EQUIPMENT
1 rubber playground ball
1 Ga-ga pit
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Gaga Ball. You are trying to become the final one standing in the gaga pit.
INSTRUCTION
- I will toss the ball up in the air. Everyone must yell “Ga” on the first bounce and “Ga” again on the second bounce, and the ball is then in play.
- You may only hit the ball with your hands only, and may not carry or throw the ball - it must be punched with open hand
- If the ball touches you in any way below the waist you are eliminated and get out of the pit
- If the ball hits you above the waist you are still in and the person that hit it is out
- If the ball goes out of the Ga-ga court, the last player to touch the ball is eliminated
- If you catch the ball before it bounces, the player who hit it is eliminated
- You can only touch the ball once in a row and must wait until someone else hits it before touching it again (no double touches).
- If there are only two players remaining, you may hit the ball up to 3 times in a row. The ball is “rejuvenated” by contact with the wall, and the hit count resets.
Game 1: This is a practice game so the players that get out can just stand on the inside of the pit
Game 2: Chaos tag variation- you may get back into the game when the player that hit you goes out
Game 3: I will partner you up with a teammate. You and your partner can work together to be the last ones standing.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach: Make sure that you, the teacher, can see what is going on at all times as there may be some players that try to break the rules
- Safety: Make sure the stronger players understand that hitting the ball very hard is not the best way to get someone out as it may come back at them. It may also hurt another player.