No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
Introducing fun recreation activities you can enjoy in the gym! When you hear variety games or cooperative games, you might imagine playing outside, but there are plenty of activities and recreations you can enjoy in a gym.
Even when rain or snow keeps you indoors, you can still build your fitness in the gym.
Basketball, futsal, dodgeball—there are tons of games and activities everyone can enjoy together! Try making time to be active in the gym with friends or family while having fun.
Exercise energizes both your mind and body!
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Popular Sports and Recreational Activities Enjoyable in a Gymnasium (11–20)
Tag rugby
Have you heard of “tag rugby,” a game that kids in elementary school through adults can enjoy? It’s played with basically the same rules as rugby—such as “no forward passes” and “score a try in the in-goal area.” However, this game has a unique rule: participants wear a belt with “tags” attached on both sides, and when a tag is pulled off, they must immediately pass the ball.
This serves as the equivalent of a tackle in rugby.
As for the field, an area about the size of a line soccer court will do.
Give it a try—it’s fun and feels like a game of tag!
volleyball
We did it in PE class, right? Volleyball.
You might not have played it much just for fun.
Maybe that’s because you need a court and a net, so it’s not something people casually play.
In a gym, though, there’s usually a volleyball court and net.
There’s a six-player version for elementary school students and a nine-player version enjoyed by older students and adults.
It’s a game where teamwork is the key.
Sports Chanbara
If you’re from your 50s generation or older, you’ve probably played make-believe sword fighting at least once.
Turning that into a proper sport is “Sports Chanbara.” It’s a discipline started by Tetsundo Tanabe, with official rules and large tournaments.
On rainy days, it’s a great way to really get your body moving.
For striking, you use sport-specific air soft swords made of soft materials, so a bit of contact is fine.
If you don’t have an air soft sword, you could lightly roll up a newspaper and use it as a substitute.
The rules are simple: if any part of an attack hits the body, you win.
Even small children around kindergarten age are likely to get excited about it.
Having a face protector will give you peace of mind.
Basketball
There are quite a few sports manga, and one of the sports many people admire is basketball.
For those who aren’t in a club, most have only done a little in PE class, right? Let’s try playing basketball like that.
The rules can be pretty complicated, can’t they? There are a lot of time-related rules in particular, and it’s a game where you score points within those restrictions.
Badminton
Badminton is a classic indoor sport.
If you play outside, you inevitably have to deal with the wind, or the shuttlecock might get stuck on a roof or in a tree, so it’s not really suited to outdoor play.
In a gym or other indoor venue, though, you can enjoy it to the fullest without worrying about any of that.
In recent years, Japanese badminton players have been especially successful overseas, and the sport’s popularity has been rapidly rising.
It’s a sport you can enjoy consistently without being affected by the weather!
table tennis
Table tennis has now become a popular sport.
People of all ages—from children to the elderly, and regardless of gender—can enjoy it together.
All you need is a table, paddles, and a ball, so getting the equipment ready is easy.
You can have fun with various doubles pairings, such as mixed-gender pairs or child–adult pairs.
It’s great not only as a competitive sport but also for light, casual exercise.
It’s a perfect activity for getting more physical activity and tackling lack of exercise.
Balloon badminton
It’s like badminton, but the ball is a balloon, and the racket is made from a paper plate, disposable chopsticks, and duct tape.
A uchiwa fan could also work as a racket.
Since the ball is a balloon, it’s big and light, so even children and the elderly can play safely.
Decorating the handmade rackets with origami paper or masking tape sounds fun, too.
Simple Basketball Play
This is a simple “basketball game” played with two rules: dribble the ball while moving, and score 1 point when you put the ball through the goal.
Before playing, first do shooting practice, tag while dribbling, and a “ball-stealing game” where players split into dribblers and stealers.
Doing these helps you acquire the basic movements needed for the basketball game.
There aren’t any complicated rules, and the goal is a hula hoop attached to an Erector pipe with adjustable height, so even lower elementary school children can enjoy it.
Classic & Team Competition Indoor Games and Relays (1–10)
Color Matching Relay
If you’re looking for a game where everyone on the team can work together, we recommend Color-Sorting Relay.
First, set up four colors of cones in four rows at random.
If you’re playing with two teams, prepare a set in front of each team.
At the start signal, a player takes two cones and swaps the positions of cones in just one spot.
Keep repeating this, and the first team to get all four rows neatly arranged with the four colors wins.
Since players must instantly adjust to the cones moved by other teammates once the run begins, it’s great for building quick decision-making and teamwork.
You can also increase the number or variety of cone colors to match the players’ ages.
Slipper relay
When you think of a relay, the common rule is to pass a baton to the next runner, but this time we’ll be playing with slippers as the baton.
It’s called the “Slipper Relay”! This game is played without using your hands—only your feet.
First, divide into teams, then have all members of each team line up side by side and link arms.
The person at one end wears a single slipper on the foot facing outward.
At the start signal, pass the slipper from foot to foot without letting it drop to the floor.
The team that gets the slipper to the person at the other end first wins.
This game relies on nimble footwork and teamwork.
It’s trickier than it looks, so give it a try!