Gaga ball is a fun way for everyone in the family to get some exercise. Plus, kids can apply the striking, dodging, and jumping skills they learn to any other physical activity, encouraging them to stay healthy and lead athletic lives. However, once your family has learned [what gaga ball is] and [how to play], you might find that you all get hooked — so what do you do when you’re all itching to play at home?
You build a DIY gaga ball pit at home, of course!
One of the best parts of this game is that you don’t have to spend much to make a gaga ball court; you can build a gaga ball pit in your backyard with the kids without breaking the bank.
We’ll walk you through the easiest way to construct a wood gaga ball pit from scratch. Read on to encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors!
The Components of a Good Gaga Ball Pit
Some courts are better than others; keep the below factors in mind while designing your gaga ball pit to make your games as fun as possible.
Location
Before building a DIY gaga ball pit, think about where you want it. You’ll want to keep the structure away from pooling water; if your pit has poor drainage, you’ll end up with a muddy enclosure that no one wants to play in.
Size
The more players, the better! Having two or three participants just isn’t as fun. It’s best to build a structure that fits six to twelve players.
Flooring
The best flooring for a gaga ball pit is a level surface. If your backyard already has grass or turf grass, that’s ideal, but asphalt or concrete are also okay.
If you plan on inviting smaller kids, consider poured-in-place (PIP) rubber or impact mats to avoid serious scrapes.
Accessibility
Standout gaga ball pits are accessible. Consider adding a gate, a pathway leading to it, and solid flooring so people with wheelchairs or walkers can enter and play in your court easily.
Building a Wood Gaga Ball Pit: A Step-by-Step Process
Ready to build your DIY gaga ball pit? Here’s a step-by-step guide to building a pit in the easiest way possible.
Step 1: Gather Materials and Tools
The first step is to collect the following materials and tools:
- Eight sheets of 96” x 30” panels
- Circular saw
- Jig saw
- Drill with a ½’ drill bit
- Sander
- Sandpaper, ideally 200 grit
Note: Don’t leave young kids unattended with sharp equipment during this project.
Step 2: Cut the Plywood
For a nicely-sized pit, you’ll want your eight pieces of plywood to be 30” tall and 96” long. If you want the pit to be accessible to smaller children or you want to save on materials, you can also trim your plywood down so the walls will only be 24” tall.
Step 3: Add Slits to the Panels
Use your circular and jig saws to add two slits near the ends of each board. You’ll want the left end of each board to have a slit on the bottom and the right end of each board to have a slit on the top (or vice versa) so the boards can slot into one another.
These slits should be 1¾” from the side of the panel and span half the height of each sheet. If your DIY gaga ball pit will be 30” tall, you’ll want the slits to be at least 15” long, but if your pit will only be 24” tall, 12-inch slits will do.
You’ll want to smooth out the edges with sandpaper to protect the kids from splinters.
Step 4: Prep the Pit
Measure 32” from each side and 2½” down from the tip of your boards. Afterward, measure a box around 5”x3”.
Use the drill to create holes, and cut the hand holds with the jig saw. Smoothen them with sandpaper.
Step 5: Assemble the Gaga Ball Pit Court
This part will be fun and safe for the kids to help with. Now that your pieces are all cut, you can begin slotting them together like a puzzle. Have your kids hold one board in place while you slot another board into it, or let them slot the pieces together if they’re big enough to handle the boards with ease. They’ll be excited to watch it all come together before their eyes.
Step 6 (Optional): Add Flooring
If your backyard surface is uneven or you want your pit to be safer, add some PIP rubber or impact mats to your gaga ball court.
Need More Gaga Ball Tips?
And there you have it — a DIY gaga ball pit! If you already have the materials and two or three people to help you, this project shouldn’t take more than three hours. With a minimal investment of money and an even smaller investment of time, you’ll have a court you can use for years, provided you use high-quality materials.
Check out our blog to learn more about this fun sport that’s taking the country by storm!