Gaga ball is an inviting game that makes a perfect addition to various locations—whether it is for your home, school, rental property, or community park. This is due to the fact that it is a game any individual can play, no matter how old they are. There are several factors to consider prior to building a gaga ball pit. Before you dive into the fun, take a look at our tips for building a gaga ball pit.
What Is Gaga Ball?
Before you decide to add such a dynamic park element, it is important to know what exactly gaga ball is. Gaga ball is a relatively new game that many people are not familiar with. It became popular during the second half of the 20th century, and today, it remains an exciting game that acts as a friendlier alternative to traditional dodgeball.
The main objective of gaga ball is to be the last one standing. You can knock others out of the pit by hitting them below the waist with a soft ball. If you are the last one remaining, you win! Gaga ball is a safer alternative because players must aim below the waist, preventing the common injuries that stem from dodgeball.
How It Benefits Children
It is important to know why gaga ball is great for a child’s development. Gaga ball is a fantastic addition to any school or community park. This is because gaga ball hones the motor development skills children need to thrive in all other sports. By engaging in gaga ball, children will prepare to play other, more intensive sports such as basketball, soccer, and baseball.
Gaga ball is also great for the self-development of a child because of its inclusive nature. Children won’t have to worry about being picked last, or being picked at all, because gaga ball is not a team sport. By playing on their own and utilizing their own skill sets, children will also gain self-confidence that is positive to their overall development.
What Is Needed to Play
Another positive feature of gaga ball is that it requires almost nothing to play. Below you will find the required materials along with a brief description.
Octopit
The octopit, or pen, is essential to playing gaga ball. To create this, you can use a fence-like item that creates the structure needed to keep players within boundaries. The pit can also be used to a player’s advantage by using the wall to avoid being targeted. The walls of this enclosure are essential to the game, allowing for the ball to be bounced and kicked away at different angles.
Ball
This item does not require much explanation. However, you want to be specific about the ball you choose to play with. The objective of the game is to target others below the waist, but that does not mean you should use a rough or hard ball. To keep everyone safe, opt for a traditional dodgeball or a softer alternative.
People
The last components you need to play gaga ball are people. The great thing about this game is that you do not need many participants to have a good time. A successful game can be played with as little as two participants or as many as 15.
Now that you know what you need to play a fun game of gaga ball, we can dive into the different tips for building a gaga ball pit.
Choose Your Materials
The first tip for creating a gaga ball pit is to be selective with your materials. While there are a variety of different materials to choose from, for a simple at-home build, you will want to choose wood to create the structure. You can use wood to create the wooden structure, but be sure to plan ahead and develop a blueprint that includes eight barriers, all equal in length. The height of the structure is completely up to you, but keep in mind that you should aim for the traditional knee or hip height.
Decide on a Designated Area
Next, choose an appropriate area in which to place the ball pit. If you are a school playground facilitator, it is useful to consider adding the pit to a free open space on the school’s blacktop. If there is plenty of open grass space, you can also build the pit there. However, you will need to prepare this space, unlike the blacktop location. These suggestions also apply to community park facilitators.
For home and rental properties, add the ball pit to an area used regularly for outdoor recreation. If you want a gaga ball pit for home and family activities, opting for a portable option is beneficial, as you will not have to worry about picking and preparing a permanent location.
Remove the Grass
As mentioned, if you choose to build your ball pit on a grassy area, you must prepare the area in advance. You can do this by removing the grass; if you do not, the grass will act as a barrier and inconvenience during the actual game, or could keep you from playing entirely.
Try Competitive Games
For older children and group activities, you can try various ways to make the game more challenging. Below are a few suggestions.
- Use colorful masking tape to create boundaries for participants.
- Play with more than one ball.
- Instead of using the elimination process, use a rotation method.
These are just a few simple tips for building a gaga ball pit. If you do not want to endure planning and implementing a labor-intensive gaga ball build, you can always purchase a pit. Here at Discount Playground Supply, we specialize in gaga ball pits. We offer portable gaga ball pits that are easy to assemble, allowing you to provide a professional and safe play area. Our portable pits are perfect for any space. For questions or inquiries about this wonderful game and assembling your own pit, give us a call. Our team at Discount Playground Supply is always ready to help.
