Balls are one of the favourite toys of children and their parents. Away from the screens, children can have some physical fun. And to do this, the ball is ready to use and suitable for a wide variety of games.
We've got some slightly different ball games for you, some more traditional and some more innovative. So check out our 13 best ideas for ball games to keep your kids entertained.
1. Gabaky
The rules of this game are simple. First you choose your colour and place the target 4 metres away. Alone or in a team, the first player throws the Gabaky. It's up to the opposing team to throw the ball, while trying to get a better position on the target. The team with the ball away from the target must play until it regains control.
If a team runs out of balls, it is up to the opponent to complete the round. The team closest to the target wins the round. It's easy to understand, all you have to do is aim better than your opponent. There are no limits: the Gabaky can roll along the ground, land on targets and even "knock out" its opponents.
Only the Gabaky balls on the board at the end of the round count. All you have to do to win is adapt intelligently to the game conditions.
Get the whole family involved in this game of soft balls. Even grandma and grandpa can join in and surprise you.
2. Hot potato hide-and-seek
A person looking for other people holds a ball (hot potato) while chasing the players at a given time (defined collectively). Each time they find someone, that person gets the ball back and has to find the hidden person. The aim of the game is not to be the one with the ball when the time is up, because whoever has the ball becomes the new finder to start the next round!
3. Play ball-cat
A soft ball is used in a large enough space. A player (a cat) with the ball tries to hit another player. If he manages to hit the other player, he becomes a cat.
4. Keeping the ball
This simple ball game is easy to adapt to any garden and any number of players (minimum 4 people). To start the game, the players are divided into two teams and decide how long the game will last. The game starts when a player throws the ball into the air, from which each team must try to hold it. The ball can be passed between players, but not immediately to the person who passed it to you. When the time runs out, the team with the ball wins the game!
5. Playing with a beach towel
Ask two or more players to grab the edge of the beach towel and put the ball on the towel. The players stand in pairs with a towel between them. They throw the ball into the towel and try to catch it. How many times can they get there?
6. Pass the ball
This ball game is played in teams and must be played with several children. It consists of making rows of 10, but there can be fewer.
Each participant spreads their legs. The first person with the ball passes it under his legs to the person behind him. The next participant does the same. The winner is the team that manages to get the ball to the last member of the line first.
7. Snowshoes
Take it in turns to hit the ball with a tennis racket and avoid dropping it on the ground. How many times do you do this before the ball hits the ground?
8. Throw the ball at a target
Line up empty bottles and knock them over with a ball. Set up an open box and try to get the ball inside. Build an arch with the blocks and roll the ball under the arch without touching the blocks. Place a laundry basket some distance from the start line and aim for the finish line.
9. The three-and-up ball
This game requires a minimum of 3 players. Two people stand at a safe distance from each other, a third player stands in the middle, the wingers throw the ball to each other while the central player tries to intercept it. If there are a lot of players, there can be 2 or 3 in the centre.
10. The quiz ball game
The children stand in a circle and pass the ball to each other, asking questions about who they are, what they like, etc. Each child can only pass the ball to the person behind them. Each child can only pass the ball to the person behind them.
Each child can only pass the ball to the other when he or she answers the question. This game can be played from the age of six, or with older children if we use other types of questions. It's ideal for getting to know each other and encouraging listening skills.
11. Playing with a hoop
Set up a hoop on the floor and give 3 or more balls to each participant. In turn, roll the ball towards the hoop to get the balls in. Count the bonus points for whoever gets another player's ball out of the hoop!
12. Categories game
Select a category with 2 or more players (colours, countries, fruit, animals, vegetables and many others). The players throw the ball to each other and each time a player catches it, they have to name a few names from the selected category to avoid being eliminated.
13. Playing with points
This fastball game is all about points. First, everyone forms a big circle around the person with the ball (also known as the pitcher). When this master of the game leads the way by throwing the ball into the air, he says a specific number between 50 and 500. This number will be the number of points that the person catching the ball will win or lose by dropping the ball on the ground. At the end of the game, the player with the most points becomes the thrower!
Conclusion on ball games to test
There are lots of options for having fun with a ball, whatever the age of the player. Children love ball games, which for them means catching, throwing, jumping, bouncing and encouraging motor skills in the form of fun little games. Inclusive and sporty, these ball games will give your children an unforgettable time.
So which one do you start with?
