Gaga ball is all the rage with kids right now. And although I would struggle to explain the rules, I can explain how to make a cheap, portable, DIY pit that can be sized up or down depending on your space and the number of players. This portable gaga ball pit is a winner at a picnics, parks or in the backyard.
When my son decided that he wanted to play gaga ball with his friends for his 9th birthday, I set out to make it happen. A quick internet search gave me plenty of pricy options for a very simple looking hexagon pit. I decided I could make one myself for less than half the price with OSB plywood and some Gorilla tape. Turns out I was right! 60$ and an hour later, and this is what I came up with:
*This portable gaga ball pit is designed with kids in mind and is not regulation size, however, with the regulation measurements and additional plywood, you could follow these same steps to make a regulation size gaga ball pit.
Materials:
- 3 sheets (8’x4’) of half inch OSB exterior plywood
- Gorilla tape (to prevent splinters when climbing in and out of the pit)
Tools:
- Circular saw or table saw
- Router (or jigsaw)
- Clamps
- Scrap piece of wood
- Saw horses
Step 1: Prep the Plywood
Measure and mark the plywood sheets, then cut each sheet in half lengthwise using a circular saw or a table saw. This will result in 6 pieces that are 2 ft tall by 8 ft wide. A feature of this DIY pit is that it can be set up with 4, 5 or 6 sides.
Step 2: Make the Interlocking Sides
Lay out the pieces of plywood and carefully plan alternating half cuts at the end of each piece to create interlocking sides, one cut starting from the bottom and stopping in the middle, and one cut starting from the top and stopping in the middle.
I made my cuts with a 5/8 inch router bit, but it’s fine to use a jigsaw or a circular saw if you don’t have a router. Making the interlocking cutouts slightly larger than the thickness of the plywood ensures that the pieces will slide together easily, and it will provide flexibility for different pit shapes. I started my cuts 4 inches in from the end to give the connections stability without eating too much into the side length.
I used a scrap piece of wood cut to the right thickness (accounting for the router fence) as a guide to speed up my interlocking cuts. I drew a pencil line in the middle of the scrap wood as a stopping point for the router. With the scrap wood aligned to the bottom, I used clamps to keep it in place while I pushed the router along the guide, stopping at the pencil mark. Using this process, it took about 20 minutes to make uniform cuts across all the pieces.
With the pieces and interlocking cuts done, I enlisted some neighbor kids for a quick test, which was a success.
Step 3: Splinter Protection
OSB plywood is rough, so I added long strips of Gorilla tape to the tops of each side to prevent splinters and clothes from snagging when kids stepped in and out of the pit. This was a quick and easy process, and so far it’s held up great.
Step 4: Assemble the Portable Gaga Ball Pit
Once all the sides are complete, it’s time to assemble your portable gaga ball pit. Carry each side of the gaga ball pit to a (mostly) flat space and slide each interlocking piece to into the next. You should be able to angle the walls of the gaga ball pit in or out depending on your desired shape. Each side of your portable gaga ball pit should easily slide in and out. If not, check the interlocking cutouts and sand or clear away any bits of plywood that might be preventing a proper connection. And that’s it!
Pros of this design:
- The price! All the materials cost about $60, which is less than half of anything available online.
- Half-inch OSB plywood is sturdy and light enough for an adult to move the sides of the gaga ball pit alone.
- The interlocking design makes this gaga ball pit portable and easy to assemble.
- The sides store flat.
Cons of this Design:
- OSB is weather resistant, but not weatherproof. To prolong the life of this pit, it should be disassembled and stored in a shed or garage.
- Transporting the 8 ft sides requires a pickup truck, roof rack or an empty van.
All in all, this portable, DIY gaga ball pit was a success. If you are looking for an easy and cheap kids activity, I highly recommend picking up a few sheets of plywood and giving this project a go. And if you do, let me know how it turned out!
Have fun and safe building,
Lara