Play

Every Friday night from 7-9 I volunteer at my church to lead our youth group in sports and activities. This past friday we played a game called "gaga ball" and myself along with the children loved it. For the game you'll need to be in an octagon (we used tables and put them on their sides) and a ball. One person tosses the ball in the air and the ball has to hit the ground 3 times before we can take our hands off the side of the tables and rush to the ball. The whole object is to slap the ball with your hand and hit someone below the knee and they are out. So accidentally people would get hit in the stomach or face but they would still be in. The whole object is to be the last person standing in the octagon for the win. I joined in a few games with the kids and it was a lot of fun. I was being bombarded by all the children like they were ganging up to get me out. I had to run, jump, and deflect balls so I could stay in. I got a few kids out and before I knew it, I was one of the final two people left in the game. I quickly made a move to try and get my enemy out but he got to the ball first and I swiftly jumped over it but not realizing that the ball bounced off the back wall and got me in my heal to be out and he won. Everyone cheered for him and we got everyone back in the octagon for round 2. I felt like a little kid again playing that game, I enjoy playing games like that. One of the p's that mostly stuck out was the participation. There were a few kids who didn't want to play the game at first but than once they saw everyone having fun they jumped in. Some kids looked at different strategies after getting out in the first few seconds. I think that is a big part of getting children to participate is to submerge yourself in with them like how I went into the game. I could have just let them go play it but because I am in there with them more kids came in to play. I think that as youth workers we need to realize that these children will look up to us and think that we are cool so we need to set great examples for them and also show them that you don't have to be too cool to play the game when everyone who's playing it is having fun.