In high school gym, we would accasionally be divided into 2 teams (10-20 kids each), and they would bring out the “animal ball”. It was about 6 feet high, made of canvas-covered rubber, and it was NOT light. We would play animal ball on the basketball court, and the object was for each team to try to touch the ball to the oppsition’s basketball rim.
There were no rules.
The ball did bounce a little, but it required teamwork to get it off the ground towards a target. Mostly it was meant to wear out the players, who swarmed around the ball, punching and kicking at it.
And even though there were always injuries, we would get pretty excited when the gym teacher told us we were going to play animal ball. He, of course, would sit in the bleachers, smoking a cigarette until the bell rang.
How we survived the 70s will always remain a mystery.
