Try These Classic 4th of July Backyard Games

By: Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com.
The time to celebrate Independence Day is upon us, and community members are planing out the fun they’re going to have with family and friends. HottyToddy.com wanted to share some fun games you can play in the backyard, even with a hot dog in one hand and a cup of lemonade in the other.
One game that’s a must is cornhole.
Each person (or team) takes a turn tossing the bean bags towards the hole (on a raised board) to score points. Each bag that goes in the hole scores three points, while one landing on the platform scores one point. Play continues until a team or player reaches (or exceeds) the score of 21.
Another great game on the list is stickball.
Don’t have a tradition bat and ball? That’s the beauty of this game. Find a stick in the yard and your dog’s half chewed tennis ball. Grab a buddy to throw to you and hone your inner Babe Ruth. The point is to have fun (and win, of course). 
Slip and slide bowling is another fun one. 
The forecast is looking hot for the Fourth of July, so it’s imperative to try and stay cool. Lug out the Disney slip and slide from the shed and set up those plastic bowling pins you currently use to swat flies. Barrel yourself down the slide to see how many you can knock down. It will probably be all of them. 
Rounding out the list of classic games is dodgeball.
Try to be the last one standing as you pelt your friends with a ball of your choice. A minimum of three people are needed to play, but a four-on-four match makes for a fair game. Remember, if a team member is knocked out he or she can renter when a teammate catches the ball in the air. However, dodgeball is one of those games you can easily make up your own rules.