Ball sports have been around basically since the beginning of civilisation and are played, watched and enjoyed by millions of people all around the world. Ball sports are any kind of game or sport that involves, well, a ball!
These games include sports such as football, cricket, netball, rugby, baseball, basketball, soccer and dozens more. Each sport has its own rules and diverse history – and most of which are unrelated to each other.
Ball sports are great for all ages and provide a wide range of developmental opportunities and we are going to touch on some of them as well as our favourite ball sports to play!
Ball Sports Benefits
Playing with balls and participating in all types of ball sports can provide a range of benefits for the development of children and adults.
Playing balls sports:
- Builds hand-eye coordination and gross and fine motor skills.
- Helps to develop spacial awareness, grasping and balance.
- Helps with communication and working with others in a team and also develops problem-solving skills, and even language and social skills.
Many experts recommend introducing ball play as early as possible stating that even infants can benefit from exercise and sensory balls to stimulate their senses and help with movement.
Toddlers benefit from ball sports especially because they are for motor and hand-eye skills. Use a lightweight ball like a kickball or beach ball to avoid injury or a smaller ball like a tennis ball that is easier to hold for your little one.
As children get older ball sports will become more competitive and good for teaching discipline and social interaction. Children really learn about teamwork and commitment through sports now.
Teenagers and adults will find ball skills amazing for improving muscle mass and bone density, lowering body fat and improving flexibility and coordination. Tennis, soccer, netball, golf and even volleyball are great low-impact ball sports that improve a range of things.
Our Favourite Ball Sports Toys
Tennis is a fun, energetic sport that is great for hand-eye coordination and socialising. Try out our Beach Bat & Ball Set which is a fun, beach, pool or garden version of tennis to play. They come in an assortment of colours too!
Soccer is very beneficial for aerobic ability and cardiovascular health. Try out our Plastic Soccer Balls to play some soccer in the garden or the Lumo Beach Balls for a beach day soccer game. The soccer balls come in an assortment of colours and the beach balls an assortment of designs.
Baseball is a ball game played between two teams of nine on a diamond-shaped circuit of four bases. Our Foam Baseball Set comes with a bat and ball in assorted colours. The foam is great for little ones and for avoiding injury.
We love to go bowling at the alley but some days you want to bring the bowling home. Well, now you can with our Ten Pin Bowling Sets. These are perfect for babies and toddlers as there are no small parts. It’s super fun to try and throw the ball at the skittles!
Cricket involves two teams of eleven players each. In the centre of the field is a pitch with a wicket at each end. A player bowls a ball to the batter in an attempt to knock down the wicket and the batter hits the ball to try to score runs. Enjoy a fun game of garden cricket with our Foam Cricket Set which includes the bat and ball and comes in a variety of colours.
When it comes to finding a ball sport that suits you and your little one, there is a whole range of options to choose from! Pick the one that sounds the most fun and give it a go! And don’t forget to take a look at some of the other blogs we’ve written.