4 Beach Ball Games That Will Transform Your Beach Day

A beach ball may be one of the simplest things you can toss into your beach bag, but it can turn an ordinary afternoon by the water into hours of family fun.

Unlike heavier sports equipment, a beach ball is lightweight, inexpensive, easy to pack, and simple enough for kids and adults to use together. You don’t need a court, a net, or complicated rules. All you need is a little open space, a few players, and a willingness to get silly.

Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a beach birthday, or just want something to do between swims, these 4 beach ball games are easy to learn and fun for a wide range of ages.

And because most of them can be adjusted for younger children, larger groups, or more competitive players, you can keep the same ball in play all afternoon without anyone getting bored.

🏖️ Beach Ball Games at a Glance

Game	Best For	Players	Difficulty
Keep It Up	Families and young kids	2+	Easy
Beach Ball Relay	Groups and parties	4+	Easy
Beach Ball Volleyball	Older kids and adults	4+	Moderate
Beach Ball Target Toss	All ages	2+	Easy

🎈 1. Keep It Up

Best for: Families, younger kids, small groups

This is the easiest beach ball game on the list—and often the one that keeps people laughing the longest.

The goal is simple:

Keep the beach ball from touching the sand.

Players stand in a loose circle and tap the ball into the air using their hands, arms, shoulders, or even heads.

Count how many hits your group can make before the ball lands.

Start with a small goal:

Can we get to 10?

Then try:

Can we beat 25?

Once everyone gets the hang of it, make the challenge harder.

Fun Variations

Try rules such as:

No player can hit the ball twice in a row.
Everyone must touch the ball before someone can repeat.
Only one hand can be used.
Players must remain seated.
Every hit must be made with a different body part.
Move farther apart after every successful round.

For younger kids, forget the rules completely and just celebrate every time the ball stays in the air.

Why it works: Everyone participates, nobody has to be particularly athletic, and the challenge naturally adjusts to the group’s skill level.

🏃 2. Beach Ball Relay Race

Best for: Families, beach parties, larger groups

Turn a simple beach ball into a hilarious relay race.

Divide players into two teams and mark:

A starting line
A turnaround point

Then choose how players must transport the ball.

The trick?

They can’t simply carry it normally.

Relay Ideas

Players can:

Hold the beach ball between their knees
Balance it between two players’ backs
Push it along the sand with their heads
Carry it between two forearms
Balance it on an open palm
Walk while keeping it pressed between two people
Bounce it gently without letting it touch the ground

Each player or pair travels to the turnaround point and back before passing the ball to the next teammate.

The first team to finish wins.

Make It Easier for Kids

Shorten the course and allow children to reset the ball if they drop it.

Younger players can simply walk with the ball balanced in front of them.

Make It Harder for Adults

Add obstacles such as:

Beach towels to step over
Buckets to circle
Sandcastles to weave around
A short section that must be completed walking backward

Just keep the course away from other beachgoers and avoid running near rocks, umbrellas, or crowded areas.

Why it works: The awkwardness is part of the fun, and the game works especially well for family reunions and group vacations.

🏐 3. Beach Ball Volleyball

Best for: Older kids, teens, adults, larger groups

You don’t need a regulation volleyball court to play beach volleyball.

A beach ball makes the game slower, softer, and much easier for beginners.

Divide players into two teams and create a center line in the sand.

If you have a volleyball net, great.

If not, use something simple such as:

A line drawn in the sand
Two beach chairs marking the center
A towel stretched between safe supports
An imaginary boundary everyone agrees on

The objective is to hit the ball over the center line and prevent it from touching your side of the sand.

Simple Rules

A beginner-friendly version can work like this:

One team serves the beach ball.
Players may hit it up to three times before sending it back.
If the ball touches the sand, the other team scores a point.
First team to 11 or 15 wins.

Because beach balls float and change direction in the wind, expect plenty of unexpected plays.

That’s half the fun.

Cooperative Version

Not every game needs a winner.

Instead of keeping score, see how many times both teams can send the ball back and forth without letting it hit the sand.

This version works especially well for mixed ages.

Why it works: You get the feel of volleyball without needing much equipment or serious skill.

🎯 4. Beach Ball Target Toss

Best for: Families, younger children, relaxed beach days

This game combines a beach ball with whatever beach gear you already have nearby.

Set up several targets in the sand.

Possible targets include:

Beach towels
Hula hoops
Buckets
Circles drawn in the sand
Beach chairs
Sandcastle zones

Assign each target a point value.

For example:

Large towel: 1 point
Big sand circle: 2 points
Hula hoop: 3 points
Small target: 5 points

Players stand behind a line and toss or tap the beach ball toward the targets.

The person with the highest score after several rounds wins.

Make the Game More Interesting

Try different throwing styles:

Overhead
Underhand
Backward
One-handed
Sitting down
With eyes closed after aiming

You can also move the throwing line farther away after every successful round.

Team Version

Put players into teams and combine scores.

This works especially well when younger children are playing with adults because the game doesn’t depend on speed or strength.

Why it works: It’s easy to set up, easy to modify, and perfect when everyone wants a game that doesn’t involve running.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best Beach Ball Games for Younger Kids

Beach balls are particularly good for younger children because they’re soft, lightweight, and relatively slow-moving.

For preschoolers and early elementary-age kids, try:

Keep It Up
Short-distance target toss
Rolling the ball between players
Simple relay races
Catch-and-count games

Avoid making the rules too complicated.

A three-year-old may be perfectly happy simply trying to hit the ball back into the air.

And that still counts as a successful beach game.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Best Beach Ball Games for Large Groups

If you’re planning a family reunion, birthday, or group vacation, choose games that keep lots of people involved.

The best options are:

Beach Ball Relay

Divide everyone into teams and create several relay variations.

Beach Ball Volleyball

Larger groups can rotate players in and out.

Giant Keep It Up

Form one large circle and see how many total hits the group can achieve.

You can even add a second beach ball once everyone gets comfortable.

That usually turns organized play into cheerful chaos very quickly.

🌬️ What If It’s Windy?

Beach balls and wind have an interesting relationship.

A gentle breeze can make games more unpredictable and fun.

Strong wind can make them nearly impossible.

If the ball is constantly blowing away:

Move closer to dunes or another sheltered area where access is permitted.
Play lower-to-the-ground games.
Use a slightly smaller or less inflated ball.
Switch from volleyball to target toss.
Save the beach ball for another part of the day.

Never chase a runaway beach ball into traffic, strong surf, dunes, or protected wildlife areas.

🌊 Can You Play Beach Ball Games in the Water?

Yes, as long as conditions are safe.

Shallow-water variations can be great on calm beach days.

Try:

Water Keep It Up

Stand in shallow water and keep the ball airborne.

Water Catch

Throw the ball between players while slowly moving farther apart.

Floating Circle

Players form a circle in safe water and try to keep the ball moving around the group.

Always consider:

Surf conditions
Water depth
Lifeguard warnings
Rip-current risk
Children’s swimming abilities

A game should never distract players from changing ocean conditions.

If you’re heading to the coast with kids, choosing a destination from our guide to the Best Beaches Near Destin for Families can help you plan a more family-focused beach day.

🎒 What to Bring for a Beach Game Day

A beach ball takes up almost no space when deflated, which makes it easy to add to your regular beach gear.

For a comfortable game day, bring:

Inflatable beach ball
Small pump if needed
Drinking water
Sunscreen
Hats
Beach towels
Cooler
Comfortable swimwear
Sand toys for younger kids
First-aid basics

Our Free Beach Vacation Packing Checklist can help you make sure the rest of your beach essentials are covered.

☀️ Beach Game Safety Tips

Beach games should be fun, not dangerous.

A few simple precautions help.

Choose an Open Area

Don’t play directly beside:

Other beachgoers
Umbrellas
Fishing lines
Grills
Rocks
Lifeguard stations
Busy walkways

Give your group enough space so nobody has to dodge strangers while chasing the ball.

Watch the Heat

Running on sand can be more tiring than people expect.

Take breaks and drink water regularly.

Protect Your Feet

Sand can become extremely hot.

Shells, rocks, and debris can also make running barefoot uncomfortable.

Check the Surf

If your game takes you into the water, check beach flags and current conditions first.

Supervise Kids

Young children can become focused on chasing a ball and forget how close they are getting to the water.

Keep an adult between younger children and the surf when necessary.

🧴 Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

Beach games can make time disappear.

When people are actively playing, they may stay in direct sunlight much longer than they realize.

Apply sunscreen before play and reapply according to the product instructions, especially after swimming or sweating.

Hats, sunglasses, rash guards, and shade can provide additional protection.

Take regular breaks under an umbrella or other appropriate shade.

♻️ Keep the Beach Ball From Becoming Beach Trash

A beach ball is fun only while it stays with you.

Lightweight inflatable toys can blow away quickly.

If your ball escapes, retrieve it only when doing so is safe.

At the end of the day:

Deflate or secure the ball.
Pick up game markers.
Collect bottles and wrappers.
Remove broken toys.
Check your area for small pieces of plastic.

You can even turn cleanup into one final game.

Give everyone five minutes to see how many safe pieces of litter they can spot around your setup.

Our guide to The Top Beach Cleaning Tools: Protecting Our Coastlines One Cleanup at a Time has more ideas for leaving the shoreline cleaner than you found it.

❓ Beach Ball Games FAQs

What Games Can You Play With a Beach Ball?

Some of the easiest options include:

Keep It Up
Beach Ball Volleyball
Relay Races
Target Toss
Catch
Water games

You can modify almost any simple ball game for use with a beach ball.

How Many People Do You Need?

Two people are enough for most beach ball games.

Relays and volleyball work better with at least four players.

What Is the Best Beach Ball Game for Kids?

Keep It Up is probably the easiest.

There are almost no rules, and children of different ages can play together.

What Is the Best Beach Ball Game for Adults?

Beach Ball Volleyball works particularly well for adults and teens.

For a family reunion or party, relay races can be even more entertaining.

Can Toddlers Play Beach Ball Games?

Yes.

Toddlers can roll, kick, tap, or catch a lightweight beach ball with adult supervision.

Keep games very simple and play well away from deep water.

Do You Need a Volleyball Net?

No.

Draw a line in the sand or simply agree on an imaginary center line.

What Size Beach Ball Is Best?

A standard medium-sized inflatable beach ball works for most games.

Very large novelty balls can be fun but may be harder for young children to control, particularly in windy conditions.

🌅 Sometimes the Simplest Beach Games Are the Best

You can bring bags of toys, elaborate sports equipment, and organized activities to the beach.

But sometimes one inflatable ball is all you need.

A beach ball can become a volleyball, relay prop, target game, cooperative challenge, or completely improvised invention created by the kids five minutes after you arrive.

That’s part of what makes it such a perfect beach toy.

It doesn’t dictate how you have to play.

So toss one into your beach bag, choose a game—or make up your own—and see how long you can keep it off the sand.

For more ideas for planning an easy day by the water, explore our Free Beach Vacation Packing Checklist and Your Guide to the Perfect Beach Day.