Here’s a ranking of my top backyard games to play this summer, while keeping six feet apart (for the most part):

We’ve managed a world without live sports for awhile now, but some of us just have that competitive itch we need to scratch.

The Boston Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics are all back playing and while it will be a welcomed change to be able to root for the home teams again, a majority of us are not and never will be professional athletes. We still need something to do to get those competitive juices flowing, whether you’re a high school athlete or a 65-year-old who misses the glory days.

Golf is probably the best option for sport while social distancing, but what if you’re not a golfer? That’s where backyard games come into play. And when it comes to the backyard or the beach, or wherever there is fresh air, there are still plenty of ways to safely get some competition in. Please, however, still bring some hand sanitizer.

Here’s a ranking of my top backyard games to play this summer, while keeping six feet apart (for the most part):

1. Wiffle ball

Now, I know people will say this is a terrible choice since there’s so many new games out there. But I’m a bit bias. As a 90s kid, I can honestly say my entire summer as a child was spent playing Wiffle ball until it was too dark to play. Unfortunately, it feels as if the backyard baseball game has sort of disappeared from the fabric of American summers.

But you can still walk into any CVS or any type of drug store and find that yellow bat with the ball attached on top. It’s still a true symbol of summer and even if baseball is wavering in popularity, Wiffle Ball can still give kids and adults the opportunity to compete and fall in love with that “THWACK” sound of the bat hitting the ball.

2. KanJam

I think what people love most about this game – aside from the fact that it’s easily transportable to a beach or a cookout – is the fact that it’s truly a team game.

I’ve had my share of heated contests with friends over the years, but there’s nothing like a perfect toss from you to your partner or your partner setting you up for an easy dunk. Getting a game-ending shot to glide through the slot on the “Kan” might be one of the hardest feats to pull off in any competitive situation. This Frisbee game can easily be played while social distancing.

3. Bocce

The amount of skill and strategy for this game is far more in depth than one would think.

Bocce, of course, can be easily played while staying socially distant. The little white ball you’re aiming for is only tossed a few times per game and can be easily sanitized if need be. There is plenty of actual strategy and planning that you and a partner can discuss and the games can get pretty competitive.

4. Spike ball

A relatively new, and pretty tough game, Spikeball is easily the most competitive of this bunch and the one backyard game that gives you the best workout. There’s also a bit of local history with the game.

“Natick’s Mike White (Class of 2013), Nick Sant (’13), Scott Pease (’15), and Owen Holtz (’15) were four of six players from the UMass team along with Anthony Rentsch from Worcester and Dan McPartland from Ellington, CT that won the first College team championship,” Massachusetts Spikeball event manager Nora White wrote in a recent email.

“Spikeball has a strong history in Massachusetts, especially on the college scene. Harvard had one of the first Spikeball college clubs in 2011. As mentioned, UMass won the first College National Championship in 2017. Northeastern is currently a top club in the nation, there are also college clubs at WPI, Bentley & Tufts in Massachusetts. The SRA has hosted Tour Stops in the Boston area since 2014 and have had 100+ teams compete annually since 2016,” White wrote.

5. Polish horseshoes

If the idea is to find something competitive while social distancing, this one fits the bill perfectly. The amount of skill it takes to win is pretty underrated, in fact, I’d even call Polish horseshoes the hardest of all the summer games.

There you have it. Let the games begin and stay safe.