COA member, Zoe Barbour, made a Gaga Ball Pit on our property for her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The Youth Group and pre schoolers are already enjoying it!
For more information on how to make a Gaga Ball pit, click the links below:
Materials:
- 2″ x 4″ Pressure treated lumber at 32” lengths (qty: 16)
- 2″ x 10″ Pressure treated lumber at 8ft lengths (qty: 24)
- 2.5″ Coarse thread wood screws (qty: 5 lb box)
- 1.5″ Coarse thread wood screws (qty: 100)
- 3″ Door or Gate Hinges (qty: 24) [stainless steel recommended]
Instructions (created by Zoe Barbour): How to Build a Gaga Ball Pit
Design/Instructions Inspiration: https://www.instructables.com/Backyard-Ga-Ga-Ball-Pit-300/
(I modified this design in a few ways to better suit my needs)
Gaga Ball Rules:
- All players start inside the pit, touching one of the walls
- One player throws the ball to the middle, and it has to bounce 3 times before any player can touch it
- Once the game has started, players may only hit the ball once in a row – it must hit another player or a wall before they may touch it again
- If you are hit anywhere from the waist down by the ball or you touch it more than once in a row, you’re out
- Once you’re out, get out of the pit to leave space for the remaining players
- Once there are only two players remaining, these players may touch the ball twice in a row without getting out (this helps to keep the end from dragging out for too long)
- The final player remaining is the winner
- Have fun!
To learn more about global physical inactivity and its impact on youth, check out these resources from the World Health Organization (or my presentation summarizing these sources!)
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
Presentation: National/Global Impact of a Gaga Ball Pit