Gaga ball is a variant of dodge ball which is played with one ball. Gaga ball is a high intensity sport which combines striking, dodging, jumping, running and more with the ball. Ball gets thrown with hands and is pointed to fellow players. If it hits below the knee the person is out and is played until just one person stays in.
What is Gaga ball and rules to play:
Gaga ball is a fast paced high energy sport which is played on pits. The rules of the game keep changing but its played with a group of people everywhere. A soft foam ball is dodged and thrown around to target the knee or below knee parts of opponents. On striking the same the person gets out and the game continues with this person moving out of the ring or pit. Its fun filled and an easy workout option. This is truly addictive a game and keeps getting intense with time. Some rules of Gaga ball are:
1. A player can only hit the ball with their hands
2. They can not hold or carry the ball
3. Only open hand hits are allowed to strike the ball
4. Even if the ball hits knee or below portion by the person himself, they are out
5. Ball can not go out of pit, and there is penalty for such cases
6. Wall jumping may or may not be allowed
7. No player can touch the ball twice in a row
8. If a player catches the ball from air the person who threw gets out
9. The people who are out must leave the pit completely
10. Player must begin by touching the feet on wall and chant ga ga ga
History of Gaga ball:
Gaga ball’s origins are traced back to Australian Jewish community in the 1960’s. It came to Israel in 1980’s as a training exercise by defense soldiers. Its popularity spearheaded after actor Sacha Baron Cohen became a champion Gaga player for British during Habonim Youth Movement. Some even believe that Lady Gaga invented this game in her childhood.
Israeli roots are believed to be the most consistent theory of its origination as Ga Ga in Hebrew means Touch touch or hit hit.
There are some theories believing Gaga ball came at Camp Idylwold in NY in 1950’s, and from there it was picked up by Israeli’s. Despite the origin issues, Ga Ga ball has become a favorite mainstay sport game at American Schools and Camps.
What is gaga ball pit:
- An enclosed pit with a boundary usually hexagon or octagon shaped
- It must not have sharp edges
- Keep it as large as the size of the group playing
- Buy a specialized Gaga ball pit of create your own with the supplies at hand.
Benefits of Gaga Ball:
Gaga ball is an intense and yet fun filled sport activity which not just brings the kids to an ice breaking situation but also develops strong team bonds too. Some of the benefits of gaga ball are:
- Gaga ball helps in multiple physical strength skills and abilities
- It helps in making kids involved and participate in some stimulating game
- It is great for kids all ages and even adults as it helps in rigorous workouts too
- This is a fast paced and high energy game which helps in keeping them actively involved
- This game instills strategic thinking and decision making skills
- This is an easy game for all levels of people
- It makes kids extremely agile and physically active
- It keeps the children interested and involved for long thus helping grow focus and concentration.
- This develops great dexterity or hand eye coordination in kids
- Not much supplies are needed to play gaga ball just a pit and a soft ball.
- This can be a great introductory sport game for young kids which leads to mastering skills needed in all sport and outdoor activities ahead.
The above compilation on What is gaga ball and history of Gaga ball is to share the details and benefits of this amazing and popular high energy game for kids and elders too.
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