Cool Summer Sports!

Families in sunny Santa Monica, California, put up the first beach volleyball courts in the 1920s, laying the foundation for this summer favorite. Beach volleyball became a summer Olympic sport in 1992, and the United States has won a gold medal (in either men’s or women’s) since 1996.

No records exist to prove the exact date, but many believe surfing started more than 4,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest sports ever! Not everyone has an ocean across the USA, but if you want the best places to surf just take a quick listen to "Surfin’ USA" by the Beach Boys.

Wakeboarding is a combination of a few different sports, like surfing and water skiing, and it will definitely cool you off during the summer. Innovation and technology have allowed for major growth on the professional scene while also making it easier to just have fun.

One of the best ways to cool down when summer temperatures soar is to explore in a kayak or canoe. Different shapes and sizes make it possible for friends and family to travel waterways together.

If you're not near an ocean, lake, or river, hit the pool for a spirited game of water polo. Fights were very common and water polo in general was much more violent during its beginnings than it is today, so try to make sportsmanship a priority when you jump in a pool to play!

Students invented ultimate Frisbee in the 1960s and it quickly became a craze. There are usually seven players on each team, so the game is ideal to play with a big group of friends on summer days.

According to the US Pro Mini Golf Association, each family in the US takes to a mini golf course at least once a year, and summer is a great time to hit the fun links. Just watch out for the drawbridge!

Though the broomsticks don’t really soar through the air, the game inspired by J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter novels has become very real. If you really want some exercise on a warm summer day, try to be the golden snitch so you can sprint all around the field of play.