Greensburg's Backyard Games give kids needed exercise, interaction

Ten-year-old Benjamin Brown didn’t like being picked for the same team as his 6-year-old brother, Drew.

But there were more than a dozen other area kids for the Greensburg boy to play with in a game of Capture The Flag on Friday evening at Greensburg’s Lynch Field.

The city’s recreation program manager, Lydia Kinkaid, showed the children how to gently tag each other with pool noodles so they could maintain social distancing. Then the two teams raced off toward each other, each player trying to capture the opposing squad’s flag without being tagged and sent to “jail.”

The Brown brothers’ mother, Lauren, said the opportunity to play outdoors with peers is good for all the participating children — particularly for Benjamin, who is on the autism spectrum.

“I’m glad we came,” she said, noting recess for her children at school has been reduced from 25 minutes to about 15 minutes. “This is a good way for the kids to socialize. With the restrictions of covid, it hasn’t been easy. They’re limited at school.

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The competition for the flag was part of a new free weekly Community Backyard Games program headed by Kinkaid at Lynch Field.

Her goal is to put together programs that are fun and engaging for all ages. But the classic pick-up backyard games that begin at 5:30 p.m. each Friday are particularly suited for school-aged children.

“Any kids of any skill level can come and play together and have fun,” she said.

With pandemic-related restrictions on gatherings, Kinkaid agreed that kids may have been missing out on social interaction.

“I feel like some kids have been stuck at home a little bit more than they’re used to,” she said. “It’s important to go back to the basics and get them in a situation where they can hang out with each other safely, with not a lot of pressure in doing a specific sport.”

“They can come every week and meet new friends or hang out with friends they already know.”

Friday’s game was a welcome change for 7-year-old Seth Shoup of Greensburg, who came with his sister Sarah, 3, and their parents, Pat and Rachel.

Pat Shoup was glad to see his son Seth “running around and more active, because there’s something to do.

“It’s hard to get him to go outside. All he wants to do is play video games now.”

Parents who stay to watch their kids play are required to wear masks, but the face coverings are not required for participating children.

“They’re welcome to wear a mask if they want, but we don’t want it to become a breathing hazard in any way,” Kinkaid said.

The Backyard Games began with Hide ‘n Seek Tag on Sept. 11. Next up, on Sept. 25, is Freeze Tag.

The games are scheduled to continue through Oct. 9. Pre-registration is not required.

“Weather permitting, and if we have nothing else going on, we’ll be here,” Lauren Brown said.