A-Z of Summer Activity

by WLR Staff, Adam Vaughan

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 the Keep Britain Tidy website.

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 roundersforfun.com

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, take a look at the fitness benefits of playing tennis for fun.

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.usaultimate.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!