wildly ever since. While the women’s collegiate championship receives a great deal of attention, the sport’s growth at youth levels has also been noteworthy. And as summer sports go, it’s particularly fun.

The good news is camps don’t need a beach to set up a court (or more than one court). However, the grounds do require a court that drains water effectively following a rain event (nobody will play on wet sand), thus the need for a drainage system. Consult with a builder who has experience conceptualizing this type of facility, and who will ensure that adequate clearances and safety zones are constructed.

Court sizes and net heights will vary, depending upon the age and skill level of the players, so prior to having courts built, it is essential to understand the most current rules from the applicable governing body.

Once the court is in place, follow a regular maintenance schedule. The sand should be raked and cleaned to remove any foreign bodies that may cause injury to players.

Archery: Propelled by its appearance in movies and TV shows, including The Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, and The Avengers, archery continues to make gains with all ages and skill levels. Camps that want to incorporate archery can do so in wide-open spaces, indoor gymnasiums, or nearly any type of terrain.

USA Archery’s Club Handbook notes, “Indoor and outdoor ranges are easily constructed. Whether you’re using a gymnasium, multi-purpose space, large, open space, tennis court, baseball field, basketball court, or soccer field, you can provide a safe archery range.”

The handbook, available as a free download, provides multiple layouts for ranges, all showing dimensions and placement of the waiting line, shooting line, and target line for each configuration.

A kid shooting an arrow at an archery target. — Norbert Braun | Unsplash

Badminton: Newly popular on the competitive circuit, AirBadminton is an outdoor version of the game. AirBadminton can be played on all surfaces, including sand. Full rules are available from Badminton World Federation, the sport’s highest governing body; however, factors like the size and layout of the court, the format of play, the shuttle used, and the net height differ from those of the indoor game.

The choice of net should be determined by whether the space will be used for badminton throughout the season, or whether the net will be taken down and stored after each use. Temporary (pop-up) nets are available, as are those with posts that can be installed in the ground.

No matter the selection, consult the rules of the sport for information regarding clearances and safety zones.

Small-Sided Sports: Small-sided sports are taking hold in both youth tournaments and recreational play, as well as in athlete development. These sports use fewer players and a smaller playing area. Governing bodies for field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and football all have developed small-sided versions of their games. This type of play results in less running and more touches on the ball, allowing young players to gain confidence and to master skills more easily.

Additionally, many small-sided games have shorter durations, making them perfect options for short blocks of time. Another small-sided sport that is easy to implement in a camp setting is 3x3 basketball (sometimes known as half-court basketball). Games are 10 minutes long, so more campers can play, with less wait time.

Disc Golf: Disc golf is a surprisingly easy sport to incorporate as a camp activity, thanks to the availability of smaller (and less expensive) portable baskets from online retailers. Additionally, it’s not intimidating to newcomers; whereas many youth sports require the mastery of a skill set to play, it’s a rare child who hasn’t tossed a disc around at the beach or in a backyard.

Pickleball: The sport that needs no introduction is perfect for camps. Pop-up nets enable court setups on any paved surface; alternatively, pickleball can be played indoors at a rec center. The court’s compact size, along with a lightweight ball, creates a more enjoyable experience for beginners.

Short-Court Tennis: Need another fun-to-try racquet sport? Consider short-court tennis, which uses foam balls and shorter racquets on a 30-foot court. Youth players, particularly those at the beginner level, find it easier to master the strokes without worrying about hitting balls over a fence.

Foursquare and Cornhole: These two recreational staples are a great fit for campers, particularly because they can be played indoors and out.

Campers With Special Challenges: Many camps are taking steps to make sports experiences more accessible and inclusive, particularly for youth with physical and/or developmental challenges. Accordingly, a number of facilities have been designed specifically to accommodate these athletes.

For example, most sports fields designed to include athletes with mobility issues have specialty surfaces; they may be constructed of rubber or turf that uses a short pile with a backing that is glued to an asphalt or concrete base. The goal is to create a surface that is flat, smooth, and free of any irregularities. Because of this, natural grass generally is not considered a good choice for accessible fields.

For camps that target youth (or anyone) with special needs, special attention must be paid to the design and construction phases of all facilities, not only those pertaining to sports. Speak with designers and builders who have experience in creating safe, accessible environments.

Full information on design, construction, amenities, and accessories for sports facilities can be found in the American Sports Builders Association’s publications, which are written in a user-friendly manner. They lead decision-makers through the process of design, construction, budgeting, surface choices, maintenance, and more. They can be purchased in either hard copy or in PDF format. Information is available at www.sportsbuilders.org. Additionally, the Association’s website allows users to find designers, contractors, and suppliers through an easy-to-use search feature.

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