Lawn Sports Quiz

2. The wire arches used in croquet are called what?

• widgets
  Incorrect. The correct answer are wickets. In some countries they are called hoops. Games are played with either six or nine of them, and a player earns points by hitting their ball through them.
• wickets
  Correct! In some countries they are called hoops. Games are played with either six or nine of them, and a player earns points by hitting their ball through them.
• withers
  Incorrect. The correct answer are wickets. In some countries they are called hoops. Games are played with either six or nine of them, and a player earns points by hitting their ball through them.

3. In horseshoe pitching, if you've just thrown a hobber where is your horseshoe likely to be?

• Furthest from the post
  Incorrect. Your horseshoe would be leaning on the post. Also called a "leaner," it is worth two points in a game of horseshoe pitching.
• Closest to the post
  Incorrect. Your horseshoe would be leaning on the post. Also called a "leaner," it is worth two points in a game of horseshoe pitching.
• Leaning on the post
  Correct! Also called a "leaner," it is worth two points in a game of horseshoe pitching.

4. Which of the following United States' lawn sport organizations was founded first?

• National Horseshoe Pitchers Association
  Correct! National Horseshoe Pitchers Association was organized in Kansas City, Mo., in 1914; USA Volleyball in 1928; United States Croquet Association in 1977.
• United States Croquet Association
  Incorrect. National Horseshoe Pitchers Association was organized in Kansas City, Mo., in 1914; USA Volleyball in 1928; United States Croquet Association in 1977.
• USA Volleyball
  Incorrect. National Horseshoe Pitchers Association was organized in Kansas City, Mo., in 1914; USA Volleyball in 1928; United States Croquet Association in 1977.

5. Hoping to cash in on the country's UFO hysteria of the 1950s, the inventor of the first plastic Frisbee marketed his new invention under what name?

• Unidentified Fun Object
  Incorrect. In 1955, Walter Fredrick Morrison sold the rights to his invention to Wham-O, the toy company already marketing the Super Ball and the Hula-Hoop. He called his invention the Pluto Platter.
• Pluto Platter
  Correct! In 1955, Walter Fredrick Morrison sold the rights to his invention to Wham-O, the toy company already marketing the Super Ball and the Hula-Hoop.
• Alien Flyer
  Incorrect. In 1955, Walter Fredrick Morrison sold the rights to his invention to Wham-O, the toy company already marketing the Super Ball and the Hula-Hoop. He called his invention the Pluto Platter.

6. What sport are you playing if immediately after the opening pull you've got a marker barking out the stall count in your face and six teammates waiting for a pass?

• rugby
  Incorrect. Ultimate Frisbee. The "opening pull" is the game's equivalent to the kickoff in football. A "marker" is a defender and the "stall count" is the 10-second reprieve one has to complete a pass to a teammate.
• Ultimate Frisbee
  Correct! The "opening pull" is the game's equivalent to the kickoff in football. A "marker" is a defender and the "stall count" is the 10-second reprieve one has to complete a pass to a teammate.
• volleyball
  Incorrect. Ultimate Frisbee. The "opening pull" is the game's equivalent to the kickoff in football. A "marker" is a defender and the "stall count" is the 10-second reprieve one has to complete a pass to a teammate.

7. Which of the following countries banned the sale of lawn darts in 1988?

• Iran
  Incorrect. The darts, which were typically about 12 inches long with a heavy metal or weighted plastic tip, caused thousands of injuries and three deaths in the U.S. In addition to the ban, the Consumer Product Safety Commission urged people who already owned the darts to destroy them.
• United States
  Correct! The darts, which were typically about 12 inches long with a heavy metal or weighted plastic tip, caused thousands of injuries and three deaths in the U.S. In addition to the ban, the Consumer Product Safety Commission urged people who already owned the darts to destroy them.
• France
  Incorrect. The darts, which were typically about 12 inches long with a heavy metal or weighted plastic tip, caused thousands of injuries and three deaths in the U.S. In addition to the ban, the Consumer Product Safety Commission urged people who already owned the darts to destroy them.

8. Once known as battledore and shuttlecock, this backyard sport dates back to Ancient Greece, China, and India. However, once it became popular in England it borrowed its current name from somebody's house. What is it?

• petanque
  Incorrect. Badminton House, the Duke of Beaufort's residence in Gloucestershire, England, is where a new version of this ancient game emerged during the 1850s.
• badminton
  Correct! Badminton House, the Duke of Beaufort's residence in Gloucestershire, England, is where a new version of this ancient game emerged during the 1850s.
• boules
  Incorrect. Badminton House, the Duke of Beaufort's residence in Gloucestershire, England, is where a new version of this ancient game emerged during the 1850s.

9. Quoits is another form of what popular backyard sport?

• croquet
  Incorrect. Similar to horseshoe pitching, in quoits a ring is thrown at a vertical stake. At sea, the game of deck quoits is played with rings made of rope.
• bowls
  Incorrect. Similar to horseshoe pitching, in quoits a ring is thrown at a vertical stake. At sea, the game of deck quoits is played with rings made of rope.
• horseshoe pitching
  Correct! In quoits a ring is thrown at a vertical stake. At sea, the game of deck quoits is played with rings made of rope.

10. David Mullany got the inspiration for this backyard toy while watching his son play stickball with a broomstick handle and plastic golf ball in the backyard of their Fairfield, Conn., home.

• Hacky Sack
  Incorrect. A former semi-pro pitcher, Mullany tested out several different hole patters before settling on the familiar eight-oblong-hole pattern. The first plastic Wiffle balls were produced and sold in 1953.
• Wiffle Ball
  Correct! A former semi-pro pitcher, Mullany tested out several different hole patters before settling on the familiar eight-oblong-hole pattern. The first plastic Wiffle balls were produced and sold in 1953.
• Tinkertoy
  Incorrect. A former semi-pro pitcher, Mullany tested out several different hole patters before settling on the familiar eight-oblong-hole pattern. The first plastic Wiffle balls were produced and sold in 1953.