MFL MarMac students go ‘gaga’ over new physical education activity
MFL MarMac students of all ages have enjoyed playing gaga ball, a game similar to dodgeball, that’s played in an octagon called a gaga pit. The school purchased the gaga pit, which is portable and can be set up inside or outside, thanks to a $1,715 McElroy Excellence in Education Enrichment Grant. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
“If the ball hits you below the knees, you’re out. That’s the number one rule,” physical education teacher Chet Bachman said of gaga ball. “You have to hit it open-handed, and you can even hit it with two hands, anywhere you want. You just can’t grab it. You can’t stop the ball and guide it, and you can’t kick it either.” Here, third grader Mia Kautman shows how it’s done.
MFL MarMac P.E. teacher Chet Bachman likes gaga ball because it’s fun, gets students physically activity and allows entire classes of any size to participate.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
“Ga. Ga. Go!”
MFL MarMac third graders chant the words as physical education teacher Chet Bachman bounces a kickball three times, then lets it loose in a black-walled octagon set up on the stage in the high school gym. The students, spaced around the edge of the structure, jockey for position, hoping for a chance to smack the ball—or avoid being hit by it.
“If the ball hits you below the knees, you’re out. That’s the number one rule,” Bachman said. “You have to hit it open-handed, and you can even hit it with two hands, anywhere you want. You just can’t grab it. You can’t stop the ball and guide it, and you can’t kick it either.”
“You have to watch because sometimes the ball will bounce off the wall and hit you,” he continued. “You don’t want it to bounce too high, though. If it bounces out of the octagon pit, you’re out.”
This game, which has similarities to dodgeball, is called gaga ball and originated in Israel in the 1970s. In Hebrew, “gaga” translates to “touch touch” or “hit hit.” It began circulating around the world through summer camps, and octagons, known as gaga pits or arenas, have popped up at outdoor recreation areas.
“Probably five or seven years ago, I was at a campground and they had a wooden one,” Bachman said.
He liked the game and began brainstorming ways to bring a gaga pit to MFL MarMac. Third grade teacher Jennifer Wilwert caught wind of the idea and offered to write a grant. Last year, the district received a $1,715 McElroy Excellence in Education Enrichment Grant, which was used to purchase the structure.
While most gaga pits are permanent, Bachman found a portable one.
“It takes a lot to get it all apart and put back together,” he said, “but it’s nice because you can use it up here on the stage when it’s cold outside, or we can use it on the tennis courts outside. Eventually, we can put it on the playground for recess. If we really wanted to, we could take it down and use it in McGregor. We can use this pre-K all the way through 12th—high schoolers have been using it too.”
Students began playing gaga ball last spring, right before the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools. They picked back up with it in October, to much success.
“The kids are highly engaged and excited to play,” Wilwert shared.
Bachman said he likes the activity because the whole class can participate.
“If you have a class of 30, you can play. If you have a class of 20, you can play. You can get a lot of people involved,” he noted.
Even students who get “out,” which requires them to hop over the wall and watch from outside the pit, can re-enter the game by catching a ball.
“That lets everyone who’s on the wall participate,” quipped Bachman.
Even MFL MarMac students learning virtually from home can experience the action. Bachman video recorded a P.E. class last week, showing viewers how to play gaga ball.
“This is something you’re going to be able to use at home and create some good body movement,” he said. “If you have tables you can put together, or walls to help create an area where the ball can bounce off. Boxes or wood—whatever you want to use to make a wall that’s as high as your waist.”
Through gaga ball, students work together discovering a non-traditional game, and are also physically active. They hone proactive offensive and defensive strategies and learn to stay in an athletic stance for the duration of the activity.
According to Bachman, that sets kids up well for future sports.
“The stance is used in just about every sport—baseball, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, football,” he said. “That’s awesome because it teaches you to move your feet and bend your knees. You have to keep your head up. It’s great for hand-eye coordination, and really gives you a good workout.”
