Go gaga for Gaga Ball Aug. 10

Published On: July 18, 2019

July 18. Cornelius’ 4th Annual Gaga Ball Tournament will be Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 am to noon at Robbins Park.

It all takes place in—what else—a gaga pit. The competition is open to boys and girls, ages 7 – 14. It’s organized by the Cornelius PARC Dept.

Gaga Ball, a kinder gentler version of dodge ball, is played with a soft foam ball. It combines the skills of dodging, striking, running and jumping—all while trying to hit opponents with a ball below the knees. Players need to keep moving to avoid getting hit by the ball.

The fast-paced game is popular with adults as well.

Participants will play three rounds and accrue points based on how they finish in each round. A championship shootout in each age division will conclude the tournament. The top three participants in each age division will receive medals.

Tournament fees are $5 for Cornelius residents and $10 for non-residents.

Pre-registration is required and is open until Aug. 9. Spaces are limited and registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, or for more information, visit www.cornelius.org/parc or call 704-892-6031.

Adults and kids can use the Gaga Pit any time.

Here are Gaga Ball rules, according to the Gaga Center in New York City:

All players start with one hand touching a wall of the pit.
The game begins with a referee throwing the ball into the center of the pit.
When the ball enters the pit, the players scream ‘GA’ for the first two bounces, and ‘GO’ on the third bounce, after which the ball is in action.
Once the ball is in play, any player can hit the ball with an open or closed hand.
If a ball touches a player below the knee (even if the player hits himself or herself) he or she is out and leaves the pit. If a player is hit above the knees, the play continues.
If a ball is caught on a fly, the player who hit the ball is out.
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.
Players cannot hold the ball.
If needed, a second ball can be thrown in the pit to expedite the end of the game. The last player standing is the winner of that round.