I’m not sure how many hours I logged shooting hoops in our driveway as a kid, but I know it was a lot! I’d play with my brothers, dad, and next-door neighbors, inventing lots of backyard basketball games where everyone could play and have fun, regardless of their age or skill level.
Whether you have a driveway, a cement or dirt slab in your backyard, or are willing to take a walk to a local park, there are lots of backyard basketball games you can enjoy with your own friends and family!
Popular Backyard Basketball Games
Be sure to try out these popular backyard basketball games! Each offers a unique twist on the classic sport, sharpening your shooting skills and keeping the competition (and trash talk!) lively among friends and family.
H-O-R-S-E and Its Many Adaptations
H-O-R-S-E is a classic game where your imagination and shot-making skills are key.
The first player attempts a shot from any location; if they make it, the next player must replicate the same shot. Failure to do so earns them a letter, starting with ‘H’. The game continues until someone spells ‘H-O-R-S-E’.
Variations often include adding consecutive shots or jump shots to up the ante. Or if you’re like my family, you might add ridiculous requirements – “Standing on one foot with your eyes closed!”
Trick Shot
As long as we’re talking about ridiculous shots, why not make an entire game out of “trick shots”?
Shoot balls from behind your back, under your legs, or even from behind the basket! The best trick shot wins.
This game can even be enjoyed long-distance, with friends and family members recording their best trick shot and sending it to the others, and the group voting on the winner.
Around the World: Shooting Skills Challenge
Around the World challenges your precision and consistency with consecutive shots from set spots on the court. You progress in a half circle, typically from one side of the court to the other.
If you miss, you can choose to stay or take a chance shot; if you miss the chance shot, you go back to the beginning. You want to be the first player to make a basket from all positions.
Step Back
Similar to Around the World, players will start about 2-3 feet from the basketball hoop and shoot.
If they make the shot, they’ll take one step back from the hoop and make another shot. If they miss, they’ll be forced to go back to the starting line to start over.
Whoever holds the record for making it the farthest from the basketball hoop at the end of a designated time (say 5-10 minutes), wins.
Knockout: The Fast-Paced Elimination Game
Knockout is undeniably thrilling. You and the other players line up, and the first player shoots from the free throw line. If they miss, they must retrieve the ball and score as quickly as possible.
The second player shoots immediately after the first; if they score before the player ahead, the former is ‘knocked out’. The last player standing wins, so quick rebounds and scores are your top strategy.
Firing Squad
Firing squad combines Around the World with Knockout. So rather than taking turns like in Around the World, players race to be the first to complete the half circle, shooting all at the same time.
Golf
Similar to traditional golf, the lowest score wins in this game! Players work together by determining 18 “holes,” or spots on the court from which each player must make a basket. These can be predetermined or players can take turns choosing holes.
The first player begins at the first “hole” and shoots until they make the basket. The number of attempts it takes to make a basket is their score.
The next player takes their turn at the first hole, then the next player, until all players have taken a turn. Then just like golf, all players move on to the second hole.
The lowest score at the end of 18 holes win.
Backyard Baseball
This is one of the best backyard basketball games for larger groups!
Divide your group into two even teams – a dribbling team who will line up at the free throw line and a shooting team who will line up at one of the corners of the baseline. The dribbling team will take turns attempting to make a “home run” by dribbling the basketball around the half court and back, while the shooting team attempts to “get them out” by making baskets.
When a basket is made, the shooters will call out “Stop!” and the current dribbler will be out. Dribblers will take turns until all of the dribblers are out, getting one point for each time they make it around the half court and back without getting out.
Whichever dribbler has the most points at the end of the game, wins. Shooters and dribblers then switch places for the next game.
Buzzer Beater
This is one of the most straight-forward backyard basketball games. Choose a designated spot to shoot from and a time limit (10 seconds, 30 seconds, etc.).
Players take turns shooting as many basketballs as possible within the designated time limit. Whoever makes the most shots in that time, wins.
Sharks and Minnows
Just like the classic recess game…but with basketballs!
In this game 1-2 players are designated “sharks” and stand at the half court line facing the baseline. The other players are “minnows” who must dribble their basketball past the “sharks” to the other end of the court before a “shark” either steals their ball or knocks it out of bounds.
Any “minnows” who lose their balls will become “sharks” in the next round, with rounds continuing until just one “minnow” is left and deemed the winner. The winning “minnow” is then the “shark” for the next game.
Musical Basketballs
This game is similar to musical chairs except each player has a basketball. Basketballs are placed together on the ground, with players walking around them in a circle while the music plays.
When the music stops, each player must grab a basketball from the ground and make a basket. The last player to make their shot is out, with rounds continuing until one winner remains.
Tag
Our family has played this basketball court version of tag both with and without basketballs.
In this version, one person is designated “it.” Those who aren’t it must dribble a basketball along a designated line of the court (baseline, sideline, etc.) while avoiding the tagger. The last person tagged is the winner.
We’ve played this game making any line on the court fair game to keep things interesting and more challenging for the tagger. We’ve also played it with no basketball at all, just running along the court lines and having fun.
Basketball Limbo
Just like regular limbo, but players must pass under the limbo stick without touching it and while dribbling a basketball. Those who either touch the stick or lose control of their ball are out, with the last person standing declared the winner.
Basketball Relay
Just like the classic race!
This game calls for players to line up in even teams behind the baseline of a basketball court. The first player of each team will dribble their ball to the opposite baseline (or half court line) and back, where they’ll pass the ball to the next player.
Players will take turns dribbling until one team finishes, making them the winners.
Record Breaker
Try to beat the record of your friends and family members at literally anything:
- Most shots in a row
- Most layups in a row
- Longest dribbling record
- Most dribbles in 30 seconds
If your family is competitive like mine, this game can last forever and get outlandish pretty quickly.
Obstacle Course
Because what kid doesn’t love a good obstacle course?!
Use chalk marks, jump ropes, or hula hoops to mark different dribbling and shooting challenges. Whoever finishes the obstacle course fastest, wins.
All-Star Contest
Use chalk to mark shots from different distances and levels of difficulty around the court. Assign points to each shot – the more difficult the shot, the more points it’s worth.
Set a timer for one minute and rack up as many points as possible. Whoever has the most points at the end of their turn, wins.
Did I miss any great backyard basketball games? Be sure to share them in the comments! And enjoy!!
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