Kubb, the new Shuffleboard

When you think of outdoor games for Senior Citizens, what first comes to mind? "Shuffleboard, right? Its been high on the list of reasonably active games for Seniors for a long time but the game of Kubb is one that may soon surpass it in popularity.

Picture a bright, sunny day in Florida. An obviously older man we'll call Uncle Tom , with pipe in one hand and shuffleboard cue in the other, is waiting patiently in the hot sun for his friend to shove his disc to the desired spot. The old baseball cap lends a little shade to his face but he still squints as he hopes that his opponent misses his own well placed disc. As his friend ponders his next approach, Uncle Tom is probably thinking, Take your time. No hurry, nothing else to do today anyway. In the meantime, other oldies have sauntered over to watch the "action" hoping to have a chance to challenge the winner. Shuffleboard is a good game but there is something else to do. Something new and exciting. It is the game of Kubb. Keep reading to find out why.

Some more sedentary friends of Uncle Tom are at the picnic table in the shade where a rousing game of pinochle is being played. Their bifocals are perched on the end of their noses so they can better see the large print cards. Others with nothing more to do are picking at the chips in the big basket on the table and washing them down with weak iced tea. At least they’re in the shade. Too bad there isn’t a game of Kubb going on. Now that would be something to watch. Listen to the cheers as another Field Kubb is knocked down. But I'm getting ahead of my story.

Let’s first describe a Senior Citizen. In the United States, people who are more than sixty years of age are commonly referred to as Seniors or Senior Citizens because sixty or sixty five are the ages at which most people retire from the work force. These are relatively new ways of referring to that large segment of society. Another term that is somewhat new is "Golden Ager." The reason for that euphemism is obscure as there is nothing "golden" about being old. Maybe it’s the discounts on goods and services that are often given to Seniors or the special tax rules which favor that group hence "Golden Agers", because they managed to retain some of their "gold." In days gone by, references were made to "Oldsters" or "Old-Timers", even "Old Geezers," but be careful who you call those names now as they may be politically incorrect. There is a saying that fifty is the old age of youth and 60 is the youth of old age. But don’t let age define you. Keep up with the times. Some say that old age is a treat that not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy. They may reach old age but do not find any enjoyment in those years. Maybe it is at least partly due to the fact that they are just sitting there instead of getting with the program and participating in the fascinating game of Kubb.

Let’s face it. Seniors don’t look like Juniors, do they? Most have one or two of the common occurrences in Seniors such as wrinkles, liver spots and loss of hair color, as in no longer golden, and even loss of hair. Some have impaired speech, hearing and sight. When all three of the latter occur watch out. Hey, this is written by a Senior who knows what she is talking about. Even their thinking pace and reaction time and agility have somewhat diminished. But the nice thing about Kubb, you can have any level of all of the above and still enjoy the game.

The world wide number of people sixty five or older is increasing mainly in developed countries. In the United states, the percentage of people sixty five or older increased from four percent in 1900 to about 13 percent in the late 1990s. It is estimated that about 17 percent of the population will be sixty five or older in 2020. I see it as a growing market of active Seniors ready to add Kubb to their repertoire of favorite games. More and more Senior Citizen complexes are investing in these games to have on hand for their clients to enjoy.

Its important to keep all those Seniors moving. Its time for doing things. Get up, get your blood moving. Blood is what runs our bodies. After beginning to move around and enjoying the feeling of rejuvenation, which is just getting oxygen into your blood, then find a purpose for all of that movement such as playing Kubb.

With exercise comes renewed energy, energy begets energy. There is thinking energy, reading energy, and making a meal energy to name a few. Some of the more energetic seniors play tennis, golf, hunt, sail, cycle, even ride horses. But lets not get carried away. Just a fun game of Kubb is all you need to rev up the playing a game energy.

Not to knock shuffleboard. It’s an oldie too. It dates back to the 15th century in England. People slid a large British coin called a "groat" down a table. The game was called "Shove Groat." Later a silver penny was used and the game became "Shovel Penny." Shuffleboard was brought to our shores by the English settlers and there were matches played throughout the colonies. The fame of the game spread. In a way, it had an unsavory reputation as a game that contributed to the idlers who trifled away the day hidden in smoke filled rooms with a bottle in one hand and cue in the other. One cannot say that about Kubb players. They are outside in the fresh air for all to see. In Pennsylvania in 1848 there was a court case to decide if shuffleboard was a game of chance or a game of skill. The judge ruled it to be a game of skill even "though diverse persons played thereat and bet spiritous liquors on the game." There were tournaments in some major northeastern cities and by 1897 New York City newspapers gave as much press space to shuffleboard as it did to baseball and prizefighting.

World War II years were turbulent years and a time when shuffleboard became immensely popular. As people played, their minds were absorbed in the game and it helped to release the tensions of the war. The appeal of the game is skill and competitiveness and both of these are hallmarks of the game of Kubb also with the added ingredient of strategy.

The modern day game of shuffleboard became popular as a deck game on shipboard of luxury cruise liners. The first modern shuffleboard courts constructed on land were built in Daytona, Florida in 1913. The game is played by either two persons, called singles, or by four persons, called doubles. The object of the game is to push discs using a cue onto the scoring diagram at the opposite end of the court in order to score or to prevent the opponent from scoring by knocking their discs out of position. The equipment needed are the discs and cues and masonry courts with the scoring diagram delineated.

So why can we call Kubb the new shuffleboard? Shuffleboard as we know it will still be around as there are still many fans of the game who enjoy continuing the familiar. All the better as they are just honing some of the skills needed to win at Kubb and can use them when they get the urge for something newer and more exciting.

Unlike shuffleboard, Kubb can be played almost anywhere on any level area so players are not limited to pre-positioned and stationary masonry courts. A set of Kubb can be purchased to be used whenever time and desire to play occurs. Everything needed to play the game comes in a set of twenty-one pieces and is easily set up and ready to play in minutes. No need to wait your turn, sitting there in the hot sun, watching others have all the fun.

Seniors take great delight in competing with teens. Remember the size of the Kubb pitch or field can be adjusted to accommodate any level or age unlike the poured in cement, unchangeable size of the masonry shuffleboard courts. Groups can play as the rules allow for some flexibility so more people can enjoy the game together.

The object of the game is to knock down the "King" before the opposing side does. However, all of the Kubbs on the opposing team must be knocked down before the King can be attacked. It is a fun, challenging, cheer your team on sort of game. The rules are easy to learn.

Please refer to Kubb Game Rules on this website. Print them out. Get your set and you are good to go.

Have a good playing a game of Kubb energy day!