Photo Credit: Chris Crandall

We’re not going to tell you how awesome obstacle courses are for kids of all ages.  We’re just going to tell you to enjoy Howard Cosell’s obstacle course play-by-play from the 1980 version of Battle of the Network Stars. So many great Cosell moments.  Including his energetic “AND LOOK AT BAIO GET OVER THAT WALL!” call at the 0:40 mark. Then the post race interview with Scott Baio, “You handled the tires well…the monkey bars” (1:35).  Howard, you were one of a kind.

Photo Credit: Chris Crandall

We’re also not going to suggest you build an obstacle course in your backyard (saving it for its own dedicated issue) to use in your Ninja Warrior audition video. Instead we suggest you head to your neighborhood playground and map out a few courses using the various slides, climbing walls, and, of course, the monkey bars.

Tips:

• If you have them, bring some cones, hula hoops, balls and anything else you can incorporate without too much trouble.
• Bring some chalk to record course times on the playground black top
• It’s highly likely that the smartphone in your pocket has a stopwatch, and if you bring chalk, you can record course times on the playground black top.
• For a quality lasting memory you can play over and over again, chase behind your kids (or better yet, grandpa) and shoot some first person video.