Gaga (game)

Ga-ga (or Ga-ga ball) is a form of dodgeball.

Ga-ga can be a large group of people playing individually, a group of people working as a team against another team, or even one-on-one matches. Jerry Springer is an avid Ga-ga player. Ga-ga can be played in any enclosed space. As the game progresses however, the ratio of open space to remaining players increases. To avoid lengthy matches, many players may sometimes form a human wall composed of eliminated players to decrease the size of the playing area. The human wall acts in just the same way a regular wall does, and can be moved at the judge's discretion. If the walls are made of overturned tables and benches, usually they are moved instead.

To avoid the problem of players simply kneeling down and covering the exposed area below their knees with their hands, some variations require that a player cannot stay in the same position for any longer than three seconds. In some places, while kneeling a player can be hit anywhere and be eliminated.

Some versions require that only a player's hands and feet can touch the ground. This prevents players from falling to their knees as a defensive maneuver.

Some versions do not allow "blocking" with hands and arms.

Some house rule versions have a sudden death rule for when the game gets down to two players where the players are allowed to hit the ball three times without it touching anything else, and the players are eliminated if the ball touches anywhere besides the hand. Also, several variations allow additional touches of the ball without hitting the wall or another player.

A variation of Ga-ga, called Ultimate Ga-ga, involves playing the game in mud. (Players use a water hose to clean themselves after play.)

Gameplay

Ga-ga is played in a large octagon called the Ga-ga Pit. Ga-ga begins with someone throwing the gaga ball up into the air. When it bounces the players say "Ga" each bounce for the first three bounces. After three bounces the ball is in play and the game starts. If the ball is caught after a player pops it up (see rule 4 below) then this will repeat. Using the walls of the octagon to aid in jumping is legal as long as the player does not permanently sit on the ledge of the octagon. Sometimes, closed hand hits may be banned. When there is a strong enough pit, some places may allow eliminated players to sit on the wall of the octagon.

Rules

The rules of Ga-ga are as follows:

1.You can scoop it but no picking it up the ball and throwing it at a player is allowed.

2. If the ball touches a player anywhere on or below the hips, that player is eliminated from the game.

3. A player cannot touch the ball two times sequentially, the ball must either hit the wall of the octagon or another player before that player can touch the ball again. If the player violates this rule, it is called a double touch and that player is out.

4. If a player pops the ball up into the air, then another player may catch it,and ground it.

5. If a player hits the ball out of the court,and the ball doesnt hit anybody or anything then the player who hit it is out.

Adaptation for home play (Ga-ga)

Many places do not have a Ga-ga pit; an enclosed building or area (such as a play room or half basketball court) are used instead.

A common variant for home play is Ga-ga; which entails the same rules as regular Ga-ga, but played in an open area instead of a pit. The rules are then changed to allow infinite hits without rebounds or limiting how many times one can hit the ball before making contact with an opponent.

Representative injuries of Ga-ga

Ga-ga is an intense game that can be enjoyed by many age groups but can cause serious injury at the more competitive levels.

Ga-ga knuckle

Ga-ga knuckle is a common injury associated with ga-ga. The injury is nicknamed as such because it results from the player's knuckles scraping against the playing surface in an attempt to hit the ball, and the most common symptom is bleeding knuckles. The injury commonly afflicts players who hit with a closed fist. In most circumstances the injury is treated with a quick trip to the camp nurse, who will have the player clean the wound with soap and water and cover it with a bandage. The injury is painful on turf or dirt surfaces, but can be especially severe if the surface is paved. The scars resulting from Ga-ga knuckle may take a week or more to heal. To prevent this specific injury a baseball batting glove is sometimes worn. Some players wear a sock on their hands to prevent injury.

Head collisions

Players attempting to gain offensive control of the ball may collide headfirst while sprinting toward the ball, especially when the ball has stopped in a neutral area away from other players. Because players are looking downward toward the ball and are running with their heads in the lead position, this can lead to collisions and head injuries. It is also common for players to get hit in the face by the ball.

Introduction and Play Outside of Israel

Ga-ga was played amongst the Australian Jewish community of Perth, Western Australia as early as the 1960s. The 1980s saw a thriving period for junior competition Ga-ga. The game was introduced here through the exchange of Israeli madrichim (counselors) to Australia or Australian madrichim returning from Israel. The game spread to the United States through Australian and/or Israeli madrichim.

European Championships

The Ga-ga European Championship was first held in 2000 in Lisbon, Portugal. Highly competitive, 36 countries participate every summer in game play. Noted winners include Gregory Scott Bradley (winner 2001, 2002, and 2004), representing the United States. This game is also played throughout Tennessee in the United States in 4-H summer camps.

The all Camp Timberlake West Team includes Danny Tyson, Jerry Springer, Alex Emery, Eric Greenwald, and Dylan Ritontwat.

References