Victorian primary schools are hooked on Gaga Ball. You’d be hard-pressed to find a playground without the thump of a soft foam ball and a crowd of excited kids around a pit.
Gaga Ball has become more than just a game, it’s a daily ritual in schools. A way to belong. A moment of joy. And now, those same students are heading into high school — and they’re bringing Gaga Ball with them.
“Our Year 7s came to school asking: where’s the Gaga Pit?”
For Principal Katie Watmough at Reservoir High School, that one question captured something important... Students weren’t just expecting timetables and lockers, they were expecting Gaga Ball, because it had been part of their primary school experience for years. And when it wasn’t there in high school, they noticed.
It wasn’t just a throwaway comment. It was a clear reminder that play isn’t a bonus, it’s a basic need. For many students, Gaga Ball provides routine, connection, and comfort. When that disappears during a major transition, the impact is immediate.
The Gap in Transition for Schools
The shift from Year 6 to Year 7 is more than a change in buildings or subjects, it’s a complete reshaping of a young person’s day. Suddenly, students are moving between classrooms, learning under multiple teachers, navigating a bigger campus, and often, finding themselves without a familiar place to simply play.
“The lack of play-based opportunities in secondary schools not only impacts the individual students but also negatively impacts how young people form friendships.”
In primary school, students connect through play as much as anything else. It’s unstructured, spontaneous, and essential. But once they hit high school, those opportunities often vanish — just when they’re needed most.
“Students have to quickly adapt and rethink how they interact with their peers and build new relationships.” Says Katie.
The Gaga Ball pit at Reservoir High — a small space making a big impact on student connection and transition.
Why Familiar Play Matters
When Reservoir High installed its Gaga Pit, the effect was immediate. Students didn’t need to learn a new game or overcome awkwardness. They just jumped in — with the rules, the rhythm, and the confidence already in place.
“They immediately experience a sense of familiarity and a sense of connection.”
That kind of familiarity is rare in the chaos of Year 7. But with Gaga Ball, students arrive on day one with something that already belongs to them — and in doing so, they begin to feel like they belong too.
““It allows them to focus on gameplay while they establish new relationships and break down social barriers… all in a non-challenging and fun manner.”
— School Principal, Katie Watmough
A Game That Grows with Them
One of the biggest surprises at Reservoir wasn’t just how much the Year 7s loved Gaga Ball — it was how much the Year 12s wanted in too.
“It was interesting that older students were wanting opportunities to engage in fun play, even though they are considered young adults.”
Because the truth is, teenagers don’t grow out of play, they’re just often given fewer chances to engage in it. Gaga Ball offers something rare in secondary school life: fun with no strings attached. It invites healthy competition, spontaneous laughter, and connection that doesn’t depend on social status or cliques.
“While our students are becoming young adults, they still delight in playing ball games, engaging in healthy competition and having fun while at school.”
A Tool for Transition and Wellbeing
At Reservoir High, play is not an afterthought. It’s a considered part of their broader strategy for student engagement and wellbeing — and Gaga Ball fits perfectly into that approach.
“Positive Education is a key component of our strategic intent. Gaga Ball is a powerful enabler to achieve this.” Says Katie.
The school isn’t using Gaga Ball to fill time. It’s being used to build confidence, connection and community, all critical to helping students thrive as they move into secondary school life.
A Principal Message to Other School Leaders
“Regardless of the size of your campus, a Gaga Pit can be accommodated. While small in size, the positive outcomes experienced by students are immeasurable.”
Gaga Ball isn’t just a carryover from primary school, it’s a bridge between two very different stages of childhood. It’s something familiar in a sea of newness. And for schools looking to improve transition outcomes, the solution might be as simple as giving students a game they already love.
Because in the end, as Katie puts it:
“School should be so much more than just learning in the classroom. I want our students to remember joy, connection and feeling like they mattered. Gaga Ball helps us create that.”
Considering Gaga Ball for your School?
Discover how easy it is to set up your own pit with Gaga Games and transform recess, lunch and PE classes into an exciting, inclusive experience!
