[Sports] Recreational games using a ball [Play]
Here are a variety of ball-based recreational activities.
We’ve gathered ball games that can be enjoyed by everyone—from children to seniors!
From sports aiming for the pinnacle at the Olympics or World Cup to simple time-killers, the variety of sports and games that use a “ball” is practically limitless.
Many people love ball games regardless of age or gender!
If you’re looking for “ball-based activities everyone can play together,” be sure to use this as a reference.
You might even use these games as inspiration to invent your own original new ball sport!
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[Sports] Recreation Games Using a Ball [Play] (21–30)
Rubber-ball baseball
It’s great that the ball is soft, so even if you’re hit by a pitch it doesn’t hurt at all.
And not only that—the ball experiences a lot of air resistance, so you get all kinds of breaking pitches that would be impossible in hardball baseball.
That makes it hard to hit even for experienced players, and it’s appealing that both experienced and inexperienced people can enjoy playing together.
balance ball
The “balance ball” has become a widely used home training item.
There are various types, including ones that can be used as a chair and ones with attached tubes to focus on upper-body training.
Beyond simply balancing on the ball or bouncing it for fun, there are many training methods to strengthen your core.
It’s also appealing that you can do it indoors at whatever time you like.
Find a balance ball that suits your needs and incorporate it into your daily routine!
Park golf
Park golf is a simple sport that anyone can enjoy with just one club, one ball, and a tee.
Players hit the ball with the club and compete on the number of strokes it takes to hole out, making it a healthy sport where you can have fun and communicate with others.
Since each hole is set at 100 meters or less, handicaps due to age or gender are minimized, making it popular as a three-generation sport that men and women of all ages—from children to seniors—can enjoy together.
Blicker
The sport Billicker, which blends billiards and soccer, is actually becoming popular among young people.
You label soccer balls with numbers 1 through 9, like billiard balls.
Line them up on a field that mimics a billiard table and start the game.
Just like in billiards, sink the balls in order.
There are dedicated courts, and you can play both indoors and outdoors! Stepping into a giant billiard table and kicking the balls makes you feel like you’ve entered a toy world—it’s exhilarating.
Breakthrough-style ball-carrying game
A ball-carrying game where you dodge defenders blocking your path, place a ball, then pick up a different ball and return.
You set different-colored balls at the start and at the turnaround point, and the game doesn’t end until all the balls have been swapped.
Prepare two defenders, who may face either direction and block however they like.
Conversely, attackers aim to slip past when a defender is turned the other way or busy blocking someone else, and head for the goal.
When you’re the last one left, you’ll get targeted intensely, so teamwork is essential.
Bomb game
This is the “Bomb Game,” a simple game that kids and adults alike can enjoy.
Everyone sits in a circle and passes a ball to the next person in rhythm with the music—just that.
But suddenly, the music stops.
Whoever is holding the ball when it stops is out—the bomb has exploded! Prepare a penalty, like doing an impression, for anyone who gets out three times.
If you play trendy songs or music everyone likes, people will focus on the music too, which makes it even more exciting.
A game using a stick and a ball
It’s a game that uses two sticks and several balls.
Everyone sits in a circle, places a ball on top of the two sticks, and passes the sticks—without dropping the ball—to the person next to them.
It’s simple, but if you open or close the sticks too much, the ball will fall, so you need to be careful while keeping a good rhythm.
Start with one ball, and as everyone gets used to it, add more balls one by one to make it more exciting.
You can get everything at a 100-yen shop, so it’s easy to enjoy.
Kimball
It is a sport mainly played indoors using a ball with a diameter of 122 centimeters that originated in Canada.
The “Kin” in kin-ball is an abbreviation of the English word “kinesis,” meaning “sense of movement,” and international tournaments are now held.
Kin-ball includes two types of games: the Competition Game and the Lead-Up Game.
In the former, teams made up of four players each repeatedly hit and receive the ball within the court, while in the latter, two teams play rock-paper-scissors as they work to carry the ball to their own goal line.
Strikeout
Struck Out is a game where you throw a ball at a board with numbers on it.
When the section of the board you hit pops out, you earn the number of points written there.
The most common type uses a 3×3 grid of nine targets, and you often see celebrities try it on TV shows! You might think you need a special board to play, but you can easily make one yourself using cardboard or wooden boards.
Even if you don’t make a version where the numbers pop out, you can play endlessly by simply awarding points whenever the ball hits a numbered section.
Ball-carrying balance relay
Perfect for building balance skills too! Here’s an idea for a “Ball-Carrying Balance Relay.” You can enjoy this indoors.
Place a ball on each end of a long board and carry it to the goal while clearing obstacles.
It’s fun and helps develop hand-eye coordination, so it’s also great as a sports day event.
Both kids and adults can enjoy it, so why not adapt it as a parent-child activity? Since it encourages teamwork and communication while following the rules, be sure to include it in your sports day!
