Parmer Ranch Amenity Spotlight: GaGa Ball Pit

Parmer Ranch isn’t only going to be a wonderful place to live, but it’s also going to be a community that’s all about play. The Central Texas landscape provides the perfect backdrop for a number of activities, and one of the amenities we’re especially excited to share with residents will be our GaGa Ball Pit.

What Is GaGa Ball?

If you’re asking “GaGa what?” allow us to explain… GaGa ball is an energetic game that can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels and is played in an octagon-shaped corral. It borrows elements of dodgeball, but without the aggressive nature that so often accompanied the game in gym class.

Essentially, a group of players enter the ball pit (there’s no specific number required to play—the more the merrier) and place one hand on the wall of the pit. A ref then throws the ball into the pit and the game begins! Dodging, jumping, running, and striking are all part of the game. The goal is to hit your opponents in the pit with the foam ball below the knees by slapping the ball toward them. If the ball touches you below the knee, you’re out, and you must then step out of the pit. The last player left is declared the winner.

As you can probably imagine, it’s a quick-paced game with each round often lasting no more than five minutes. It’s a great exercise and seriously addictive fun!

The game officially kicks off when players yell “Ga” with the first two bounces and shout “Go” on the ball’s third bounce. At this point, it’s every player for themselves as they bat the ball away from them and towards other players by hitting it with a closed or open hand. Hitting a player with the ball below the knees isn’t the only way to eliminate players either.

Catch the ball when it’s midflight and the last player to hit the ball with their hand is out for the round. Players can also dribble the ball, but only three times. After that, it must touch the walls of the pit or another player to still be considered in play. Knock the ball out of the pit and you’re out of the game until the next round. Catch a fly ball on the sidelines and you can re-enter the game.

For even more fun, throw another ball into the mix with each subsequent round to up the challenge of the game.

The game is believed to have originated in Jewish summer camps in the 1970s and simply means “touch touch” in Hebrew. What makes it so much fun is that it’s a game that can be played and enjoyed, regardless of a player’s athletic ability or size.

Whether it’s burning off some energy at the end of the day with friends, a kid’s birthday party activity, or perhaps even a community GaGa Ball tournament, we fully expect this to be one of our most popular amenities enjoyed by Parmer Ranch residents.

The only question now is, are you ready to test your GaGa skills in the octagon? Begin your new home search in Parmer Ranch today!