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Earth Ball Games

An Earth Ball is a large, inflatable/soft ball used in schools for various games and sports. Sometimes these balls actually have "the earth" depicted on their surface but the term Earth typically just connotes the size of the ball. These balls can range in size and can literally be made as big as a storage shed. But typically, the balls are large enough that it takes a few children to hold them up in the air. Playing with an Earth ball is an opportunity to work on skills like teamwork and to have fun instead of focusing on specific sports.

Catch
- Catch is a simple game to start out a group of kids with an earth ball. Divide kids into two teams and have them work together to hurl the ball across a large area and toward the other team, where they must work together to catch it.
  
  You may also try a variation with parachutes. Give each team a parachute to work with and have them coordinate their movements to send the earth ball across to the other team where they must try to catch it in their parachute.
Leap Ball
- Leap over Earth balls on a soft surface, like grass or on a surface covered in mats---like a gymnastics studio. A grassy quad is a perfect place to play Leap Ball. This works best with an earth ball that's about as tall as the child's shoulders.
  
  Have several spotters stand by for optimal safety. Individually, allow children to run toward the earth ball, put their hands in the center and leap frog over it. For younger kids, place adults next to the ball to help children over.
Dodgeball
- Allow one child to be "it" or have a teacher participate. Make him the only one allowed to throw or roll the earth ball. Instruct children to stay within a specific area, but avoid being touched by the earth ball. The last child to be touched by the earth ball is the winner.

Kids Games