Mamba GaGa Portable Indoor or Outdoor GaGa Ball Pit User Manual

: October 30, 2023
: Mamba GaGa

Table of Contents

Mamba GaGa Portable Indoor or Outdoor GaGa Ball Pit
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
Assembly Instructions
Disassembly and Storage Instructions
Care and Maintenance Instructions
- Inspect Panels and Pit Before Each Use
Warranty and Returns Information
GaGa Ball Rules and Variations
GaGa Game Variations
Documents / Resources

Mamba GaGa Portable Indoor or Outdoor GaGa Ball Pit

Product Information

The Mamba GaGa Portable Ball Pit is a recreational enclosure designed for playing GaGa ball and other games. The commercial panels come with the wall and entry/exit panels fully assembled and ready to be formed into an enclosure. The pit system is designed with steel tubing and bungees to form a complete, unbroken enclosure.
The system should be used on a flat surface avoiding ice, rocks, or other surfaces which may be hazardous to the participants. The pit must be assembled with at least a 20-degree angle between adjoining panels to reduce torquing stress on the individual panels. The system is not intended for children under three years old and may contain small parts that could present a choking hazard.

Product Usage Instructions

Read all warnings and instructions before assembly and use.
Determine where the pit will be assembled on a suitable flat and safe surface. The overall size and shape of the enclosure can be adjusted by adding or removing panels to suit the available room, number, and age of participants.
Locate the best position to install the entry/exit door panels. Begin with one of these entry/exit panels and align the hinge half at the bottom of the panel with the corresponding hinge half of an adjacent wall panel such that the male and female hinge halves are interlocked at the bottom.
Insert a hinge pin through the top hinge half of the wall panel, thread it through the top hinge half of the entry/exit door panel, and seat it to the floor through the bottom interlocked hinges of both panels.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 to assemble all remaining panels in a complete, unbroken enclosure.
Check the system before each use to ensure all parts are correctly installed and attached. Ensure that all bungees are connected to the panels and rubber caps are securely attached to hinge pins.
Children should be supervised at all times while in and around the pit. Keep all people away from the ball pit during lightning storms or other severe weather, as the panels are made with steel tubing.
Do not climb, slide, sit, or stand on rails, sides, or net panels. The panels are not intended to hold weight or to be used to jump on, as doing so can damage the system.
Do not wear jewelry, loose clothing, or anything which may entangle in the panels during play.
Never play on or use damaged equipment or partially disassembled systems. The system is designed so that each panel helps to support the other panels to which they are attached. Therefore, the pit must be assembled into a complete, unbroken enclosure.

READ ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE ASSEMBLY AND USE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE
Please visit mambagaga.com/pages/how-to-videos or scan the QR code for additional information on maintaining and using your Mamba GaGa Ball Pit.

Warnings and Safety Information

Children should be supervised at all times while in and around the pit.
Do not climb, slide, sit, or stand on rails, sides, or net panels. The panels are not intended to hold weight or to be used to jump on, as doing so can damage the system. Check the system before each use to ensure all parts are correctly installed and attached.
Ensure that all bungees are connected to the panels and rubber caps are securely attached to hinge pins as described in this manual and at https://mambagaga.com/pages/how-to-videos
Keep all people away from the ball pit during lightning storms or other severe weather, as the panels are made with steel tubing.
Do not wear jewelry, loose clothing, or anything which may entangle in the panels during play.
The GaGa pit system should be used on a flat surface avoiding ice, rocks, or other surfaces which may be hazardous to the participants.
Never play on or use damaged equipment or partially disassembled systems. The system is designed so that each panel helps to support the other panels to which they are attached. Therefore, the pit must be assembled into a complete, unbroken enclosure.
Always assemble the pit with at least a 20-degree angle between adjoining panels (i.e., do not allow adjacent panels to form a straight line). The angle reduces torquing stress on the individual panels.
When transporting panels in a vehicle or trailer, remove locking hubs from hinges and transport them separately.
WARNING: Not intended for children under three years old. GaGa Pits may contain small parts which could present a choking hazard.

Assembly Instructions

Mamba GaGa Commercial panels come with the wall and entry/exit panels fully assembled and ready to be formed into an enclosure for playing GaGa ball and other games.

Step 1. Determine where the pit will be assembled on a suitable flat and safe surface. The overall size and shape of the enclosure can be adjusted by adding or removing panels to suit the available room, number, and age of participants.
Step 2. Locate the best position to install the entry/exit “door” panels. Begin with one of these entry/exit panels and align the hinge half at the bottom of the panel with the corresponding hinge half of an adjacent wall panel such that the male and female hinge halves are interlocked at the bottom.
Step 3. Insert a hinge pin through the top hinge half of the wall panel, thread it through the top hinge half of the entry/exit “door” panel, and seat it to the floor through the bottom interlocked hinges of both panels.
Note that on the side of the entry/exit panel on which the wall panel’s top hinge half is male, the rubber cap of the hinge pin will be about 1 ½” above the hinge’s knuckle when the pin is fully inserted.
It is essential that the entry/exit panels are not assembled adjacent to each other as this would result in the hinge pin protruding too far above the center hinges. There must be at least two wall panels between the entry/exit panels to ensure that the wall panels are adequately supported.
Step 4. Similarly, attach wall panels, noting that when two wall panels are adjacent, the hinges are passed through the interlocked hinge halves at both the top and bottom of the panels since they are of the same height. Attach the remaining walls and the other entry/exit “door” panel until a complete, unbroken enclosure is formed.
In forming the GaGa Pit enclosure, adjacent panels should be at an angle of about 20 degrees or more to each other. This angle allows the panels to hold each other up and reduce torquing stress on the panel frames.
The GaGa Pit must be a completed enclosure as each panel must be attached to another at both ends to ensure adequate structural support and prevent the panels from being twisted and potentially damaged.
Step 5 (Optional). To prevent damage during shipping, the optional locking hubs are being shipped along with the hex wrench in the outer pocket of the storage bag that came with your Mamba GaGa Ball Pit. After assembling the pit, install the locking hubs into the holes in each of the top (upper only) hinge pairs, rotating the locking hub clockwise to engage the bolt in the threaded metal insert in the hinge:
Step 6 (Optional). Using the 5/16” hex wrench (located in the outside pocket of the ball bag), lightly tighten the locking hubs on the sides of the female hinge halves until they contact the hinge pins inside the hinge. Test to ensure that the locking hubs create enough friction on the hinge pins to prevent them from being easily removed. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN, as this can cause damage to the locking mechanism.

Optional Goal Panels

The optional goal panels are designed to be used with a lightweight soccer or foam hockey set to increase the number of games played in Mamba GaGa Ball Pits. They are easily removed from the pit to play traditional GaGa Ball. Please note that using a heavier soccer ball can cause the back of the goal panel to flip up. We recommend adding a sandbag (not included) to the bottom of the net if needed to prevent this.
Goal Panels can be added to the GaGa Pit like the other panels by lining up the hinges and passing the hinge pin down through them to the ground.
The goal panels can be folded for storage by simply raising the horizontal orange frame and securing it with the bungee attached to the net.

Disassembly and Storage Instructions

Do Not Move the Entire Assembled Gaga Pit by Dragging. Doing so can torque and stress the panels, causing damage to the equipment. Please disassemble and reassemble in a new location.
Loosen locking hubs, if used, and pull hinge pins out to separate the panels.
We suggest storing the pins by simply inserting them through the top and bottom hinge halves on the sides of the wall panels (the entry/exit panel hinge pins should also be stored in the wall panels since they are too long to keep in the entry/exit panels).
The panels may be stored upright, stacked against a wall, on a rolling cart, or flat on the floor with the top bar padding on alternating sides to prevent scratching. Storage should be in a dry, covered location during long periods of non-use.

Care and Maintenance Instructions

We strongly recommend visiting mambagaga.com/pages/how-to-videos or scanning the QR code for more complete instructions on maintaining your GaGa Pit.

Inspect Panels and Pit Before Each Use

Inspect the Mamba GaGa Ball Pit and replace worn defective or missing parts:

Loose bungee ball cords (see attachment procedure below). Missing rubber pulls from the top of hinge pins.
Missing or improperly attached top bar padding.
Bent or broken frame bars or cracked or broken hinges. Holes, tears, and frays in the netting.
Disassemble the GaGa pit immediately if any hazardous conditions exist, and call (855) 626-2242 or go online to mambagaga.com to obtain any needed replacement parts. Do not use the pit until the condition has been corrected and the pit has been re-inspected.

Loose Bungee Ball Cords

Occasionally, one of the bungee balls used to secure the nets to the panel frames may come loose. If numerous bungee balls become loose, the net will lose its ability to rebound effectively, and additional stress will be placed on the remaining bungees.
Therefore, loose bungee balls should be reattached as soon as possible. Note that the bungee balls will remain secured around the panel bars even when loose to help prevent loss or misuse.
This video is probably the easiest way to learn how to reattach the bungees: mambagaga.com/pages/how-to-videos#anchor2 or scan this QR code:
Pass the ball with the attached cord through the net’s border, maintaining the bungee balls’ consistent spacing.
Reach under the steel frame and hook the bungee cord side that is on the same side of the net as the bungee ball.
Pull the bungee cord down and around the steel bar, give a half-twist to form a loop, and pass this loop entirely over the bungee ball, wrapping the cord twice around the base of the ball.
If a bungee ball needs to be replaced or added to the pit, use a needle-nosed plier to pull the knotted cord out of the ball, untie it, and loop it around the steel frame. Then reinsert the cord through the ball and retie the knot so the bungee cord remains secured around the bar if it comes loose.
To help prevent the bungee from coming undone again, lock the bungee ball in place by tightly wrapping the cord with a zip-tie against the net border, as shown below. Be sure to trim the zip-tie so that the cut end does not protrude from the head of the zip-tie, as this could cause scratches. A large mail trimmer works well for this.

Warranty and Returns Information

Warranty on Commercial Pits

Mamba GaGa Ball Pits are warranted to the original purchaser for five years on the panel frames and three years on the nets and pads from the date of shipment. Failure of materials or workmanship is covered under normal use of the products under normal conditions.
Not covered under warranty is normal wear and tear or damage caused by misuse of the equipment, vandalism, improper installation, extreme weather conditions, or lack of proper care and maintenance as specified in this User Manual.

Return Policy

Our policy lasts 30 days. Unfortunately, we can’t refund you if 30 days have passed since your purchase. All returns require previous authorization. Please get in touch with our customer service line at 855-MAMBA GAGA (855-626-2242).
Returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee, and return shipping costs are the purchaser’s responsibility. If a return is required due to our error, we will waive the 15% fee and pay any shipping fees.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition as when you received it.
Additional information is available at: www.mambagaga.com/policies/refund-policy

GaGa Ball Rules and Variations

GaGa Ball (aka, Octoball) is a variation of dodgeball in which players in a large GaGa “pit” try to eliminate opponents by striking them in the legs with the ball. GaGa, which means “touch-touch” in Hebrew, was invented over 30 years ago. GaGa Ball is often called the “kinder, gentler version” of dodgeball, and childcare givers recognize that it is a safer way to provide much-needed physical activity for kids of any age and athletic ability.
Note: There are many regional variations of the basic rules outlined below. Feel free to play the game you love best!

Basic GaGa Rules

Players start inside the pit touching the sides. One player throws the GaGa ball up into the air. Players yell “Ga” as it bounces, and the ball is in play after the second bounce (“Ga-Ga”).
Players can hit the ball with one hand but not pick up and throw it.
If the ball touches a player anywhere on or below the knee, that player is eliminated.
A player cannot touch the ball two times in a row – the ball must first touch another player or the pit wall, or it is called a “double touch,” and that player is out.
Players may not kick the ball since this means touching the ball below the knee.
If the ball is hit out of the pit, the last player to touch the ball is out.
Players who are out must leave the GaGa pit immediately.
The last player out is the winner and gets to start the next game.

GaGa Game Variations

Domination GaGa

This variation is excellent for “leveling the playing field” among players of various ages and athletic abilities. Gameplay is as above, except that when a player gets “out,” any player whom that player previously got out can re-enter the pit.

Mayhem GaGa

Use up to 4 balls for this game (different colored balls work best to help keep track of “double touches”). Players may not see it coming!

Dodge GaGa

If a player catches the ball in the air, the last person to hit the ball is out.

Team GaGa

Players stay on opposite sides of the pit and play until one team is eliminated. Getting each opponent out allows a teammate to re-enter. Team GaGa can be combined with “Dodge GaGa,” allowing the ball to be caught.

Defender GaGa

Each player picks a wall panel to defend from being hit by the others. Keep score by the number of hits, and the highest score loses!
Copyright ©2023 Mamba GaGa, LLC

Documents / Resources

| Mamba GaGa Portable Indoor or Outdoor GaGa Ball Pit [pdf] User Manual
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