Aquatic Mammal Ball

Summer holidays are looming beautifully upon us. Of course, summer holidays aren't what they used to be, back in the days of school and all that. In those days you had really marathon-esque holidays, as your inability to physically write upon returning to school always confirmed.

In deepest darkest Cornwall we spent our long summer holidays surfing. And if there were no waves we made up ridiculously complicated games on the beach. One that sticks in the memory is Mammal Ball (named so as it was invented by my hairy friend Tom). If you're bored or trying to impress someone why not try it out on your holidays, or even take a leaf out of my book and pull a 'day off'...boom boom. Mammal Ball actually started off on the beach, but then eventually evolved into a water-based game:

Aquatic Mammal Ball.












The rules are simple enough:

Equipment needed - 1 tennis ball.

Stand 5-10 metres apart (on the beach, or waist deep in water for the Aquatic version).

One competitor joins his/her arms to create a ring and stands still (like a basketball hoop with human head as backboard).

The other competitor then attempts to throw the tennis ball into the ring. If successful, 1 point is earned.

The competitors then switch roles, remaining in the same positions.

Play first to 5 or 10 points, skill/time depending.

Pray the surf picks up to relieve you from tedious game of Aquatic Mammal Ball.