Yard Ball

What it’s like

Football-themed challenge arena in Sheffield where kids take on crossbar and speed-shot games against the clock.

This is a challenge arena built around football rather than the usual laser tag or Nerf setup. There are 20 challenges to work through, including the Crossbar Challenge, Speed Shot, Garages targets and the daftly-named Ice Screamer, plus arcades to fall back on once legs get tired. It suits kids who fancy themselves a bit handy with a ball, and the age range they quote is 4 to 14, though how young you can go depends on the session.

Under-6s only get into the challenge area during specific "little uns" sessions, aimed at the 4-5 bracket, so don't expect to just rock up with a four-year-old on a normal Saturday. Once they're 6, kids need a paying adult with them in the arena itself, and from 11 they can play unsupervised, though an adult still has to be somewhere on site in the café or bar. That last bit matters if you were hoping to drop off and run errands.

Sessions run 60 or 90 minutes, and the price swings a fair bit depending on when you go. Off-peak it's £11.95 for 60 minutes or £15.95 for 90, but weekends and school holidays push a 60-minute slot up to £15.95 too, so peak time buys you less for more. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 kids) is £45 off-peak or £59 at peak, which is where the real saving is if there's four of you. Spectators pay £3.95 if they want to be in the arena watching rather than sat in the café.

Booking's expected rather than optional, though they say walk-ins get squeezed in if there's room, which feels like a gamble on a busy Saturday. Buggies aren't allowed in the challenge area itself, only the café and bar, so that's one to plan around if you've got a toddler in tow as well as an older sibling playing. The on-site café, The Green 'Un, does hot food, snacks, coffee and alcohol all day, which covers you for a proper lunch stop rather than just a vending machine. Parties start at £17.95 a head for the Classic package (60 minutes of challenges, private room, pizza buffet) or £23.95 for the All In package, and they're pitched at 6 to 14 year olds.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

6 to 14; under-6s only get in during little uns sessions

Booking

Pre-book entry. Walk-ins accommodated based on capacity

Food

On-site café/bar with hot food, pizzas, snacks, soft drinks, alcohol and coffee daily

Pushchairs

Not permitted in challenge area, welcome in café/bar

Parties

Kids parties from £17.95pp with 60 mins in challenges, private room, and pizza buffet

• Everyone playing has to sign a waiver before arrival, not on the day
• Peak pricing (weekends and school holidays) is noticeably steeper than off-peak, worth timing round if you can
• Carers escorting a paying player round the challenge area go in free
• Parties are pitched at 6 to 14 year olds rather than the full 4 to 14 age range

Plan your visit

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