Thomas Jefferson goes goo-goo for ga-ga ball

Thomas Jefferson School recently purchased two ga-ga ball pits for its playground area - one for younger students and one for older kids.

The Thomas Jefferson community will be able to enjoy its new ga-ga ball pits for many years to come thanks to Ryan Johnson, the school's P.E. teacher; Alessandra Kennedy, a fifth-grade teacher; Jennifer Riehman, the school's assistant principal; and Larry Sasso, Thomas Jefferson principal, as their efforts brought the project to fruition.

So what is ga-ga ball?

Ga-ga originated in Israel, but has grown in popularity worldwide throughout the years. Recently, neighboring school districts, park districts, churches and other recreational facilities have adopted ga-ga as a safe, fun, active game that all age groups could enjoy and play at the same time.

Ga-ga is a variant of dodgeball that is played with one ball in a large, fenced-in area (usually an octagon or hexagon) called a ga-ga pit. The game combines dodging, striking, running, and jumping, with the object being the last person standing.

The game can be played by a group of individual players or with teams, as well as in one-on-one matches.

A game of ga-ga begins when one player throws the ball into the air. While their backs are against the pit wall, the players shout "Ga!" on each of the first three bounces.

After three bounces, the ball is in play and the players may leave the wall and "hit" the ball at each other in the pit. A player who is hit by the ball or breaks a rule is eliminated and must leave the game.

Players may not "hit" the ball twice in a row, and a player who causes the ball to leave the pit is out. When the ball is caught in the air on a fly, the last person to hit the ball is out.

For information on the game, or details about the ga-ga ball pit, contact Ryan Johnson, Thomas Jefferson P.E. teacher, at johnsor1@ccsd15.net.

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