Gagaball
Gagaball or Gaga-Ball ( English and other languages: Ga-ga or Ga-ga-Ball, whereby the spelling is used inconsistently in other spelling variants, Hebrew גע-גע; Literal meaning for "Ga-ga": "Tap-tap" or "Touch-touch") is a ball and movement game with a variable number of players that is played with a ball on an octagonal playing field with boards of different lengths. It's a dodgeball - or Dodgeball variant. In contrast to dodgeball you can play with more than two teams or everyone plays against everyone. The playing field is not divided and there are no catchers or kings. Generally there is no attempt to catch the ball, but the ball is played close to the ground. The ball is hit with the flat of the hand or fist. The aim of the game is to be the last to stay on the field. Teammates are hit when the ball hits them on or below the knee. Players are allowed to dodge, jump or protect themselves from being hit with their hands. The game can be played by a group, individual players or teams.
Game and rules of the game
target
The aim is to be the last one (in team play with teammates) to stay in the Gaga pitch ("pit") until the end and to throw the other players / teams out by hitting them with the ball on the knee or below.
preparation
All line up on the boards in the octagonal playing field. One hand touches the gang.
game
- The game starts when the ball is thrown in. He lashes out three times. Then the ball can be played. The players call the start call when they are twitching with: "Ga - ga - Ball"
- The ball may only be played with the hands. The ball may only be hit with the open hand or fist. It can also be blocked with both hands. It must not be carried or thrown.
- If a teammate is hit in the foot, (lower) leg or knee, he is out and has to leave the field as quickly as possible. It does not matter whether he is hit directly or the ball ricochets off the boards or a teammate.
- You must never touch the ball twice in a row. Whoever plays the ball twice is eliminated. Between the touches of the ball, the ball must / may touch the boards or a teammate.
- if the ball goes out of bounds (out of the Gaga pit or above a board marking), the player who last touched the ball is eliminated. If the ball is kicked up and caught before it hits the ground, the player who kicked the ball up is out.
- The referee decides on stoppages, repetitions and new throw-ins and settles disagreements.
- If there are only two players left, he may play and touch the ball three times. If the ball touches the boards or if it touches the teammate, a player may play the ball three times again.
- Arrangements of individual players or the presentation of the ball to other players in individual mode are unsporting and can be punished at the discretion of the referee. This is allowed in team mode.
- Players are not allowed to support themselves on or with the gang, squat or behave unsportsmanlike. Unsportsmanlike conduct are e.g. B. complaining, ignoring hits, pushing others ...
variants
- If necessary, a second ball can be thrown in to speed up the end of the game.
- Team mode 1: Every three active players form a team. Teams stand together in a gang when throwing in. A team has won if all players on the other team are eliminated.
- Team mode 2: Two teams play against each other. If only two or more players from one team are left in the field, that team has won
- Game variant Zombie: In this case, the player who hit you is eliminated and you can return to the Gagaball pit.
The playing field
The playing field (also called “pit”) consists of an octagonal arena. The board length can vary from 1.70 m to 2.70 m, so that the playing field diameter of the outer diagonals is 4.40 m to 7.00 m. With a board length of 2.50 m and a diameter of 6.50 m, 20 to 40 players can play well. The height of the boards is typically between 70 cm and 110 cm in order to avoid falling out of the gaga pit. Gagaball can be played on different surfaces.
The ball
Gagaball can be played with different balls. So footballs, volleyball, dodge or softballs are used. The ball should not be too hard and should bounce well. Vinyl balls with a size of approx. 22 cm in diameter have proven successful.
History of origin
A certain temporal or spatial origin cannot be deduced from the sources and there are legends about the origins of the game. It was played in many Jewish / Israeli summer camps in the USA in the 1960s and 1970s and was given the Hebrew name there.
distribution
The game is very popular with children in the USA. In addition to the Jewish US camps, it is played in a great many summer camps, scout camps and Christian camps. There is also Gagaball in elementary schools, middle schools and youth facilities.
The New York Times wrote in 2012 that to the surprise of parents who remembered the game from their youth, Gaga-Ball has now become mainstream.
Students are now also playing Gagaball at colleges and universities. There are GaGa Ball Centers in New York and New Jersey.
Gagaball is now also played in leisure and summer facilities in Canada and Sweden.
Gagaball in Germany
Gagaball is still relatively unknown in Germany.
The YMCA got to know the game at an international festival in Prague and has been spreading the game in its groups since 2013.
In 2013 a permanent Gagaball arena was set up in a youth center in Munich. With a mobile arena, Gagaball has been an integral part of holiday programs and mobile missions since 2014.
Individual camps and church groups in Germany already have a gaga ball playing field. Evangelical free churches mention the game in 2015.
In 2016, Gagaball was played with 400 children at a children's sports event in Berlin organized by the Alba Berlin basketball club for day-care centers.
Web links
- Gagaball pits: Gagaball game on YouTube from 23 August 2010
Individual evidence
- ↑ Rules of the game briefly | gagaball . In: gagaball . May 10, 2016 ( gaga-pro.de [accessed April 22, 2017]).
- ↑ Stephen Silver: The Ga-Ga Saga. August 17, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017 .
- ↑ KAREN ALEXANDER: Jewish Camps Spawn a US Playground Hit. July 18, 2012, accessed April 22, 2014 .
- ^ Schools Go Gaga for Gaga Pits. Retrieved April 24, 2017 .
- ↑ SRSLY Gaga Ball Tournament! | SRSLY Chelsea. Retrieved April 24, 2017 (American English).
- ↑ Boy Scouts build ball pit for Laughlin youth . In: Laughlin Air Force Base . ( af.mil [accessed April 24, 2017]).
- ^ Joan Cary: Gaga ball becoming the great playground equalizer. 2017, accessed April 22, 2014 .
- ↑ Colleges and Universities Use Gaga For Intramurals and Orientation | Sport Resource Group. Retrieved April 22, 2017 (American English).
- ↑ Birthday Parties and Gaga Ball Classes - Waldwick, NJ. Retrieved April 24, 2017 (American English).
- ↑ Camp Shagabec: About | Shagabec. Accessed April 24, 2017 .
- ↑ Camp Holsby | Gagaball. Retrieved on April 24, 2017 (German).
- ↑ All GAGA or what? - CVJM-Westbund. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on April 23, 2017 ; Retrieved April 22, 2017 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Hirschgarten leisure center . In: Evangelical Youth Munich . ( ej-muenchen.de [accessed on April 22, 2017]).
- ↑ Fun for fun against boredom. Retrieved April 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Gaga Ball . In: Children's forum of the BFP . ( kinderforum-bfp.de [accessed on April 22, 2017]).
- ↑ Alba Berlin ( Memento of the original from April 27, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
