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] A Collection of Ball Games and Sports (41–50)
Flappy Ball Carrying Relay
Here’s an arranged version of a relay where you carry a ball using a uchiwa fan.
The rules are very simple: you fan a colored ball with the uchiwa and carry it to the goal.
Because colored balls are light, they don’t always go in the direction you expect.
It helps build concentration, and it’s fun for the whole team to celebrate when the ball makes it into the goal.
You might also try mixing in balls other than colored balls.
It’s a great idea to get creative and incorporate it into your sports day events!
Dodge it, nimbly!
Split into two teams and play the game “Dodge and Deliver!” using small balls and a large ball.
The game uses the court both lengthwise and widthwise.
Place a bucket filled with balls and an empty bucket at opposite ends of the court.
Players carry the small balls and try to put them into the empty bucket.
However, if a player is hit by a large ball thrown by the opposing team, they’re out and must return to the starting bucket.
There is a safe zone around the buckets where getting hit doesn’t count.
The goal is to see which team can put the most balls into the empty bucket.
cricket
Cricket, which originated in the UK, is a minor sport in Japan, but it’s hugely popular and a major global ball game in countries like the UK, Australia, India, and Pakistan.
Many people may have heard the name “cricket” but aren’t quite sure about the rules.
For example, there’s a unique rule where the pitcher—called a bowler—must keep their elbow straight and use shoulder rotation to deliver the ball.
Baseball actually traces its roots back to cricket, so once you learn it, you’ll definitely find it a fun sport!
futsal
Futsal looks similar to soccer, but its rules differ in many details.
People often imagine it as a scaled-down version of soccer, with a smaller court and fewer players, but having fewer players doesn’t make it easier—futsal has its own unique excitement and ways to enjoy it.
Soccer is played with eleven players, while futsal is played with five.
The position names also differ from those in soccer.
Both the first and second halves are 20 minutes long, and the clock stops when the ball goes out of play.
Because the playing time is shorter, it may be a ball sport that’s easier for children to enjoy.
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire, the ball-toss game you often see at sports days and school athletic festivals.
The rules are very simple, and there’s no strict limit on the number of players, so it’s easy to play.
Preparing the baskets to throw the balls into might be a bit of work, but you could get creative and use laundry baskets, for example.
With the right ideas, it could become something special.
baseball
A traditional ball game loved by everyone from children to adult men—and in recent years, with the rise of the “Carp girls,” it’s been gaining popularity among women too.
The pitcher throws the ball, and the batter tries to hit it back against a variety of pitches and sheer power.
The mind games with every single pitch keep you on the edge of your seat! Of course, it’s also fun to watch the defense doing their best to prevent hits, and as a simple game of throwing and hitting a ball, it’s incredibly enjoyable.
It’s said that even Ichiro used to frequent batting cages when he was young to hone his skills.
The joy you feel when you connect with a pitch is something you’ll never forget!
beanbags
Otedama is also written as “御手玉.” They’re made by filling small cloth bags with adzuki beans or the like, and it seems like most grandmothers could whip them up with ease.
The game has a long history—there are even said to be cave paintings in ancient Egypt showing people playing with something like otedama.
Children’s games that involve tossing stones are similar, and it makes you think that games of throwing things might go all the way back to when humans were still like monkeys.
The nursery rhyme “Antagata Dokosa” is famous as a song sung while playing otedama, but there are many other otedama songs as well.
“Ichiban Hajime wa Ichinomiya,” which is also sung while bouncing a ball, and “Ichikake Nikakete,” which was even covered by Hatsune Miku—counting the regionally flavored songs, there are said to be over a hundred.
You can buy otedama at 100-yen shops.
How about returning to your childhood and giving it a try?
Ball Carrying UNO
Here’s an idea for adapting the well-known board game UNO into a ball-carrying relay.
Form teams in circles, with each person holding a ball.
Choose someone to give commands, and everyone passes or moves the balls according to the commands—like “skip” or “one bounce.” The rules are simple, but you can make it more exciting by increasing the speed of the commands and enjoying the sense of achievement as a team.
For team competitions, you can create original rules, such as declaring the team that doesn’t drop the ball until the end the winner, to make it even more fun.
It’s also a great recommendation for sports day events.
Indiaca
Indiaca is a sport where players hit a shuttlecock-like ball with feathers using their hands.
You can imagine it as a blend of volleyball and badminton.
The ball is heavier than you’d expect, making its trajectory hard to read and the game challenging—but that’s what makes it fun.
golf
Golf is a sport with a global market.
Tournaments like the Earth Mondahmin Cup are famous for their exceptional prize money totaling 300 million yen.
Of course, we can’t compete with the pros, but why not head out for a round on a nice day? It’s even healthier if you skip the cart and walk between holes.
If you’re among close friends, they’ll likely overlook the occasional bad shot.
Getting together with golf lovers to watch golf videos also sounds fun.
Bring along information about your favorite players!