Pull on your heaviest jackets and strap on your fluffiest hats people because this weather chills your bones!  I mentioned in my posts about snowboarding and ice skating that with the onset of winter comes a gamut of new activities and hobbies.  However, I am willing to wager that some of us show much less enthusiasm than others about the snow and wintry precipitation that will surely blanket our beautiful campus.  For those people, I would like to offer you an escape.  I would like for you to step outside the current conditions which you despise so much and step into the past.  Think back to summer!

Recall the rich foliage, the warm summer breezes, and the delicious ice cream!  Remember all of the summertime activities which winter nearly eliminates from the realm of possibility.  One activity which particularly comes to mind for me is swimming in a pool outside.  Of course, the YMCA or the White Building provide indoor pools, but swimming outside, especially without worrying about a chill after surfacing, trumps the indoor option.  Swimming means so much to me that I essentially denote the shift from summer to winter as the moment my uncle pulls the seasonal cover over the pool.  I am never happy about it at the time.

I like to think of swimming as flying through water; the freedom of motion truly is similar to a bird soaring through the sky.  In addition to these blissful movements, the buoyant force on your body given by the water provides a great deal of physical stress relief.  The water significantly mitigates the pressure and stress placed on your joints from everyday actions.  From these attributes it is clear that swimming in a pool is a serene, calming, and enjoyable activity.

Reducing both physical and mental stress in this way is fantastic, yet here at “Not Quite Sports” we look at a swimming pool with the perspective of, “How can we have some good, old-fashioned, competitive fun with this?”  A myriad of options exist; to find some answers you can ask your inner eight-year-old!  Some games which have stuck with my friends, my family, and me over the years include refrigerator, sharks and minnows, and marco polo.  The classics never get old.  I also never have trouble finding someone to race to one end of the pool and back.

In my later years, as my friends and I began to explore our ranges of motion, we became acrobatic.  After jumping on the trampoline during the long summer afternoons, we headed over to the pool to put our skills to the test.  Back flips, gainers, Lincoln-loops, and rodeos were just some of the tricks we tried to pull before splashing into the water.  We hoped for the best when it came to landing on our faces.

As you have probably seen for yourself, the options an outdoor pool provides seem without bounds.  Swimming appeals to the older folk who wish to relieve their aches and pains in a therapeutic session in the pool.  Young children can use pools to play all sorts of silly games to keep themselves occupied.  Teens can find ways to compete with one another while still having a great time.

So as you sit here in class with your heavy coats and hats on, think back to summer.  Fondly recall memories you made while splashing around on a hot summer afternoon, and share them below!  Finally, keep your head up until next summer when you can do it again!

Think back to your childhood and adolescence.  Think about the carefree way in which you interacted with your classmates.  Think about all of the games you and your friends enjoyed or invented!  Marco polo, kickball, and duck duck goose surely engender fond, or even nostalgic, memories.  When discussing childhood games, one in particular rests atop the mountain of others; this exhilarating activity is a universal connection among people everywhere.  You have all heard of it, played it, and loved it.

Tag is a classic, and it will not be forgotten anytime in the near future.  Releasing childish energy in such a social and slightly competitive manner creates friendship and fond memories. In addition, variations of the game continue to sprout from creative minds.  Among the more popular versions are blob tag, freeze tag, and, a rather recent addition to the list, laser tag.

There is a high likelihood that you are asking yourself why I would attempt to make a child’s game, a distant memory of the past, relevant.  At this point in our lives, we think of tag in a nostalgic sense and nothing more; we have interviews to prepare for and assignments to complete and club meetings to attend.  The answer is that tag, laser tag in particular, does not have to be a pathetic attempt to reach your inner child!  The activity can be enjoyed by all age groups.

I am going to be honest; the first time someone suggested laser tag to me in high school I laughed.  It seemed so juvenile, and of course there would be screaming toddlers prancing about and crying.  However, a large group of my friends and I started to visit the local laser tag arena, and we always had a blast.  Surprisingly enough, every time we traveled to the warehouse-sized building we saw other young adults partaking in the fantastical warfare as opposed to just children.  In addition, being located so close to the popular venues for semi-formal dances and promenades, the place had oftentimes been busy with teens after such events.  Laser tag had been more popular than I thought!

In the area of play, black lights above illuminated the neon features of the realistic sailing vessel and oil barrels.  Up-beat music shook the room.  Intense apprehension captured every player who peered around a corner.  Whether you are a strong competitor or someone who is just looking for something fun to do with a bunch of other people, laser tag can be a great way to suit your interests.

Another great aspect of laser tag lies in the social opportunities before and after the games.  My friends and I went to the local arena not only to play laser tag but also to find something new to do while just hanging out.  In addition, laser tag gives young, vibrant clubs and organizations an easy way to interact with one another and possibly even break the ice!  Therefore, as you can see, the game of tag need not be excluded from our present lives.  If it meant something to you as a child it can still mean something to you now!  If you are ever presented with the option, you may want to think about it before declining the offer.