Gaga Ball

Gaga Ball is played in a "pit" which is normally a large octagon, but can really be any confined shape. In my gym, I just use the two walls of a corner, then add some mats to make a 1/4 circle. The goal is to hit a ball at others (even ricochets count) and hit them in the legs. If they get out, they leave the pit. Here's the rules I play by:

Ways to get out:

1. Double Taps: Touching the ball more than once before it touches a wall or another player. This includes using a hand to stop the ball, then hit it.

2. Holds: Touching the ball for longer than a split second.

3. Hit in Target Zone: The area defined as where it counts if you're hit. I normally say it's "belt and below" but you can play "knees and below" or "anything goes."

4. Out of Bounds: Whoever touches the ball last is out when it goes out of the pit. If it leaves the pit, the ball has to touch the ground and another player before it can get somebody out again.

5. Saying "You're Out": You can say why somebody is out if they don't know, but that's it.

6. Whole Body is a Target When On the Ground (Optional): To prevent people from getting hurt by tripping on somebody, this rule says that you're allowed to touch the ground with just your feet. If any other part of your body (knees, hands, etc) is touching the ground then your entire body is the Target Zone... even your hands. So you can't get hit at all or hit the ball. This gets players off the ground a lot faster and makes the game much more safe.