Try Out These Popular Lawn Games

By Sabah Karimi, Contributing writer

Lawn games and competitive backyard sports can be traced to ancient Egypt and medieval societies in Europe, and were often played by members of the royal family. Today, backyard games are a great addition to any outdoor get-together.

Whether you're throwing a backyard barbecue or inviting a large group over to relax outdoors, here are some of the most popular lawn games that will provide hours of entertainment.

Bolo toss

Bolo toss, or ladder golf, is a game of skill that's similar to horseshoes, and can be a great lawn game for all ages, according to The Fun Times Guide. This game is popular among campers and RVers because it's relatively easy to set up and can be taught within minutes. The goal of this game is to toss a small piece of rope with two golf balls attached at both ends across a certain distance so that it can hang onto different rungs of a ladder.

Croquet

The history of croquet can be traced to 14th century France, according to ToyCrossing.com. The French, Scottish and English often played fiercely competitive games of this outdoor sport; it has now become a popular backyard game in America. The objective of croquet is to hit a ball with a mallet through wickets to pass different-colored posts. This is a popular group game that can last for several hours.

Volleyball

This popular outdoor sport is often played at the beach. The goal of volleyball is to bump the ball back and forth over the net and keep it from hitting the ground on your side of the court. Volleyball is relatively easy to play, but is also very competitive. It's been played for more than 100 years around the globe and makes for a fun and exciting lawn game any time of the year.

Bocce ball

Bocce was first documented in a 5200 B.C. painting of of two boys playing this addictive game discovered inside an ancient Egyptian tomb, according to WorldBocce.org. Bocce mania swept America in 1989, and has since become a popular tournament sport. The goal of bocce ball is similar to bowling, and is a great game for large groups.

Horseshoes

Played by two players or by teams, the objective of this lawn game is to toss horseshoes at stakes in the ground. Horseshoes is another fun game for large groups, and is best played outdoors.

The game of horseshoes is thought to have descended from the ancient Greek sport of the discus throw. Horseshoes in the United States was probably brought over by the early English settlers. Modern games use a more stylized U-shaped bar, about twice the size of an actual horseshoe.

From the classic game of horseshoes to bocce ball, there are several games to play at any outdoor event.