6 Popular outdoor court for Recreation, Fitness, and Fun Activities

When the weather’s just right and the outdoors is calling your name, there’s no better way to make the most of it than with your very own outdoor court. It isn’t just a space for athletes to practice and hone their skills but a fun-packed space for families and communities to gather and stay active through competitive games.

Whether it’s a casual weekend tennis match, an evening of shooting hoops, or a friendly basketball match, building an outdoor court in your backyard is a great way to bring people together. Wondering which outdoor court should you add to your backyard space?

Don’t worry! Pine State Courts has compiled a list of six popular outdoor courts that blend fitness, recreation, and fun. These athletic courts are perfect for creating your own personal play zone right at home.

1. Tennis Courts

Tennis is a popular outdoor game dating back to the 12th century when French monks hit a ball against the wall calling the game “jeu de paume”. This sport is still as popular although it has evolved to lawn tennis and then to modern tennis.

Building outdoor tennis courts is a great idea for an outdoor court as this sport is perfect for both recreational and competitive play with its fast reallies. It can easily be introduced to the kids for a great bonding time with the family.

2. Basketball Courts

Shooting hoops is one of the most common bonding activities for families in the U.S. Its versatility for building either a full court or a half court makes it an all-time favorite for building a backyard athletic court.

What’s more is that outdoor basketball courts are one of the easiest courts to build, you can either DIY it or work with the experts at Pine State Courts to build a professional-grade court. Wondering how? Here’s a link to our 101 guide on basketball court dimensions to get you started with your project.

3. Pickleball Courts

A unique fusion of tennis, ping pong, and badminton is gaining popularity across the globe, especially in the U.S. Going by its equally unique name,pickleball is a favorite among players of all ages with its simple rules and fast rallies.

Building outdoor pickleball courts can thus add to the fun of your family time. It is easy to learn and a great fitness activity with an engaging play that’s sure to keep your heart rate up, and increase your endurance.

4. Volleyball Courts

Nothing screams summer more than the fun-packed beach volleyball with the warm breeze, beach waves, and the soft sand. It is the perfect summer game to play in your own backyard beach.

An outdoor volleyball court hits the sweet spot between a competitive play and a safe playing surface with the sand making way for safe landings. It offers quick recoveries and plenty of laughs in between spikes and serves with your family.

5. Badminton Courts

With just a net, rackets, and a shuttlecock, you can transform your outdoor space into a lively, laughter-filled zone with badminton. It is a sport that’s perfect for players of all ages with its easy to learn rules and a great cardio workout without feeling like one.

Best of all, it doesn’t require much space. You can easily build a small badminton court to utilize your outdoor space and build an active space for your family to be fit and enjoy it at the same time.

6. Multi-Use Recreation Courts

Got a family with diverse tastes, one loves to shoot hoops, while one loves to play tennis, and another is a fan of pickleball? For a versatile family like yours, the perfect solution is building a multi-use recreation court.

This court makes the best use of your space by accommodating all sports in a single court. Line markings help distinguish between the different spaces and with an expert court builder like Pine State Courts, you get a professional grade multi-athletic court where your family can bond as a whole or train solo.

Benefits of Outdoor Courts for Overall Health

Wondering exactly why we are preaching outdoor courts and their fitness benefits so much? Here’s how outdoor courts add to the overall health of your family and help you achieve your fitness goals while you have your fun:

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• Playing outdoors improves your cardiovascular health by getting your heart rate up and keeping you active. This improves your blood circulation and helps manage your blood pressure.
• Outdoor courts help improve your balance and hand-eye coordination along with your flexibility.
• It helps with weight management by providing a space to stay active while having fun, it also lightens your mood, helping with stress management.
• An outdoor court fosters family and community bonding which helps with loneliness and improves mental health.
• Playing out in the Sun boosts your overall health with increased Vitamin D production and good bone health.

How to Choose the Right Outdoor Court for You

Choosing which court to build in your outdoor space is a tricky question that confuses most home owners. Deciding on the right outdoor court for your backyard space requires considering various factors like budget, space, and the most important of all - your family’s inclination to a particular sport.

Here’s how you can choose the right outdoor court for you:

Assess your needs

Before you begin with anything else, it is important to consider if there’s a particular sport your family loves, whether it is tennis, pickleball, or tennis.

This way you’ll have a clear winner here, if not then you can build a multi-athletic court to suit the diverse tastes of your family and can easily host friendly matches.

Assess your outdoor space

Depending on the amount of space you have in your backyard, you can decide on a full court or a half court. Do talk to your local authorities about the zoning laws and noise regulations.

It is also important to ensure that your space is accessible to build the court and has ample space for buffer zones. In case of an uneven surface, level it first with rollers before starting with the foundation.

Budget considerations

Consider your budget carefully by factoring in the size of the court, the surface material you choose for the court asphalt vs. acrylic, the labor costs, and the foundational work your space needs.

Additional features like LED lighting for evening plays and acrylic cushioning for player safety add to the cost of building an outdoor court.

Additional customizations

In addition to customizing the size of the court to fit in your space, you can also customize the aesthetics of your court to make it your own. You can add custom colors, logos, or family crests to make your court unique.

At Pine State Courts, we have an interactive “design your court” tool that lets you visualize how your court will look post customizations.

Takeway

Each family has its own dynamics and equally unique sports choices. By building an outdoor court you can provide a space for your family to interact, have fun, and stay active. You can teach games to your kids, foster team spirit, and community bonding.

You can either choose a game your family loves or build a multi-athletic court to make room for versatility. At Pine State Courts, we understand how an outdoor court can be a game changer for your family’s bonding and fitness and offer our expert design services for pickleball, tennis, basketball, and multi-athletic courts.

Contact us for an assessment of your space and get started with your backyard project.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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1. How do I choose the right outdoor court for my backyard or community?

To choose the right outdoor court for your backyard or community, assess if they like a particular sport, consider your budget and space to determine whether you need a full or half court. Also, consider other factors like climate and maintenance needs of the outdoor court.

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2. Can one court be used for multiple activities?

Yes, one court can be used for multiple activities by building a multi-athletic court with different line markings to indicate each sports area. This space can also be used for other activities like doing pilates, yoga, or hosting friendly matches.

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3. Are outdoor courts suitable for all ages?

Yes, outdoor courts are suitable for all ages. With safe design of the court, adequate buffer zones, and adjustable nets or hoops, a single outdoor court can be used by young children and older adults too.

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4. Can outdoor courts increase property value?

Yes, outdoor courts can increase the property value by creating an appealing case for buyers with a family or sports enthusiasts. It is also a desirable space for people who love to have unique spaces or host outdoor gatherings.

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5. What surface types are best for outdoor courts?

For outdoor courts, asphalt is a great durable option as is concrete except for its hard surface that’s rough on player’s joints. Adding a layer of acrylic cushioning to these hard courts helps with player safety and adds to the aesthetics and durability.