With warmer weather and the area’s plethora of green spaces, spring and summer are the perfect times to get outside and be active. Although baseball is the quintessential summer sport, there are plenty of options to choose from when deciding which sports you should play.

So, put down the bat and the balls (😉 ), and check out these new sports to try this summer.

The New Favorite

If you haven’t heard yet, pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the country. Invented in 1965 (by three dads, we should mention), it has recently seen an uptick in the number of people playing it.

Pickleball is relatively simple to learn and play, combining aspects of tennis, badminton and ping pong into one dynamic sport. Because of this, it’s a great game for virtually all ages and skill levels.

Want to play for leisure? Plenty of parks have pickleball courts, including Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. Want to try it out competitively? There are pickleball leagues throughout the country. Essentially, there’s a way to play for everyone.

The Competitive Yard Game

Ah, yard games. Cornhole, lawn darts, bocce ball—all excellent activities for the backyard. But, if you can hold an iced tea while playing, does it really count as a sport?

We’re going to say no. Thankfully, there are some yard games where you can break a sweat (if you want), and some even have competitive leagues.

Roundnet is one such sport. Roundnet, often referred to as Spikeball—a popular brand/supplier/sponsor of roundnet equipment—is a combination of volleyball and four square. As the name suggests, a round net sits in the middle of two teams who take turns serving and volleying a ball back and forth. Instead of avoiding the net, like in volleyball, your goal is to play the ball off the net, using it to make it so the other team can’t return the ball.

One of the best parts? Roundnet doesn’t have a set field or court. You can use your entire backyard, making it a potentially challenging but always fun way to get some exercise.

The Ol’ Standbys

Sometimes, the best sports to try out aren’t the newest. Remember playing out in the street or in the yard all day long? Waiting to be called in for dinner, or worse, chores? Maybe the best sport to try is the one that makes you feel the youngest.

Step ball (aka “stepball”) is great because it involves only two key components: steps and a ball. Everyone has some version of their own rules, but the key to step ball is that it works like baseball or Wiffle Ball. The “batter” throws the ball at the steps, while the “fielder” attempts to cleanly play the ball off the bounce or catch it out of the air. Scoring and what constitutes a hit, double, triple, etc., vary by person, but it usually depends on the area you’re playing in.

If that’s not your style, that’s okay! Consider other childhood sports to get active, too. Wiffle Ball and wall ball are two seriously fun games that get you a seriously good workout. Plus, have you seen how crazy Wiffle Ball can get?

Whether you choose to play one of the sports we mentioned or prefer to go a different route, one of the best things you can do is be active. It can help with your health, improving heart health and obesity, both of which can be causes of ED. Oh, and if you’re struggling with that problem, reach out to our team of medical professionals for help.