Lovely Play & Recreation

Fun Ball Sports: A Roundup of Ball-Based Play, Games, and Sports

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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!

[Fun Ball Games] A roundup of ball-based play and game sports (71–80)

Plastic Bottle Bowling

On hot days, indoor play is the way to go☆ Plastic Bottle Bowling

Plastic Bottle Bowling

With plastic bottles and a ball, you can enjoy bowling at home.

Wrap paper around identical plastic bottles to make bowling pins.

To add weight to the bottles, fill them with water; the more water you add, the heavier and harder to knock down they become, increasing the difficulty.

Also, a larger, heavier ball will knock down the pins more easily, so experiment to find a good combination.

Playing in teams or as individuals will likely make the game even more exciting.

Raise the rankinglower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

Gateball

[VS LakeRe] Would it actually be fun if young people seriously played gateball? [Experiment]

Gateball

You often see seniors playing it in parks on weekends—gateball.

That image may be strong, but it’s actually fun for younger people to play too! Two teams of five compete for points, and while the basic idea is to send the ball through gates and aim for the goal pole, there’s a lot of strategy involved: how to advance your team’s balls to your advantage, how to interfere with your opponent’s balls, and more.

It looks simple, but once you try it, gateball is surprisingly challenging—give it a try at least once!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

squash

Squash | A Tennis-Derived Sport That Demands Speed and Strategy [Masterful Skills]

squash

Squash is said to be a sport derived from tennis.

Despite being a head-to-head game, its distinctive feature is that the players do not face each other.

Because it’s played in a small indoor space (and doesn’t work if the space is too large), it might be surprisingly easy to get into.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

We introduced ball games and sports that not only young children and elementary schoolers, but also adults can enjoy together.

There were plenty of easy-to-try activities—even for first-timers—like a sport that mixes baseball and soccer, and simplified versions of basketball and rugby.

They’re all perfect for enjoying together during recess or PE, so please use them as a reference!