Gelball Near York
A completely private outdoor Gelball experience for children in School Year 3 and above. Take on two permanent outdoor game zones, play objective-based team games and battle for the overall win using low-impact, water-based Gelball ammunition.
Every booking is private. Your group plays only with the friends, family and participating adults included in your own booking.
4.9 ★★★★★ · 480+ Google reviews

Gelball at a glance
10 Players
Minimum Group Size
50 players
Maximum Group Size
School Year 3+
Minimum Age
60 Minutes
Session Length
Private
Session
From £20
Per Participant
What Is Gelball?
Gelball is an outdoor team activity played with electric gel blasters and small hydrated, water-based gel balls.
The gel balls break apart on impact, contain no paint and do not normally stain clothing.
A hit feels similar to being struck by a Nerf dart and is gentler than Junior Paintball. Players can still feel when they have been hit, giving the games a clear elimination system without the stronger impact of Paintball.
No previous experience is needed.
Gelball is suitable from School Year 3. Because eligibility is based on school year rather than a fixed birthday, some children may still be seven years old when they first become eligible to play.
Every participant receives a full safety briefing and instruction before the games begin.

Your 60-Minute Gelball Session
Every booking includes one full hour of private gameplay across two outdoor game zones.
Your group is divided into two colour-coded teams before heading to the first map.
Depending on the ages, size, confidence and pace of the group, the instructors will normally run either:

Two Longer Games
One extended game on the first map, followed by another extended game on the second.

Four Shorter Games
Two different games on the first map, followed by two on the second. Both formats provide the same full hour of gameplay.
The instructors choose the format that will give your particular group the better experience rather than forcing every party through exactly the same programme.
Each game produces a winning team and points towards the overall result.
At the end of the session, the scores are combined and the overall Gelball winners are announced.
Two Maps from Four Permanent Game Zones
Your group will play on two game zones selected from Frontline, Speedball, The Outpost and The Village.
These are established outdoor game areas rather than temporary inflatable barriers or a sports hall set-up.
The instructors choose the most suitable two zones according to the ages and size of the group, conditions on the day and which games will work best.


Frontline
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Main Game: Team Death Match
Alternative Game: Capture The FlagFrontline creates a direct team-versus-team battle. During Team Death match, every valid elimination is recorded by the marshal. Players respawn and return to the fight, while the team with the highest elimination total wins.
For Capture the Flag, a flag is positioned in the centre of the game zone. Both teams fight to gain control of it, with the team holding the flag when time expires taking the win.

Speedball
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Main Game: Windmill Capture
Alternative Game: Team Death MatchSpeedball is one of the park’s long-established game zones. Its colour-changing windmills become the objectives.
Players race to turn the windmills to their own team colour while deciding whether to defend the positions they already hold or push further into opposition territory.
The team controlling the most windmills when time expires wins.

The Outpost
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Main Game: Tower Control
Alternative Game: Team Death MatchThe Outpost contains a bridge, four towers and defensive positions.
During the main Gelball game, teams attempt to capture the towers and convert them into bases controlled by their own side.
Players must decide whether to attack another tower, defend the bases they already hold or help teammates regain a position captured by the opposition.

The Village
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Main Game: Building Control
Alternative Game: Team Death MatchThe Village is a permanent game zone filled with buildings, routes and cover positions. Colour-changing mini-spinners attached to buildings become the objectives.
Teams move through the Village trying to turn as many positions as possible to their own colour while the opposition attempts to take them back.
The team controlling the most positions when the game ends wins.
Gelball Pistol or Five-Ball Shotgun?
We use two different styles of Gelball blaster so the equipment can be matched to the participant rather than expecting every child to handle the same gun.
The instructors decide which equipment is most appropriate for each participant according to their size and strength. All equipment is supplied by Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park.

Gelball Pistols
The majority of younger and smaller participants use our Gelball pistols.
They are compact, lighter to handle and fire one gel ball per shot.

Gelball Shotguns
Older, larger or stronger participants may be offered one of our Gelball shotguns.
The shotgun fires five gel balls at the same time, creating a wider spread with each shot.
Even if several gel balls from one shotgun blast hit the same player, it still counts as only one elimination.
Hits, Respawns and Protection
The Gelball hit rules are deliberately simple.
What Counts as a Hit?
A valid hit must:
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Be fired by a player on the opposing team
-
Land from the shoulders down
Hits to the head, goggles, Gelball gun or other equipment do not count. Friendly fire from somebody on your own team does not count. Only one valid gel ball needs to hit the player.
What Happens When You Are Hit?
The player returns to their team’s starting base before immediately rejoining the game.
There are unlimited respawns, so nobody is eliminated for the remainder of the activity.
During Team Deathmatch, the marshal records each valid elimination before the player returns.
During Capture the Flag and capture-point games, players still return to base when hit, but eliminations are not added to the game score.

Full-Face Protection
Every player wears supplied full-face protection throughout live gameplay.
The protection must remain correctly fitted while a game is taking place.
Deliberately aiming towards another participant’s head is prohibited. A player deliberately firing at heads will be warned, and repeated deliberate head shots may result in removal from the game.

Everything Included for £20 Per Person
Every Gelball booking includes:
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Completely private session
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One full hour of gameplay
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Two outdoor game zones
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Two to four instructor-led games
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Gelball pistol or shotgun
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Unlimited hydrated gel balls
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Full-face protection
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Optional body protection
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Coloured team bib
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One or two instructors
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Unlimited respawns
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Game scoring
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Overall winning-team announcement
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Free on-site parking
There are no extra equipment-hire or ammunition charges.
Private Gelball Birthday Parties
Gelball works particularly well as a birthday activity because every booking is private. Another party is never added to your group.
Parents, older siblings and other adults are more than welcome to join the games. Participating adults pay the same £20 per person and count towards the group numbers.
After the activity, choose the party arrangement that suits you.

£20 per participant
Activity Only
Enjoy the full private Gelball session with no food or party room required.
£5 Per Person
Add Party Food
The standard food package includes:
XL American-style hot dog
Juice drink
Packet of crisps
Private themed party room afterwards
Food does not have to be ordered for every participant.
If somebody requires vegetarian, vegan or allergy-specific food, please bring suitable food for that participant, as these alternatives are not provided within the standard package.


£30 Per Group
Bring Your Own Food
Hire a private themed party room for £30 per booking and bring your own food.
The £30 charge covers the room only, so families should bring their own food, drinks, plates, cups, cutlery and other serving items.
There is no fixed time limit on use of the room.
If a large party requires more than one room, the total room-hire charge remains £30.
Birthday cakes are always welcome. Enjoy the full private Gelball session with no food or party room required.
Practical Information

Session Times
Standard Gelball sessions run on Sundays at: 10PM · 12PM · 2PM.
We do not run children’s activities on Saturdays.
Private midweek Gelball sessions may also be available, with more flexible start times. Midweek bookings should be arranged by telephone.

Arrival
Please arrive 30 minutes before your session.
This gives time for registration, organising the teams, issuing equipment, fitting protection and completing the safety briefing before the full hour of gameplay begins.

Clothing & Footwear
Wear comfortable outdoor clothing suitable for active play.
We strongly recommend:
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Trainers or boots with good grip
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Long trousers
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Clothing appropriate for the weather
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Clothes that can become wet or muddy
Sandals, sliders and other loose footwear are unsuitable for the outdoor game zones.

Weather
Gelball normally continues in ordinary rain.
Sessions may be postponed if high winds, lightning or another condition makes the game zones unsafe.
If Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park postpones your session, you will be offered an alternative date or booking credit.

Accessibility
We have accommodated wheelchair users during Gelball events before.
However, the outdoor maps contain uneven ground, buildings, obstacles and natural terrain, so access can be difficult.
Please call 01757 289322 before booking to discuss individual requirements. We will make every reasonable effort to find a practical solution.

Booking & Payment
All Gelball sessions must be booked in advance.
Online bookings are paid in full.
Telephone bookings can be secured with a £100 deposit, with the remaining balance due during the week before the event.
For full cancellation and booking-change information, see our Booking Information page.
Is Gelball Right for Your Group?
Gelball is one of several private children’s activities available at Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park.
The best choice depends on the age of the youngest child and the type of experience the group wants.

Choose Gelball If…
Your group wants a low-impact projectile activity with permanent outdoor maps, Team Death match, Capture the Flag and objective-based games.
School Year 3+
£20 Per Participant
Consider Nerf If…
Your children particularly enjoy foam-dart blasters and would prefer a more story-led adventure involving territory, hidden gold coins and the Golden Egg.
School Year 3+
£20 Per Participant


Consider Junior Laser Tag If…
You want a completely non-impact activity with no physical projectile. Hits are recorded electronically and players have unlimited lives.
School Year 1+
£20 Per Participant
Consider Junior Paintball If…
Your children are older and want the closest experience to traditional Paintball using low-velocity Paintball equipment and paint-filled ammunition.
School Year 5+
£25 Per Participant

Not sure which one to choose? Call 01757 289322 and we will help you select the most suitable activity for your group.
Gelball FAQ’s
The instructors select two game zones according to the ages and size of the group, conditions, map availability and the games that will work best.
This means particular maps cannot be guaranteed in advance.
You are welcome to tell us what your group enjoys, but the instructors make the final decision on the game programme.
The aim is to choose the two-game or four-game format that will work best for your particular group.
Possibly.
The five-ball shotguns are normally offered to older, larger or stronger participants. The instructor decides which blaster is appropriate for each player.
No.
Only the Gelball equipment supplied by Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park may be used during the session.
Yes.
Parents, older siblings and other adults are welcome to join the games. They pay the same £20 participant price and count towards the group numbers.
Potentially, yes.
Options depend on participant school years, group size, timings and availability.
Call 01757 289322 if you would like help arranging a multi-activity visit.
Gelball Near York and Selby
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park is located on the Escrick Park Estate, between York and Selby. We are approximately 10 minutes from York, 10 minutes from Selby and around 5 minutes from the A19.
The postcode brings you close to the venue but does not always identify the exact entrance.
What3words: ///falls.starfish.patio
Address
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park
Escrick Park Estate
Broad Lane, Skipwith
Selby, North Yorkshire
YO8 5SW
Call Us
01757 289322
Enquiries
enquiries@ypc.co.uk
Parking
Free on-site parking is available.
Book Gelball Near York
Take on two permanent outdoor game zones with unlimited Gelball ammunition and a private instructor-led team competition.
£20 per participant | One full hour | School Year 3+
10–50 participants | Completely private
4.9 ★★★★★ · 480+ Google reviews
