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)
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!
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!
futsal
Let’s try playing soccer indoors—futsal! To put it simply, the difference between futsal and soccer is that futsal is a small-sided version of soccer, like mini-soccer.
The court is smaller, teams are five a side, and the game is played in two 20-minute halves.
It’s great because you can easily enjoy it indoors with a small group, and just like regular soccer, it gets really exciting!
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.
rod soccer
“Stick Soccer” is popular among seniors too! Regular soccer requires a large field and stamina, but this stick soccer can be fully enjoyed in a gym, and since it’s played sitting down, you don’t need to worry about endurance or running speed.
First, make a court measuring 90 cm wide, 12 m long, and 40 cm high, and place a goal at each end.
Once the court is set up, arrange chairs on both sides of the court and have participants sit down.
Each person holds one stick, and when the ball is ready, the game begins.
Aim for the goal and use your stick to move the ball into the opponent’s territory!
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.
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.