Draw up your plans carefully. Every game has its own required measurements. Sometimes only two or three feet make all the difference between an area that works for the games you want to play and one that doesn't quite make it.

Don't worry if you can't find room for everything. Set aside space for your favorites and design it well. Your yard will get much more use if you allow enough room for players to stretch out and move.

Design Tip: My family plays volleyball, badminton, and tetherball all on the same backyard lawn and we mark out the court dimensions using upside down spray chalk. The brightly colored chalk does not harm the grass in any way and is readily available at any hardware or home-improvement store. - Garden Artisan Scott Cohen, The Green Scene

Contributing Author: Scott Cohen, contributing writer for Landscaping Network and owner of The Green Scene