Fun Ball Sports: A Roundup of Ball-Based Play, Games, and Sports
When it comes to ball games, they’re classic sports like baseball and soccer to begin with, and they’re hugely popular with kids!
There’s a wide range—from games you can play with just a single ball, to ones like baseball and table tennis that use a bat or racket.
They help improve physical abilities too, whether it’s mastering how to use your body or learning to handle equipment.
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of ball-based activities, from classic and popular ball sports to some that are a bit more niche!
We’ll also cover simplified versions of sports like basketball and rugby that even small children can enjoy, as well as DIY activities like homemade bowling and target-throw games!
- [Sports] Recreational games using a ball [Play]
- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
- [2026] Easy sports anyone can do. Popular “yuru-sports” (casual/relaxed sports).
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [For Junior High Students] A Summary of Sports You Can Do in the Gym
- [Sports] Play that gets you moving. A roundup of exercises perfect for adults.
- Recreation Ideas That Truly Excite High School Students! A Fun Collection of Activities
- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- A roundup of recreational activities for having fun with colored balls
- Outdoor Recreation Popularity Rankings
- Sports that everyone can enjoy regardless of age. Including Yuru Sports.
- Recommended outdoor recreation for junior high school students: A roundup of fun outdoor activities
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
[Fun Ball Games] A roundup of ball-based play and game sports (61–70)
Rag-Wiping Ball Carry Relay
Turn floor-wiping into a game! Here’s a fun idea: make a ball-carrying relay using the floor-wiping style.
Set up a course with cones, and carry a ball while “wiping” your way around.
The first to complete two laps wins.
It works as an individual race, but team relays—like groups of three with the number of balls matching the team size—are also recommended.
It helps build lower-body strength and fosters teamwork.
Adults can enjoy it too, so try adapting it as an event for your sports day.
1v1 ball carrying
Enjoyable even 1-on-1! Let us introduce an adapted ball-carrying game called “Flag Football.” In this sport, you carry the ball into the opponent’s territory.
The defense stops the advancing offense by pulling the flag attached to the ball carrier or by driving them out of bounds.
A standard game lasts about 20 minutes, but it’s also a good idea to adjust the duration based on the number of players.
The rules are simple, so everyone from kids to adults can enjoy it.
Try adapting it as an event for your sports day, too!
Ball-carrying balance relay
Perfect for building balance skills too! Here’s an idea for a “Ball-Carrying Balance Relay.” You can enjoy this indoors.
Place a ball on each end of a long board and carry it to the goal while clearing obstacles.
It’s fun and helps develop hand-eye coordination, so it’s also great as a sports day event.
Both kids and adults can enjoy it, so why not adapt it as a parent-child activity? Since it encourages teamwork and communication while following the rules, be sure to include it in your sports day!
Ball Carry Tag
Here’s an adapted version of “tag” with ball carrying.
The rules are very simple! Wearing a flag, teams start at the starting line and try to carry as many balls as possible to the goal within the time limit.
There are taggers (oni) in between, so be careful not to let them take your flag.
If a tagger takes your flag, reattach the flag placed by the tagger and return to the start to try again.
It’s also a team game where you aim to transport all the balls without getting caught.
It’s fun to come up with strategies, like having someone act as a decoy.
We also recommend switching between the carrying team and the tagger team and using this as an event in a sports day.
Soccer × Tail-Tag
We’d like to introduce a soccer × tail-tag game where strategy is key.
Each player has one soccer ball—dribble to escape! Attach a tail to your waist, and while dribbling, try to grab others’ tails.
If your tail gets taken, you’re out on the spot.
If your ball is kicked out of the court, you’re also out.
In this heated battle, the last person remaining is the winner.
Aiming for tails while dribbling tests your eye line and body balance.
Do your best and aim for the win!
Ball passing
Ball passing is a simple ball game you can play indoors or outdoors with just one ball.
Players line up in a single file and pass the ball from the person in front to the person behind, keeping the same posture as they go.
In the video, the ball is passed overhead on the way down the line and through the legs on the way back, but you can vary it by passing around the sides of the body or using other movements.
It helps improve ball-handling skills and provides a good stretch.
If you do it as a relay, it can also boost team cohesion and agility, so it’s recommended as a warm-up for sports teams.
Jorkyball
Jorkyball is a ball sport similar to soccer that uses not only your feet but also the walls and ceiling.
Born in France, it’s played on a court enclosed by walls on all sides.
The court is less than one-tenth the size of a soccer field, and both the goals and the ball are smaller.
Matches are played two-on-two, but because you can use the walls and ceiling, strategies go beyond just one-on-one play.
Still, since everything is small and it’s designed for small groups, it’s easy to start.
It’s a sport that anyone—from children to seniors, and even those who aren’t confident in their fitness—can try right away if they’re interested in soccer or futsal.
