There's nothing like the freedom of imagination as a child! Using this to create games, challenges and activities is so important to build confidence and skills from a young age, and is a huge part of the Foundations Framework Wales, Foundation 2: Enjoyable.
Check out what wild and wonderful activities your colleagues created in their formative years... there are definitely some adrenaline seekers here!
Clare Skidmore
My sister and me made up a game called… The Poo Poo Ride.
Basically, it consisted of my sister, or me, riding around our garden on our classic 80s chopper (think Stranger Things), with a thick orange rope attached to the back (the poo poo). The aim of the game was to jump on the rope so the chopper would wheelie and the rider would fall off the bike. When this happened the rider was replaced by the person who managed to jump on rope and dislodge them, and the game would start over with a new rider and chaser.
The game was thrilling, if a little dangerous - in fact, I am not sure how our parents allowed this to happen. The poo poo ride was very physical involving multiple sports and actions (running, cycling and jumping/wrestling) and could involve more participants (chasers) which added an extra layer of competition and excitement to the game.
I guess the winner was the one who was on the bike the longest.
Jen Hill
I spent my childhood living in the middle east where apricots (michmesh) were in abundance.
In school instead of using marbles we would build our collection of michmesh stones. You could rub the stones on the concrete playground floor to get a smooth edge and compete. I loved playing this game, however, my Nan came to visit and mistook my bag of michmesh stones as rubbish and threw them out. I was horrified! She had no idea and I couldn’t bring myself to start my collection over again.
Rosie Walters (right)
My sister and I took up amateur spelunking at Llantwit Major beach (where I grew up) – very unsafe, very 90s.
Anyone who knows Llantwit beach will know the big bank of boulders at the top of the beach. Back then, the gaps between and underneath those boulders weren’t filled in as they now are. My sister and I would stand on top of them, one of us at either edge of the bank – and we’d drop down into the gaps and weave in and out of the tiny tunnels and tight spaces underneath, the aim was to avoid each other for as long as possible.
It was a lot of fun and definitely got the heart rate up!
Matthew Archer
The game? Long Distance Shoe Swing Flinging.
We had a swing set of four in our local park. The game would be to remove the heel out of your shoe so it perched on the end of your foot, then swing as high as you possibly can and at the ‘perfect balance’ of speed and height, kick the shoe off your foot as hard as possible - ideally at the right point of the climb.
Distance was measured in yards, with the winner flinging their shoe the furthest. Variations included right foot and left foot, and then backwards over head! Shoes were indispensable at that age lol.
Matt Davies
We played King of the Hill where we would all start at the bottom of a snow-covered steep banking. Then, we'd try to get to the top, which would be made hard due to how slippery it was.
Then whoever was at the top was the 'king of the hill'. The 'kings' would try to stop the people getting up by pushing them down. But sometimes, the 'king' would sacrifice their position on top of the hill to tackle the climbers down the banking. Then they'd just have to try and get back up themselves.
A lot of the time the 'kings' would sacrifice their winning position just because it was so fun tackling people down the snowy banking. No one would really be trying to win. We'd be absolutely puffed but giggling our heads off - no one cared about being the 'king' really.
The game would end when we'd have tackled or slid enough snow off the banking that all the cushion for tackles was gone. We'd go to bed hoping for another dusting of snow so we could go back again the day after and do it all again.
I will say, I would have been early teens, and these were probably the first times that I'd wake up in the morning and be sore from physical activity.
Simon Jones
When I was around 10 years old, I took up golf and joined my local club. My skill level improved the more I played although chipping and putting are notoriously the hardest part of golf. I could practice putting in the living room by arranging targets at the other end of the room but getting a place to practice my chipping was tricky.
A couple of years later this led me to utilise my creative side and embrace the risky play philosophy.
I decided that my parents’ front lawn had a lovely patch of grass on it that was perfect for chipping off, the next stage was finding a target suitable and achievable for my level of skill. I noticed the neighbours opposite had a lawn around the size of a golf green. This led me to practice my chipping by playing the shot from my parent’s garden, over the road and onto my neighbours’ lawn.
Any shot that landed on their lawn was a success and it also put a bit of pressure on me to make sure I did a good shot. In my own mind I was successful quite a few times but in reality, I more than likely missed the target more than I landed on it.
Luckily, my neighbours were not in at the time, but my older brother came home and was not pleased. This put a stop to that game, but I had a great time and I like to think that it helped me with my short game.
Here's me and my Grandad - he was the person who got me into golf and he would’ve found the game quite amusing.
Thank you for sharing your stories. It goes without saying Sport Wales doesn't condone dangerous or disruptive activities - stay safe out there gang! 😉