Why stop at Adult Kickball? Other childhood games easily played by adults
While having a couple of drinks at The Science Club last night with some former and current kickball friends, we started to discuss if converting a kid’s game to an adult activity should be limited to kickball.
During a raucous brainstorming session, I posited that an Adult Tetherball league could be just as fun. There is minimal physical exertion, it reminds people in their 20s and 30s of childhood, and it’s another excuse to drink beer with friends.
People in DC already play kids’ games as recreation. There are numerous leagues featuring dodge ball, bocce ball (whatever the hell that is), Ultimate Frisbee, and, of course, softball. And as the embarrassing stigma of playing kickball starts to wear off, we need to bring back other relics from our collective childhood to convince ourselves we are not getting older.
Imagine having to tell your friends that you can’t make that new art exhibit because you’re playing Adult Freeze Tag. Imagine leaving work early so you can be on time for your Adult Four-Square match. Imagine meeting up with random people on the Mall to participate in Adult Red Rover (actually, THAT one would be a lot of fun).
The list of oxymoronic games is as endless as your imagination: Adult Hopscotch, Adult Hide and Seek, Adult Duck Duck Goose. But why limit it to outdoor games? Adult Heads Up, Seven Up, Adult Musical Chairs, and Adult I Spy could bide us over in the winter months.
Obviously, the idea of a 31-year-old man playing kickball every Tuesday night opens one up to ridicule. So why do I do it? Is it for the exercise? The games are an hour long and unless you’re the pitcher or catcher, you might touch the ball once or twice during a game. Is it for the social networking? I’m in my fourth kickball season and I couldn’t tell you what anyone I’ve met through kickball does for a living. Is it for the hooking up? I have a beautiful girlfriend who I love and talk about often in my blog.
So why do I play? The truth is, and it took some deep thinking to figure this out, is that kickball is the best reminder of a time when I didn’t have the stresses of an adult life. Running around like a kid, at least one night a week, FEELS good.
On Tuesday night, after winning 5-0 on the field, we went to the bar and had a bra-off, sang crappy songs, and learned how to play Ping-Pang-Pong (thanks Foxymoron!). And, as this picture will attest, a chicken drove me around in his car.
Who wouldn’t want to feel that young again?
UPDATE: Thanks to Wonkette for the online mention.
During a raucous brainstorming session, I posited that an Adult Tetherball league could be just as fun. There is minimal physical exertion, it reminds people in their 20s and 30s of childhood, and it’s another excuse to drink beer with friends.
People in DC already play kids’ games as recreation. There are numerous leagues featuring dodge ball, bocce ball (whatever the hell that is), Ultimate Frisbee, and, of course, softball. And as the embarrassing stigma of playing kickball starts to wear off, we need to bring back other relics from our collective childhood to convince ourselves we are not getting older. Imagine having to tell your friends that you can’t make that new art exhibit because you’re playing Adult Freeze Tag. Imagine leaving work early so you can be on time for your Adult Four-Square match. Imagine meeting up with random people on the Mall to participate in Adult Red Rover (actually, THAT one would be a lot of fun).
The list of oxymoronic games is as endless as your imagination: Adult Hopscotch, Adult Hide and Seek, Adult Duck Duck Goose. But why limit it to outdoor games? Adult Heads Up, Seven Up, Adult Musical Chairs, and Adult I Spy could bide us over in the winter months.
Obviously, the idea of a 31-year-old man playing kickball every Tuesday night opens one up to ridicule. So why do I do it? Is it for the exercise? The games are an hour long and unless you’re the pitcher or catcher, you might touch the ball once or twice during a game. Is it for the social networking? I’m in my fourth kickball season and I couldn’t tell you what anyone I’ve met through kickball does for a living. Is it for the hooking up? I have a beautiful girlfriend who I love and talk about often in my blog.
So why do I play? The truth is, and it took some deep thinking to figure this out, is that kickball is the best reminder of a time when I didn’t have the stresses of an adult life. Running around like a kid, at least one night a week, FEELS good.
On Tuesday night, after winning 5-0 on the field, we went to the bar and had a bra-off, sang crappy songs, and learned how to play Ping-Pang-Pong (thanks Foxymoron!). And, as this picture will attest, a chicken drove me around in his car.
Who wouldn’t want to feel that young again?
UPDATE: Thanks to Wonkette for the online mention.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 8:23 PM.
