Students go gaga for Gaga Ball

“I love it! It’s the best thing the school has in my opinion,” Ayden Ellis said.

The fifth-grader from Patrick M. Villano School is talking about the new Gaga Ball court. It was installed on the lower field on October 24, 2023.

“I feel like a lot of people would love it like I do,” Ellis explained.

Everyday students use the gaga court during recess, and they seem to enjoy it. When people play, there is much laughter, excitement and cheering. The court is shaped like an octagon and has walls about three-feet high. Players hit or roll a ball with their hands and try to eliminate other players standing inside the court. When someone is hit with the ball below the waist, they are eliminated and leave the court. The object is to be the last person standing.

“I like the new court because it has a smooth floor, and you’re able to roll the ball in it,” Lucas Benefield, fifth-grade student, said.

Gaga ball is a high-energy sport that encourages children to play a fun, happy game. The game has been around since the 1970s, and it was first played in Israel, according to one online source.

“It’s really fun and competitive. When it comes to the last two [players], it gets nervous,” Jayden Lee, a fifth-grader, said.

Lee said when you’re down at the court, it’s very competitive with lots of action. One wrong move, and you could be out.