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DAGGERIN
GAGA
Ga-ga is played within an octagonal enclosure when available, or in any other space that is completely enclosed by surrounding walls. A ga-ga pit may be any size as there are no official dimensions. The objective of the game is to eliminate players by hitting a ball with an open hand or fist into the region at or below his or her knees. That player is then out and must leave the playing area. Carrying, throwing, or catching the ball after a bounce also results in elimination. Hitting the ball unobstructed, out of bounds is grounds for elimination. Anyone who hits another player in the head with the ball is also out. Pushing a player into the ball and any other physical contact is also a violation. This and other matters of dispute are settled by the game's judges. Traditionally, only a single ball is in play at a time in ga-ga. However, modified versions may use multiple balls, which increases the difficulty for players who must defensively keep track of the positions of the ball, even while they offensively control the action of one of the balls. Use of multiple balls also tends to shorten the duration of a game, by allowing for more speedy elimination of players.
The game is started by bouncing the ball. After three bounces the ball is in play and the players may leave the wall. Any player touching the ball or leaving the wall before the third bounce is considered out. This is also the procedure for resuming the game after a stoppage of play. Stoppages of play result from the ball being hit out of bounds. A player being hit above his or her knees is not grounds for a stoppage of play. The winner is the last player left in the playing area or the ball going out of bounds.
Ga-ga, most likely introduced by either Israeli madrichim (counselors) or perhaps Australian madrichim returning from Israel, had been played amongst the Jewish community of Perth, Western Australia as early as the 1960s. However, the 1980s saw a thriving period for junior competition Ga-ga ball. A fantastic competitive but friendly rivalry developed between the local junior champion Steven David and Israeli import Ofer Shuval, with Ofer Shuval dominant in their early encounters, but with Steven David narrowing the gap in their later contests. The rivalry unfortunately ended when Shuval had to permanently return to Israel for family reasons.
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