Last week I was talking with Roger Fields when he told me about a popular new game in his church. It’s called Ga-Ga ball and is a form of Israeli Dodge Ball. It’s safer and more contained than traditional dodge ball. You can play it with individuals or teams. After looking it up on the Internet, this is what I’ve found.
Setting Up for Ga-Ga Ball
The game is typically played is played outside in an area with eight small walls. This octagonal court is called the Ga-Ga pit. While there is no official size it, should be large enough to accommodate the players. The ball should be soft and approximately the size of a soccer ball. Typically a kick-ball or bouncy ball would work.
These are the standard rules but there is some room for variation.
Rules of Ga-Ga Ball
- As play begins, all players should keep one hand on the pit walls. Someone should throw the ball into the center. All players say “ga” on each of three bounces. Then they may leave the wall and contact the ball.
- The object is to slap the ball toward the opponents and hit on-or-below the knee to eliminate them from play. Picking up the ball and throwing it at a player is not allowed.
- A player cannot touch the ball two times sequentially, the ball must either hit the wall or another player before that player can touch the ball again. If the player violates this rule, it is called a double touch and that player is out.
- If a player hits the ball out of the court, and the ball doesn’t hit anybody or anything first, then the player who hit it is out.
- Other elimination rules besides being hit on or below the knees with the ball. a) Leaving the pit or using the pit walls to jump
b) Sitting or Lying Down c) Picking up the ball. d) Hitting the ball or leaving the wall before the ball is ‘in play’. e) Touching the ball a second time before it hits either another player or a wall first.
Check out this video to get a better visual of how it works. You can also read more directions on eHow and wikiHow. I also found these pdf files showing directions (or portable version) for building your own pit.