Lawrence.com

As the legend goes, the game of Kubb (pronounced “Koob”) was first played by Vikings using human skulls and femurs. This ritualized violence of the ancient berserkers — making sport with the remains of the conquered — is still practiced today.

Granted, rather than with desecrated corpses, it’s now generally played with wooden blocks and rods. And, also granted, it’s no longer played on the smoldering ruins of pillaged Swedish villages — you’ll more than likely find it on neatly manicured lawns.

Taking all of that into account, however, Kubb is still pretty awesome. It’s distillation of the meanest impulses of humanity into a good-natured competition fit for a barbecue or tailgate party — the hallmark of any good yard game.

“I’ve played horseshoes, bocce ball, washers — I’ve always loved yard games,” says Jack Low, who’s been playing Kubb every week in Lawrence parks for nearly four years.

“I send out a mass text to about 50 people every Thursday. Anywhere from 10 to 40 people show up. There are a lot of people who think this makes their week. People really look forward to it and base their weekly calendar around it.”

The passion produced by yard games may seem disproportionate to their size and stature, but rest assured this vestigial Viking bloodlust is genuine.

“When I’m playing yard games with my friends from high school, things do get competitive,” says Michelle Compton, Kansas University graduate student and Student Union Activities (SUA) adviser. “I can still tell you who won however many games and who was on what team. It’s pretty intense, especially because we’re a mix of KU, MU, and K-State people. The rivalries come out. We’re pretty harsh.”

Just in time for football season, Compton and SUA will be organizing these mini-gladiatorial games to be played concurrently with the Jayhawks’ super-sized gladiatorial games.

Three hours or so before each home football game, Compton’s SUA crew will set up washers, corn hole and monkey ball games outside on the Kansas Union’s patio (or inside in case of bad weather). That is, every game except for Sept. 19 — then the yard games crew will be on the Campanile Hill in a big tent starting at 9 a.m. The games are open to Hawk Zone club members, but those interested can join at the events.

“I’m a big fan of ladder ball,” says KU senior Matt Enriquez. “The secret to a good game of ladder ball is the loft you get on a toss. Too many people make the mistake of throwing too close to the ground. It’s also known as monkey ball, but I refuse to call it monkey ball. If we’re saying monkeys can play it, I think that’s a little bit degrading to the sport. There’s a bit more to it than that.”

Enriquez plays any and all yard games with his frat brothers in Tau Kappa Epsilon whenever he can get a chance. He’s not so sure about lawn darts, though.

“I’ve seen some people play lawn darts with the original metal spikes, but that doesn’t seem so appealing to me,” Enriquez says. “The risk of somebody throwing one through my foot isn’t that exciting.”

Although impaling oneself is in keeping with the sublimated brutality of athletics — so very Viking — most folks prefer to just have a good time with yard games.

“They’re something fun and easy that everyone can do,” Compton says.

“People are constantly yelling, ‘I call next game! I call next game!’ There’s competition, but you can still have fun with it,” she says. “I have to admit, when I first started playing ladder ball, people refused to play with me because I was so bad. But whatever — you’re just there to have fun.”

Usually, that fun is accompanied with constantly re-stuffed beer coozies.

“If you’re tailgating and it’s one of those game days, the tradition is to have some beer while you’re playing ladder ball,” Enriquez says. “If you drink too much, though, ladder ball becomes really hard. I’d rather be winning than be drunk.”

SUA will be following that teetotaling approach and emphasizing the all-ages nature of yard games.

“It gives you an option at tailgating that isn’t the stereotypical drinking,” Compton says. “We want to have activities that everyone can do.”

And you certainly don’t need booze to participate in that most time honored of yard game traditions: talking a little trash.

“Trash talk depends on who I’m playing,” Enriquez says. “I know the guys who trash talking works against, and I know the guys where it only fuels them to be better players. It’s the quiet ones that I’m scared of.”

Of course, let’s be honest, it’s hard to get too worked up about games with such menacing alternate titles as “corn hole” and “monkey ball.”

“It’s always like, ‘Hey, it’s a nice day out. Let’s go play some ladder ball.’ It’s so leisurely and fun,” Enriquez says of what is ultimately the laid back allure of yard games.

“You can play for as long as you want — for a short 15-minute game or a couple of hours. If you want to go outside and do more than just sit on the bench, why not take part in minimal physical activity? I enjoy yard games for their competitive side, but I like them just as well for hanging out with friends.”

Washers

Set-ups vary widely but typically consist of two shallow open-top boxes each with a wide PVC pipe in the center — placed 20 to 30 feet apart. Players stand at opposing sides and toss four washers at the boxes. Scoring methods also vary, but are typically include 1 point for landing in the box, 3 points for a leaner and 5 points in the pipe. The first to score exactly 11 wins; going over 11 busts to 0. [All rules (PDF)][ Where to buy: Dick's Sporting Goods or Walmart]

Monkey ball

Players toss bolos (two golf balls connected by rope) at a series of three bars arranged in a ladder formation. The goal is to wrap your bolo around one of the bars. Each bar, or “rung,” has a different point value — usually the top rung is worth 3 points, the middle rung is 2 points, and the bottom rung is 1 point. The first player to reach 21 wins. [All rules][ Where to buy: Dick's Sporting Goods]

Corn hole

Players toss bean bags at an angled box with a hole cut in the surface. Generally, bags that go in the hole are worth 3 points, bags touching the hole are 1 point. The first player to reach 21 wins. [All rules][ Where to buy: Dick's Sporting Goods]