Requirements
Large open space (gymnasium, open field, yard, etc.)
One or more balls (Volleyballs work very well. Soccer balls and rubber playground balls work too.)
Bowling Pins – 1 for each team (A cone or any other object that is easily knocked over when hit may also be used.)
8 or more people
Rope or marking paint (optional)
Jerseys/Pennies of different colors to identify teams (optional).
Objective
The goal is to be the last team standing. The big idea is to try to knock over the opposing team’s pins, while not allowing your team’s pin to be knocked over.
Each team starts with a given number of points (typically 5 or 10). Each time a team’s pin is knocked over, they lose a point. The team is eliminated once they lose all of their points.
The last team remaining is the winner.
Description
GaGa Soccer is a combination of GaGa (or Israeli Dodgeball) and Soccer.
– Divide the group into two or more teams (you can have lots of teams in this game).
– Each team has its own bowling pin, which is the “goal” they are defending. (A cone or any other object that is easily knocked over when hit may also be used.)
– Each team starts with a given number of points (typically 5 or 10). Each time a team’s pin is knocked over, they lose a point. The team is eliminated once they lose all of their points.
– Players may only use their hands and arms to touch and move the ball, and may not carry or throw the ball. Players may dribble the ball along the ground with their hands as in soccer, pass to teammates, hit at members of opposing team (to hit their legs — see next rule), defend, and shoot at pins of opposing teams — but only using their hands and arms.
– If a ball contacts a player or a player’s clothing below the waist, that player must immediately stop and spin around in a circle 10 times (which will make them dizzy). If the ball contacts the player above the waist, no action is necessary.
– The game may be played with one or more balls, depending on the number of players.
Additional, Optional Rules:
– To make the game more challenging, use rope or marking paint and make a boundary area around the pin (several feet in diameter). Nobody may go inside this area.
– If you use the boundary, a single player on each team may be designated as the “goalkeeper”, and they are the only player who may be inside the boundary area. (You may use the boundary rule with or without a goalkeeper, but you may not have a goalkeeper without a boundary area.)
