Summer Activities A-Z
Our A to Z guide should give you plenty of excuses to get out
and get active this summer whatever your age or ability.
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A-Z of Summer Activity
Julie Chapman
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With the days getting longer there is just so much more to do, so we thought
we’d do an A-Z of summer activities to give you some ideas to get you, your
friends and family out and active this summer.
We hope you like them and have fun trying a few!
A B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M
N O P
Q R S T
U V W X
Y Z
A – Aqua Aerobics
If you’re going on holiday and the hotel has a pool, you can almost guarantee
they will put on an aqua aerobics class during their program of activities. So
why not give it a go, you’ll be surprised at how much fun it is.
What a great way to exercise in the summer sun and still stay cool!
B – Basketball
Activity for both mind and body as you need quick reflexes and good judgement
as you try to read your mark's next move. Just don’t let the kids (including
fully-grown ones) play near the barbeque – it can and will end in disaster!
For great info and game ideas try
www.ehow.com
C – Cricket
Cricket has seen a bit of a revival in the UK since we won the Ashes in 2005,
and is a great summer activity to take with you on days out with friends and
family.
Cheap cricket set are available from supermarkets and the likes of Argos -
then all you need is a patch of grass.
But if you want to get serious about cricket you can get the rules from
bbb.co.uk and
find your local club or league through play-cricket.com
D – Dodgeball
One of my PE teacher's favourite gym activities, and although you don’t need
silly uniforms as modelled by Ben Stiler and co. in the movie, it may well help
put your opponents off!
For rules and information visit the National Amateur Dodgeball Association
(yes, there really is one)
www.dodgeballusa.com
E – Equestrianism
Whether riding a horse on a pony trek at the beach or in a show, horse riding
is great for your posture and core muscles.
Riding a horse for the first time is something you’ll never forget, a well
worth experience if you get the chance this summer.
F – Football
Don’t just watch it on the telly, get out there with your mates, partners,
neighbours and kids, and actually play! It’s inexpensive, great fun and easy to
play with people of all abilities.
For the off side rule visit
the FA.com
G – Golf
18 Holes, Pitch & Putt or Crazy Golf, they all get you walking as well as
perfecting your hand and eye co-ordination. Plus how to play is easy (it’s just
the technique that needs perfecting). To find a golf course near you try
www.uk-golf.com
H – Hiking
Hiking is walking, not in a town or city, but out in the wilderness, up
mountains, round lakes, through forests, pretty much anywhere there isn’t
tarmac. Hiking is a wonderful way to experience the beauty of our surroundings
and native wildlife, and it’s free making it a top summer activity and ideal for
a day away.
To locate a trail near you visit
www.go4awalk.com
I – Ice Hockey & Ice Skating
Not normally considered summer sports, we know, but ice rinks often extend
their opening times, put on extra sessions or summer schools for these sports
during the summer holidays. What better way to cool off when it’s too hot!
J – Jogging
All you need to jog is a good pair of trainers. You can jog alone, with the
dog, with a friend or even the kids (tell them all the celebrities do it so it
is cool) and because it’s jogging (not running) you can do it with people of all
fitness levels and no one gets left behind.
If you want to get more serious about jogging there is a new style of
pedometer that is suitable for more aerobic activities such as
jogging.
Tip: The best times to go jogging tend to be early morning and evening when
it is cool. Jogging near lakes and rivers is also lovely as you get a refreshing
breeze off of the water.
K – Kayaking
Kayaking or Canoeing is an activity that can be as active and adrenaline
filled, or as relaxing as you like, and so is suitable for all that don’t mind
getting a bit wet now and then. However whether coastal or inland waters take
your fancy always get started with some professional help, and if you are not
experienced get a guide to take you.
For those not lucky enough to live near a water sports centre, this is one of
those summer activities worth going out of your way for. To find events and
locations see www.bcu.org.uk
L – Laser Quest / Laser Tag
For big kids as well as actual ones, Laser Quest is tag using laser guns to
zap your opponents. A game usually lasts around 20 minutes for up to 20 players,
at a cost of around £4-5, however it’s worth asking about discounts for block or
group bookings as you’ll almost always get a better deal.
M – Mowing
Did you know that half an hour mowing the lawn will burn over 200 calories!
So make sure you mow the lawn before the BBQ and earn yourself an extra hot dog.
N – Netball
Another of our relatively free activities, you just need a ball and a court
with a hoop (or two).
For positions and rules visit
www.england-netball.co.uk
O – Orienteering
A timed activity where participants use a map and compass to visit (in
sequence) checkpoints marked on their map. Competitors start at intervals to
ensure each finds their own way to the checkpoints, as this is a sport of skill
and endurance as well as speed.
For info on events and clubs visit
www.britishorienteering.org.uk
P – Paddling
What better excuse do you need to go to a beach? Need more persuading? It’s
free, no equipment, special clothes or planning is required, and everyone can
paddle.
To locate your nearest blue flag beach check out
www.seasideawards.org.uk
Q – Quidditch
Ok, maybe we’re pushing it with this one – but can you think of any summer
activities beginning with Q?!
R – Rounders
Another school favourite, and in fact a very old game dating back to the
seventeenth century, and unlike the chicken and the egg question we can
definitely say Rounders came before Baseball.
For the official rules and pitch diagram try
www.wikipedia.org
S – Swimming
Backstroke, Breast Stroke, Butterfly, Freestyle and even Doggy Paddle, in
indoor pools, outdoor pools, rivers or in the sea. Wherever and however you
choose to swim you’ll be getting a full body workout, raising your heart rate
and toning your muscles, making swimming the best physical summer activity in
our alphabet.
T – Tennis
Seeing as we haven’t had a British Wimbledon champion for some time now, I
think it is our duty to get on the tennis court and give it a go. Not sure where
to stand or what the rules are, that’s no excuse, read our
tennis page and pick up some tips too.
U – Ultimate
Ultimate or Ultimate Frisbee is a non-contact sport played with a... Frisbee.
The aim of the game is to get the Frisbee into your opponents’ end zone much
like in American Football, you have 7 players on each team, it is non-contact
and you can’t run with the Frisbee.
There are two sets of rules with minor differences, the North American rules
can be found at www.upa.org,
whilst other parts of the world tend to use the World Flying Disc Federation
rules found at www.wfdf.org
V – Volleyball
Playing Volleyball is the number two summer activity after swimming, as it
will give you a fantastic workout. It’s also a lot cheaper than you might think,
with a net costing as little as £14! Put it up in your garden, playing field or
on the beach, it's even easy to roll up and put away or take away on holiday.
If you want more information or to get competitive visit the
Spikeopaths Volleyball team site, they’re a funny bunch!
W – Walking
Some of the best summer activities are free and easy, and walking certainly
falls into that category. Did you know you should try to take
10,000 steps a day? That’s roughly 5 miles, most of which you’ll walk
without even noticing, so why not go for a walk, rediscover pathways you took
before you could drive and clock up those miles.
WLR has information on walking events and
walking routes to help you get walking in
your area. Or if you want to count the steps, miles and calories you should
invest in a
pedometer.
X – Xare
Bit of an unusual activity for summer is Xare. For this game you need to wear
a helmet as it is a racquet sport played with a rather hard ball, played on an
indoor court called a Trinquete, much like a tennis court. Due to the loosely
strung nature of the racquet the ball is neither caught nor struck to return it
to the player, more of a lob like in lacrosse one presumes.
Y – Yoga
If next-door's kids are driving you mad this summer, try a bit of yoga to
de-stress. Although having an
exercise mat is ideal to do yoga on, a soft space
on the ground can sometimes do just as well and sometimes just being out in the
summer sun is enough to improve your mood.
Z – Zorbing
You know those hamster balls that you put your hamster in and let it roll
around the living room? Well zorbing is basically a bigger version of that ball,
big enough to put you in and then roll you down a hill! Some Zorbs have straps
in, others are strapless and can have water put in them so your experience is
more like a tumbling water shoot!
Zorbing may have started in New Zealand, but it is catching on fast and has
spread to Europe, Argentina and even China. And oh yes, you can do it all over
the UK too!
So that's our A-Z of Summer Activity, we hope we've given you some ideas for
summer activities to enjoy rain or shine this summer and if there's an activity
you'd like us to report on soon please email me,
julie@dietandfitnessresources.co.uk
Have a great summer!
More Information
Rules and Information on any sport or game you can think of.
Fitness
and Exercise Equipment for indoor and outdoor activities all year round.
Track your exercise and diet with Weight Loss Resources' tools and databases.
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