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 Roundup of Ball-Based Play, Games, and Sports
[Fun Ball Games] A roundup of ball-based play and game sports (51–60)
Pétanque
Do you know the sport called pétanque? Born in France and enjoyed mainly across Europe, it’s a bona fide ball game.
You throw balls toward a target called the “but,” and compete to see whose ball ends up closest.
You don’t just have to throw the ball—you can also roll or slide it along the ground.
You’re even allowed to knock an opponent’s ball away from near the but by throwing your own ball at it! It’s a bit like curling, too.
The rules themselves are simple, but it’s a brainy sport where you have to think hard about what strategy will earn you points in the end.
Ball Retrieval Relay
A recommended variation of the ball-carry relay is the Ball Collection Relay! In this game, you form teams and race to gather balls as quickly as possible.
Stand at the starting line and take off when the signal is given.
Each team member runs out one at a time to grab a ball, comes back, and hands the baton to the next person.
The more balls there are, the more fun it gets.
You can help each other, chat while you run, and feel your team’s unity.
Laugh, cheer each other on, and make it a memorable event!
Ball passing
Ball passing is a simple ball game you can play indoors or outdoors with just one ball.
Players line up in a single file and pass the ball from the person in front to the person behind, keeping the same posture as they go.
In the video, the ball is passed overhead on the way down the line and through the legs on the way back, but you can vary it by passing around the sides of the body or using other movements.
It helps improve ball-handling skills and provides a good stretch.
If you do it as a relay, it can also boost team cohesion and agility, so it’s recommended as a warm-up for sports teams.
Carrying a ball with a holey newspaper
Here’s an idea for a relay game using a newspaper and a tennis ball.
The rules are very simple: two players work in perfect sync to reach the goal without dropping the tennis ball through the holes in the newspaper.
The rules are easy, but it’s surprisingly challenging even for adults—that’s part of the fun.
You can play it anywhere, indoors or outdoors.
First, pair up, spread out a sheet of newspaper, and place the ball on top.
Work together to carry it carefully without dropping it.
If you drop it along the way, pick it up immediately and restart from the same spot.
The team that reaches the goal first wins! It’s also a great activity to include in a sports day event.
[Fun Ball Games] A roundup of ball-based play and game sports (61–70)
Rag-Wiping Ball Carry Relay
Turn floor-wiping into a game! Here’s a fun idea: make a ball-carrying relay using the floor-wiping style.
Set up a course with cones, and carry a ball while “wiping” your way around.
The first to complete two laps wins.
It works as an individual race, but team relays—like groups of three with the number of balls matching the team size—are also recommended.
It helps build lower-body strength and fosters teamwork.
Adults can enjoy it too, so try adapting it as an event for your sports day.
Spoon-and-ball carrying relay
The concentration needed to keep the ball from falling off the spoon is so much fun! Here’s an idea for a “spoon-and-ball relay.” You can enjoy this indoors.
Place a ball on a spoon, go around a cone, and pass it to the next person.
It’s a great way to build concentration while having fun, so it’s also recommended as a sports day event.
Both kids and adults can enjoy it, so why not adapt it as a parent–child activity? You can also switch the ball for different items to make it even more fun.
Be sure to include it in your sports day program!
Ball-carrying relay with defense
Here’s an idea for a sports day activity: “Line Ball Carry with Defense.” The rules are very simple.
It’s a relay-style game where the team works together to carry a ball to the goal.
The basic rule is to transport the ball without dropping it and score by getting it into the goal while avoiding the opposing team’s defense.
More important than winning or losing is spending a fun time together.
It’s perfect for sports day because it encourages teamwork and communication.
Join forces with everyone and make wonderful memories!