Chase the Tail ๐งฃ ๐พ ๐ฅ
๐ฏ Focus: Throwing accuracy, technique to develop serving, and fun competition
๐งฐ Set-Up
Set up a tennis net or cone barrier across the middle of the space
Place tennis balls on top of hitting tees or cones (hitting tees work better) along the other side of the net/barrier โ these are the โcoconutsโ
๐น How to Play
Ask the kids โhave they ever been to a summer fete?...Seen a coconut shy? โ
Children stand behind a line or designated throw zone. The aim is to knock the coconuts (balls) off the tees
Correct Technique
Sideways stance; ball or beanbag behind the ear to allow elbow to bend. Encourage to use entire body to rotate up and outwards. Serving development: Explain to children and Parents how good throwing technique is important for later serving development. If you are able demonstrate first a serve and then a throw to show the similarities
Coaches or assistants recycle beanbags and move around the group, checking technique and providing praise or small corrections. Move to foam balls when run out of beanbags
๐ Progressions
๐ฏ Move the throw line further back to increase difficulty
๐ช Add a challenge round โ 3 throws each, how many can you hit?
๐ Kids pair up and count each otherโs hits (scorekeeping)
๐ชถ Feathers โ Younger Children
โ Let younger kids move closer to the net/barrier or even remove barrier entirely
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
ยท Keep the pace lively โ have spare beanbags ready
ยท Use visual and verbal cues: โLetโs knock those coconuts down!โ
ยท Clap and cheer when a child gets one โ even close throws should be praised
Try to impart correct technique (sideways and behind ear) but donโt over-correct โ focus on fun and effort
Please click here for YouTube link for Chase the tail
๐ฏ Purpose: Improve balance, colour recognition, Category: Finishing Game 2-5minutes
Equipment Needed: Colourful scarves (tails)
How to Play
Each child wears a tail (colourful scarf) tucked into their waistband, trousers, or the back of their shirt like a cape. Once everyone is ready, children run around the space while a parent or carer chases them, trying to grab the tail. Once caught, the roles swapโkids become the chasers and try to grab their parents' tails!
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
โ Only parents or carers should attach the scarf "tails" to children.
โ Make sure tails are tucked in securely but not too tight.
โ Encourage lots of running, laughter and swapping roles.
โ Reinforce taking turns and fair play.
๐ชถ Feathers (Simplify)
Children can start by simply running with tails and not be chased. Parents jog slowly or walk for younger children.
๐ Progression (Challenge)
Add multiple parents and tails.
Reduce number of tails so multiple children are chasing same children
Have one tail and catcher has to wear
Coconut Shy๐พ ๐ฏ ๐ฅฅ ๐ฅ
๐ฏ Focus: Throwing accuracy, technique to develop serving, and fun competition
๐งฐ Set-Up
Set up a tennis net or cone barrier across the middle of the space
Place tennis balls on top of hitting tees or cones (hitting tees work better) along the other side of the net/barrier โ these are the โcoconutsโ
๐น How to Play
Ask the kids โhave they ever been to a summer fete?...Seen a coconut shy? โ
Children stand behind a line or designated throw zone. The aim is to knock the coconuts (balls) off the tees
Correct Technique
Sideways stance; ball or beanbag behind the ear to allow elbow to bend. Encourage to use entire body to rotate up and outwards. Serving development: Explain to children and Parents how good throwing technique is important for later serving development. If you are able demonstrate first a serve and then a throw to show the similarities
Coaches or assistants recycle beanbags and move around the group, checking technique and providing praise or small corrections. Move to foam balls when run out of beanbags
๐ Progressions
๐ฏ Move the throw line further back to increase difficulty
๐ช Add a challenge round โ 3 throws each, how many can you hit?
๐ Kids pair up and count each otherโs hits (scorekeeping)
๐ชถ Feathers โ Younger Children
โ Let younger kids move closer to the net/barrier or even remove barrier entirely
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
ยท Keep the pace lively โ have spare beanbags ready
ยท Use visual and verbal cues: โLetโs knock those coconuts down!โ
ยท Clap and cheer when a child gets one โ even close throws should be praised
Try to impart correct technique (sideways and behind ear) but donโt over-correct โ focus on fun and effort
Please click here for YouTube link for Coconut Shy tutorial
๐ฏ Focus: Throwing accuracy, technique to develop serving, and fun competition
๐งฐ Set-Up
Set up a tennis net or cone barrier across the middle of the space
Place tennis balls on top of hitting tees or cones (hitting tees work better) along the other side of the net/barrier โ these are the โcoconutsโ
๐น How to Play
Ask the kids โhave they ever been to a summer fete?...Seen a coconut shy? โ
Children stand behind a line or designated throw zone. The aim is to knock the coconuts (balls) off the tees
Correct Technique
Sideways stance; ball or beanbag behind the ear to allow elbow to bend. Encourage to use entire body to rotate up and outwards. Serving development: Explain to children and Parents how good throwing technique is important for later serving development. If you are able demonstrate first a serve and then a throw to show the similarities
Coaches or assistants recycle beanbags and move around the group, checking technique and providing praise or small corrections. Move to foam balls when run out of beanbags
๐ Progressions
๐ฏ Move the throw line further back to increase difficulty
๐ช Add a challenge round โ 3 throws each, how many can you hit?
๐ Kids pair up and count each otherโs hits (scorekeeping)
๐ชถ Feathers โ Younger Children
โ Let younger kids move closer to the net/barrier or even remove barrier entirely
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
ยท Keep the pace lively โ have spare beanbags ready
ยท Use visual and verbal cues: โLetโs knock those coconuts down!โ
ยท Clap and cheer when a child gets one โ even close throws should be praised
ยท Try to impart correct technique (sideways and behind ear) but donโt over-correct โ focus on fun and effort
Tennis Fishing ๐ฃ ๐พ ๐ฅ
๐ฏ Purpose: Improve balance, colour recognition, coordination, and control โ with fun, fishing-themed play!
๐ง Set-Up โธ๏ธ Coach scatters different colour round cones (fish) across the room ("the pond")
๐ At one end of the space, place matching coloured traffic cones (these are the โcollection bucketsโ)
๐ฅ Each child holds a racket (fishing rod)
๐ฃ How to Play
๐ง Children start at one end of the room
๐พ They walk into the โpondโ and use their racket to pick up one round cone (fish)
๐ They carry it back balanced on their racket
๐ Match the colour of the round cone and โhang itโ on the matching coloured traffic cone
๐ Repeat โ one fish at a time!
๐ Progressions
๐ Beanbags: Add these for older or confident players โ trickier to balance!
๐พ Tennis Balls: Even more challenging โ kids must move slowly and with control. Hold on heart (V shape throat) of racket if kids are struggling.
๐ Coloured tubs near cones or at the side for beanbags and balls to be โcaughtโ inside
๐ชถ Feathers โ Younger Tots
โ Allow walking only โ no running
๐๏ธ Assist them in picking up and balancing
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Let parents carry the racket and child places the item
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
Use a storytelling theme: "Letโs go fishing in the sea!" or "Catch the rainbow fish!"
๐ฃ๏ธ Narrate with humour: "Oh no, that one's wriggly!" / "You caught a golden fish!"
๐ Praise effort, not just success
๐ฃ Encourage children to cheer each other on as they return with their fish.
๐ฏ Purpose: Improve balance, colour recognition, coordination, and control โ with fun, fishing-themed play!
๐ง Set-Up โธ๏ธ Coach scatters different colour round cones (fish) across the room ("the pond")
๐ At one end of the space, place matching coloured traffic cones (these are the โcollection bucketsโ)
๐ฅ Each child holds a racket (fishing rod)
๐ฃ How to Play
๐ง Children start at one end of the room
๐พ They walk into the โpondโ and use their racket to pick up one round cone (fish)
๐ They carry it back balanced on their racket
๐ Match the colour of the round cone and โhang itโ on the matching coloured traffic cone
๐ Repeat โ one fish at a time!
๐ Progressions
๐ Beanbags: Add these for older or confident players โ trickier to balance!
๐พ Tennis Balls: Even more challenging โ kids must move slowly and with control. Hold on heart (V shape throat) of racket if kids are struggling.
๐ Coloured tubs near cones or at the side for beanbags and balls to be โcaughtโ inside
๐ชถ Feathers โ Younger Tots
โ Allow walking only โ no running
๐๏ธ Assist them in picking up and balancing
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Let parents carry the racket and child places the item
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
Use a storytelling theme: "Letโs go fishing in the sea!" or "Catch the rainbow fish!"
๐ฃ๏ธ Narrate with humour: "Oh no, that one's wriggly!" / "You caught a golden fish!"
๐ Praise effort, not just success
๐ฃ Encourage children to cheer each other on as they return with their fish.
Warm-Up๐ฅ ๐พ ๐ฅ
๐ฅ Movement, Coordination & Focus
๐ง Purpose
To activate childrenโs bodies, improve balance and coordination, and get them engaged and smiling before the session begins!
๐ Set-Up
๐ Use one colour of round cones in a large circle in the middle of the space
๐ถ Optional: play fun music to get energy levels up
โ No rackets or balls at the start โ just bodies, cones, and imagination
๐ถ How to Begin
๐ฏ Start with basic warm-up movements inside the circle:
o โจ Star jumps
o ๐ฆต One-leg balance
o ๐คธ Gentle stretches
๐ Children then move around the cone circle in different ways:
o ๐ถ Walk
o ๐ March
o ๐ Jog
o ๐ Backwards
o ๐ฆ Crab walk IMPORTANT!
o ๐ Horse gallops
๐ง Coach shouts โFreeze!โ intermittently โ kids stop and hold a pose or balance!
๐งฑ Obstacle Challenge Build-Up
Coaches begin to add progressively challenging obstacles to the circle as warm-up continues:
๐ Movement Obstacles
๐ถ Cone Lines โ jump over two-foot lines
๐ Traffic Cones โ higher jumps (๐งโ๐คโ๐ง parents can assist little ones)
๐ Cone Snake โ place cones in zigzag to step between (two feet either side)
๐ Slalom โ weave through a line of cones
๐ช Gate Game โ โopen and closeโ gate shapes with legs
๐ง Crawling & Balance Challenges
๐ฏ Pole Crawl โ tall cones + poles to crawl under
๐ช Ladder Hops โ hop through agility ladder
๐ถStepping stones (throw down dots)
๐ชต Walk the Plank โ throw-down lines like tightrope
๐ Tyre Run โ jump between hoops like a boot camp
๐งค Ball + Balance Add-Ons
๐ช Add rackets + beanbags โ balance while walking
๐พ Coach rolls footballs slowly as moving obstacle
๐ฅ Coach frisbees cones gently toward feet (kids dodge them!)
๐ซ Use foam balls to fire at footballs in path โ kids must avoid!
๐ฃ Feathers (For Younger Tots)
๐ฌ Narrate movements (โLetโs march like soldiers!โ)
๐๏ธ Encourage parent/assistant to hold hands for support
๐ชถ Remove difficult jumps/slaloms if too tricky
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
๐ฃ๏ธ Give BIG energy and be silly โ kids will copy you
๐ Adjust pace to suit group โ add obstacles gradually
๐ Praise effort and bravery, not perfection
๐ญ Mix imagination (e.g. โCrawl under the dragonโs tail!โ)
Please click here for YouTube link for warmup tutorial
๐ง Purpose
To activate childrenโs bodies, improve balance and coordination, and get them engaged and smiling before the session begins!
๐ Set-Up
๐ Use one colour of round cones in a large circle in the middle of the space
๐ถ Optional: play fun music to get energy levels up
โ No rackets or balls at the start โ just bodies, cones, and imagination
๐ถ How to Begin
๐ฏ Start with basic warm-up movements inside the circle:
o โจ Star jumps
o ๐ฆต One-leg balance
o ๐คธ Gentle stretches
๐ Children then move around the cone circle in different ways:
o ๐ถ Walk
o ๐ March
o ๐ Jog
o ๐ Backwards
o ๐ฆ Crab walk IMPORTANT!
o ๐ Horse gallops
๐ง Coach shouts โFreeze!โ intermittently โ kids stop and hold a pose or balance!
๐งฑ Obstacle Challenge Build-Up
Coaches begin to add progressively challenging obstacles to the circle as warm-up continues:
๐ Movement Obstacles
๐ถ Cone Lines โ jump over two-foot lines
๐ Traffic Cones โ higher jumps (๐งโ๐คโ๐ง parents can assist little ones)
๐ Cone Snake โ place cones in zigzag to step between (two feet either side)
๐ Slalom โ weave through a line of cones
๐ช Gate Game โ โopen and closeโ gate shapes with legs
๐ง Crawling & Balance Challenges
๐ฏ Pole Crawl โ tall cones + poles to crawl under
๐ช Ladder Hops โ hop through agility ladder
๐ถStepping stones (throw down dots)
๐ชต Walk the Plank โ throw-down lines like tightrope
๐ Tyre Run โ jump between hoops like a boot camp
๐งค Ball + Balance Add-Ons
๐ช Add rackets + beanbags โ balance while walking
๐พ Coach rolls footballs slowly as moving obstacle
๐ฅ Coach frisbees cones gently toward feet (kids dodge them!)
๐ซ Use foam balls to fire at footballs in path โ kids must avoid!
๐ฃ Feathers (For Younger Tots)
๐ฌ Narrate movements (โLetโs march like soldiers!โ)
๐๏ธ Encourage parent/assistant to hold hands for support
๐ชถ Remove difficult jumps/slaloms if too tricky
โ๏ธ Coach Tips
๐ฃ๏ธ Give BIG energy and be silly โ kids will copy you
๐ Adjust pace to suit group โ add obstacles gradually
๐ Praise effort and bravery, not perfection
๐ญ Mix imagination (e.g. โCrawl under the dragonโs tail!โ)
Blog Post Title Two
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Donโt worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is whatโs going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and donโt hear your own voice in your head, thatโs a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and donโt overthink it. The beauty of your story is that itโs going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Donโt worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is whatโs going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and donโt hear your own voice in your head, thatโs a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and donโt overthink it. The beauty of your story is that itโs going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Donโt worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is whatโs going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and donโt hear your own voice in your head, thatโs a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and donโt overthink it. The beauty of your story is that itโs going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.