How to play
Gaga ball rules
Gaga is dodgeball in an eight-sided pit. Everyone plays for themselves, you hit the ball with your hands, and you're out if it touches you at or below the knee. The last player standing wins. Games are quick, so nobody sits out for long.
There's no single official rulebook, so many camps, schools and parks use their own house rules. These are the rules you'll find at most pits.
The pit and the ball
- The pit is an octagon, usually 15 to 20 feet across, with walls about 2 to 3 feet high.
- The ball is a soft, bouncy playground ball, about 8 to 9 inches across.
- Any number of players can join, usually 4 to 20.
Starting a game: “ga, ga, go!”
- Everyone stands inside the pit with one hand touching the wall.
- One person tosses the ball into the middle.
- As it bounces, everyone shouts “ga!”, “ga!”, “go!”
- On “go”, players can leave the wall and play the ball.
How to play
- Hit the ball with your hand, open palm or fist. No kicking, throwing or holding the ball.
- Aim for other players at or below the knee.
- One touch at a time: after you hit the ball, you can't hit it again until it touches a wall or another player.
- Play continues until only one player is left. That player wins, and everyone jumps back in.
How you get out
- The ball touches you at or below the knee, even if you hit yourself.
- You hit the ball out of the pit.
- You hit the ball twice in a row (a “double touch”).
- Someone catches a ball you hit before it bounces (many pits play this way).
- You break a safety rule, like hitting above the knees on purpose or grabbing other players.
When you're out, climb out of the pit and wait for the next game. They're usually short.
Popular house rules
- Waist instead of knees: some pits for older kids count hits up to the waist.
- No wall jumping: you can't use the wall to jump or hold yourself up off the ground.
- Open hand only: some pits don't allow fists, to keep shots gentler for little kids.
- Catch to rejoin: if you catch a ball on the fly, the player who hit it is out and the last player who got out comes back in.
- Multi-ball: with big groups, a second ball keeps everyone busy.
Before a game starts, agree on the house rules so everyone plays the same way.
Tips for parents
- Adults must always supervise. GagaMap helps families find pits and each other, but doesn't organize or supervise play.
- Close-toed shoes are best. Bare feet and sandals get stepped on.
- For mixed ages, split games so little kids play with little kids.
- Bring water and check the pit floor for rocks or splinters before play.
- Check the pit's card on GagaMap: it shows the surface, whether a ball is provided at scheduled play, and who's checked in today.
Gaga questions
What is gaga ball?
Gaga (also called gaga ball) is a fast, every-player-for-themselves version of dodgeball played inside an eight-sided pit. Players hit a soft ball with their hands, trying to tag other players below the knees. If the ball touches you there, you're out. The last player left in the pit wins.
What does 'gaga' mean?
The name comes from Hebrew. 'Ga' means 'touch', so 'ga-ga' is roughly 'touch-touch'. The game is believed to have started in Israel and became a favorite at American summer camps before spreading to schools and parks.
How do you start a game of gaga?
Players spread out and touch the wall. Someone tosses the ball into the middle, and everyone calls out 'ga', 'ga', 'go' as the ball bounces. Nobody can hit the ball until 'go'.
How do you get out in gaga?
You're out if the ball touches you at or below the knee, if you hit the ball out of the pit, if you hit the ball twice in a row before it touches a wall or another player, or (in many pits) if someone catches a ball you hit before it bounces.
What age is gaga good for?
Gaga works well from about age 5 up through adults. Because players hit the ball with their hands and only below the knees, it's gentler than regular dodgeball. Many pits run separate games for younger and older kids.
What kind of ball is used for gaga?
A soft, bouncy playground or foam ball about 8 to 9 inches across. Harder balls hurt, and very light balls are hard to control.
How big is a gaga pit?
Most gaga pits are octagons about 15 to 20 feet across, with walls roughly 2 to 3 feet high. Smaller portable pits (around 10 to 12 feet) work well for younger kids and backyards.
Find a pit near you
See gaga pits on the map, check who's playing today, and join open play.