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)
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?
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.
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!
Aim for the goal while moving multiple balls!
Move multiple balls to reach the goal! Here’s a variation of a ball-carry relay that’s perfect for building endurance.
Split into teams, and one by one, transfer all the balls into the arranged hoops.
You can adjust the number and layout of the hoops to match your team size, and try different goal positions and shapes for extra fun.
It’s also great for boosting team spirit.
Give it a try and creatively incorporate it into your sports day events!
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.
