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!
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[Fun Ball Sports] Summary of Ball-Based Play, Games, and Sports (31–40)
Dodgeball (line dodgeball)
This game is a simplified version of dodgeball.
Draw a square or circle as the boundary, and decide how many players will be inside and outside based on the number of participants.
You can start with two players outside.
The outside players throw the ball at the players inside; anyone who gets hit moves to the outside and then throws the ball at the players inside.
As the number of inside players decreases, they become more likely to be targeted, and balls come from all directions, making it more difficult.
Do your best to avoid getting hit until the end.
Boccia
Boccia, which originated in Europe and is an official Paralympic sport.
First, a target ball called the jack is thrown.
Players then take turns throwing balls of their own color, and the side whose ball ends up closest to the jack wins.
There is no fixed way to throw—you can kick the ball or use a ramp—so the game can be adapted to the player’s abilities.
Because it can be played while seated, it is also an accessible recreational activity for older adults.
Strikeout
“Strikeout,” which is hugely popular on TV shows and the like, is also one of the fun games you can play with a ball.
First, buy garden poles at a home improvement store and fasten them with vinyl tape to make a frame.
Then attach number-marked panels to the frame with vinyl tape as well, so they can come off easily.
Throw a soft ball, and the person who knocks off the most panels within the time limit wins.
Besides throwing directly, you can also use a racket or bat to hit a pitched ball and knock the panels off.
Sepak takraw
Sepak takraw is a sport known as “foot volleyball,” played using kicks and headers.
The ball used is made from a plant called rattan.
When we play, we’ll probably have to substitute it with a different ball.
kemari (a traditional Japanese ball-kicking game)
It’s a classical sport that’s also performed at Japanese festivals.
One distinctive feature is the use of a leather ball (mari), but the rules themselves are very simple—essentially like doing keep-ups with multiple people.
In fact, you don’t even need the traditional ball to play, so why not try it with a soccer ball, for example?
Ball-passing game
It’s a game where each team lines up in a single vertical file and transports a ball.
The person at the front holds the ball, passes it to the person behind, then moves to the back of the line, causing the whole line to advance.
The first team to reach the goal wins! Adding rules for how to pass the ball—such as passing it under the legs or over the head—makes it even more fun.
Since it’s crucial not to drop the ball, teamwork becomes very important, helping players develop cooperation and communication skills.
soccer
One theory about the origins of soccer says people used to “kick skulls around.” It seems games involving kicking something back and forth have existed since ancient times.
Not only formal soccer, but casual versions played in tight spaces with a small ball can be exciting too.
Back in elementary and middle school, we used to kick a volleyball around in the corner of the gym for fun.
Speaking of soccer, the comedian Tsuchiya from the duo Knights has been popularizing something called “eraser soccer,” which seems to be catching on among kids!
Team Tenkaball
Are you familiar with the game “Team Tenkaball”? It’s played by a team of four people, each standing at one corner of a 4-meter square court.
At the starting signal, the ball is thrown and caught counterclockwise.
The game is simple—throw and catch the ball with both hands—but the points you earn vary depending on how you catch it, and teams compete to see how high a score they can achieve by the end.
The time limit is 2 minutes, but the direction reverses after 1 minute.
If you drop the ball or move your feet from your spot, you’re out.
Ball games you can play with two people!
Balls are very familiar playthings for children, and the ways to enjoy them are limitless! This time, we’re introducing eight ball games for lower-grade students.
In addition to balls, items like hula hoops are used to help kids improve their physical abilities while having fun.
Basically, children pair up in twos and play by throwing or rolling the ball, or dodging a bouncing ball.
There are also games with sport-like elements—such as Copycat Dribble, Hoop Pass Tennis, and Marker Hockey—so we hope even kids who feel uneasy about ball sports will take this opportunity to get interested.
Lacrosse
It’s an unusual sport where you carry the ball with a stick that has a cross-shaped head.
You use centrifugal force to keep hold of the ball, making it quite a technical and interesting sport.
There’s also a children’s version called “soft lacrosse.”