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 Sports] A Compilation of Ball Games and Game Sports (11–20)
Society Football (7-a-side/8-a-side football)
Society is a seven-a-side form of soccer that originated in Brazil around 1950.
The name of the sport derives from the Portuguese word “society,” meaning social or sociability, and it is said that games played in social settings simply lent their name to the sport itself.
Often called social soccer, it functions not only as a competitive sport but also as a lifelong activity that people of all ages can enjoy.
A major feature of Society is its rules, which sit somewhere between soccer and futsal.
With smaller team sizes and unlimited substitutions, it’s a sport designed to encourage active participation from all players.
Beach soccer
Soccer is a sport you can enjoy anywhere as long as you have a ball.
With beach soccer played on sand, it feels like it’s okay to take a tumble now and then.
You might even be able to pull off those acrobatic shots you usually only see in manga.
Of course, the ball size and pitch dimensions are different, but once you’re at the beach, you can’t help wanting to play beach soccer, right? These days, it’s common to see former professional soccer players—like Ruy Ramos—thriving in beach soccer as well.
Make the most of the beach and enjoy the kinds of play you can only experience on the sand!
Wiffle ball
Wiffle ball is a sport based on baseball that was devised in 1953 by David N.
Mullany, who lived in the United States.
It was developed with the motivation of making it easy to enjoy baseball in the limited space of a home yard, so the rules are a simplified version of baseball.
The most distinctive feature of the sport is its special equipment, which makes it challenging even for experienced baseball players—but that’s part of the fun.
As the name of the sport suggests, it uses a plastic ball with holes, and the air resistance created by these holes allows anyone to throw complex breaking pitches, which is another appealing aspect.
Basketball
Basketball is a sport where two teams of five engage in intense battles for points.
Because the scoring changes depending on where you shoot from—one, two, or three points—it’s a thrilling game where a small shift can flip the score.
In Japan, thanks to the excitement around the B.LEAGUE and more, it has become one of the most popular ball sports.
In its birthplace, the United States, the game is so strong and prominent that it’s almost fair to call it a national sport, with dynamic plays on display.
It’s also easy to enjoy in a small space—so long as you have a ball and a hoop, you can play or compete in a limited area.
Cycle soccer
Cycle soccer is a thrilling ball sport played on bicycles.
The rules are almost the same as soccer, but because you’re on a bike, it requires a different set of skills.
The bicycles used aren’t ordinary either: they have fixed gears, no brakes, and uniquely shaped handlebars, allowing for agile, precise movement.
In Japan, the mainstream format is an indoor 2-on-2 game, while overseas there’s also an outdoor 5-on-5 version.
The goal must be defended by two players.
The court is less than half the size of a regular soccer field, and the ball is slightly smaller.
Instead of kicking with your feet, you strike the ball with the wheels, which makes it quite challenging—but the dynamic style, distinct from soccer, is absolutely exhilarating!
Baseball5
Baseball5 is a sport where you can easily enjoy a ball game similar to baseball or softball.
It’s played on a diamond like baseball and softball, but no bats or gloves are used.
There are also no pitchers or catchers.
At home base, you toss the ball to yourself and hit it with your hand.
After hitting, you run the bases just like in baseball.
However, because it’s played in a smaller area inside the diamond, any ball that goes beyond the outfield or any foul ball results in an out.
A team can have up to eight players, but typically only five take the field on defense.
The diamond itself is small, and the running distance is short, so it’s easy to start even if you’re not confident in your stamina!
Walking Football
“Walking Football” lets seniors enjoy soccer casually.
It originated in the UK, where it was first organized for older adults.
The most important rule is that you must never run on the court.
In addition, heading, physical contact, and stealing the ball from an opponent are prohibited.
These rules make it safer than regular soccer, and it’s designed so not only seniors but also people with disabilities and young children can enjoy it with ease.
If you’re not confident in your stamina but want to try soccer, give it a go!
Rokumushi
Here’s a fun ball game like a moving dodgeball called “Rokumushi.” Draw two circles about 20 meters apart, choose two taggers (oni), and while the taggers throw the ball back and forth, the children run between the two circles, dodging the ball.
One round trip counts as “ichimushi,” and if a child completes six round trips—“rokumushi”—they win.
Once a child leaves one circle, they must head to the next circle.
If a child is hit by the ball while outside a circle, they’re out and become the next tagger.
Teqball
A ball sport that combines table tennis and soccer called “teqball,” where a table like a ping-pong table is placed in the middle and players kick the ball around it.
Born in Hungary, this sport involves rallying the ball using juggling and headers without using your hands, like in soccer.
The table in the center isn’t flat like a ping-pong table; it’s curved, and you’re allowed to let the ball bounce on it—much like in table tennis—along with juggling.
It’s played in singles or doubles, and as in volleyball, you must return the ball to the opponent’s side within three touches.
Since it doesn’t require as much running as soccer, why not give it a try as a way to practice your juggling skills?
volleyball
Volleyball is a common activity in elementary and junior high school PE classes.
Did you know there are different types of volleyball? There are six-player and nine-player formats, and the rules differ slightly.
In nine-player volleyball, it’s a foul regarding the number of serves you can make and for an “over-net,” where your hand crosses over the net.
In the six-player game, however, it’s not a foul as long as you don’t interfere with the opposing team.
The ball size also changes depending on the players’ age; elementary school students play with a lightweight size 4 ball.
It’s a ball game that gets exciting whether played as team matches or in tournaments.
