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Volleys 🎾‍ ‍

🎯 🎾 Volleys – Tennis Tots/Titans Teaching Guide‍ ‍

Volleys are less important at the Tots/Titans stage, but it's good to introduce them early in tennis. The idea of a volley is to finish the point off at the net. The technique is very different from normal forehands and backhands.

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Demonstrate: Children will learn from watching the coaches, so please demonstrate a forehand at every level

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‍ ‍Technique: As players approach the net, they do not have time for big swings, so the technique involves keeping the racket head up, creating a V shape, and hitting from high to low. The same grip is used on both volleys (chopper grip), and the hand is turned for backhand. Footwork is crucial in volleying, enabling the body to turn for both forehand and backhand shots, and to attempt to impact the ball at shoulder height whenever possible. For a right-hander, when performing a forehand volley, the left foot wants to move towards the ball and turn the shoulders in the process; for a backhand volley, the right foot steps across.  https://youtu.be/b2mHhUeeSvc?si=QIqHEoFzY2GAcfzu

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🧸 Volley progressions

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·       High fives: pair the children up with parents/ other kids; put drop-down lines in front of the child to give them a starting point and get them to step forward and high-five. Encourage back-of-hand high-fives

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·       Cone hands. Use round cones (one of each colour) and put two fingers through the middle and hold the thumb on the outside. Get parents to have matching coloured cones, and the child matches the colour and high-fives parents' cones like cymbals. Encourage children to step forward across the body by holding the corresponding colour for the child to step across and tag the parent's cone.

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·       Lollipop volleys: Get children close to the net and to hold the racket up like a lollipop. Feed the ball a bit short so the child has to reach forward and hit down.

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·       Progress to kids standing further back by putting down lines for the child to recover to, then stepping forward with the correct leg and punching high to low down into the court

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·       Progress to hitting a groundstroke first, then moving forward and hitting a volley.

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·       Split step: introduce the idea of split step before volleying for balance

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·       Smashes: always good to throw in some smashes, which are essentially serves without the ball toss.

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🎾 Tennis Obstacle Course Challenge! 🏁⚽

A high-energy, skill-building circuit that brings tennis and movement together in the most exciting way!

Kids must dribble large footballs with control using their tennis rackets, manoeuvring through a series of fun and challenging stations before hitting the ball over the net. Perfect for developing coordination, balance, and racket skills!

🔶 Station 1: Double Cone Circles

Navigate around two tall traffic cones, dribbling the ball in a figure-of-eight pattern. Once both circles are complete, race to the net and hit the ball over with forehand/backhand or serve

🔶 Station 2: Slalom Weave

Dribble in and out through a classic cone slalom. Stay tight and controlled—then line up and strike the ball over the net when you reach the end with forehand/backhand or serve

🔶 Station 3: Wiggly Tunnel

Enter the cone tunnel! Stick carefully to the wiggly lines between the cones, making sure the ball stays within the path. Finish strong with a shot over the net with forehand/backhand or serve

👨‍🏫 Coach Tips:

• Coaches stand on the opposite side of the net to collect and recycle footballs.

• For younger players: allow hands or multiple touches to help with ball control.

• For older players: at the end of the course, they must reach into the ball tub and hit a forehand, backhand, or serve over the net to score!

🏗️ Additional Station Ideas:

• 🔁 Hurdle Zone – Go over one, under the next! Great for agility.

• 🌲 Broken Forest – A wide spread of random cones the player must dribble through with quick reactions.

• High rail – use two parallel hurdles to create a high rail to push footballs across

🎯 Target Zone – Place hoops, cones, or bins on the opposite side of the net for kids to aim at with their shot!

 Make it competitive 🏁 -Award points for success and declare winners, or you can split the kids into teams.

🏒 Story / Theme:
Two teams face off in a fast-paced hockey-style game — but with 🎾 tennis rackets and ⚽ balls instead of sticks and pucks! Pass, block, and score goals while keeping it safe.

🎯 Equipment:
• 🥅 4 small goals (2 per team, placed at opposite ends or sides)
• ⚽ 1 football
• 🎾 1 racket per player
• 🟧 Cones to mark safe play areas and boundaries

🎮 How to Play:

1. 🔵🔴 Split players into two teams (use bibs)

2. 🥅 Set up two mini goals per team, spaced apart to encourage passing.

3. 🏑 Players use tennis rackets to push or tap the ball hockey-style (no swinging).

4. ⏱️ 3-second rule: Players must pass within 3 seconds of receiving — encourage quick decision-making and team play.

5. 🛡️ Defenders may intercept or block shots but no tackling or physical contact.

6. 🔁 Play starts from the centre after every goal.

7. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Teams may assign positions (attackers, defenders, goalkeepers).

🚀 Progressions:

1. ⏱ Timed Possession: Pass within 3 seconds.

2. 🗺️ Zones: Mark attack, midfield, and defence zones — rotate roles.

3. 🎯 Multiple Balls: Add a second ball to increase speed and chaos.

4. ⚡ One-Touch Passing: Ball must be played instantly on contact.

🎲 Variations:
• 🔄 Score Anywhere: Any goal counts — encourages switching sides.
• 📏 Goal Size Change: Make goals smaller for older kids.
• ✨ Double Points: Bonus points for 3+ consecutive passes before scoring.

🎯 Tennis Golf
⏱️ Duration: 10–15 minutes

🏗️ Setup & Intro:
Organise children into lines or circles depending on space. Gather everyone together to explain the stations and demonstrate how swing path and racket trajectory change based on the type of shot.

Coach sets up three stations:

🏌️‍♂️ Drivers
• Use hitting tees to practise forehands.
• Aim to hit with control and distance along the full length of the hall.
• Emphasise low-to-high swing and follow-through.

🏹 Chippers
• For younger kids: hit off a tee or be drop-fed by parents.
• For confident children: self drop-feed.
• Goal: hit the ball high and land it into buckets placed at varying distances.
• Focus on arc, control, and soft hands.

⛳ Putters
• Use soft balls to roll along the ground into upturned plastic tubs.
• Children perform forward-and-backward racket movements, keeping the ball rolling smoothly (not bouncing).
• Emphasise racket face control and touch.

⚡ Progressions (Advanced):
• Introduce topspin technique at all three stations.
• Encourage confident players to control ball height and spin, especially at the Chipper and Putter stations.

🎾 Technical Focus:
• Swing path (low to high)
• Racket angle and face control
• Topspin development
• Control over power

‍ 🟧 General Layout:

• Divide the space into four activity zones using cones as boundaries.

• Each zone runs horizontally across the court or hall.

• Kids move station-to-station, ideally in a clockwise or zig-zag pattern.

• Coaches/parents stationed to help with resetting targets and giving technical tips.

🔢 Stations:

1️⃣ Strong Man

• Kids hit from a tee (or drop feed) toward the far wall, aiming for distance.

• Older kids can hit with more power, younger ones can hit closer.

• Use cones to mark out zones they reach for bonus challenges.

• For older players, vary to backhands and serves

2️⃣ Chip the Bucket

• Multiple small buckets/tubs grouped ahead.

• Players chip the ball using a forehand motion (from tee or drop-feed).

• Emphasis on height and accuracy to land balls in the tubs.

• Label this as “Chipping Zone”

• For older players, vary to backhands and serves

3️⃣ Carnival Putters

• A straight putting lane with drop-down lines players must stay behind.

• Kids gently roll the ball along the floor aiming into upturned tubs.

• Focus on pace control, and keeping the ball on the ground and not too hard or the ball will bounce in and out again.

4️⃣ Coconut Shy

• Players throw beanbags at balls placed on tees, aiming to knock them off.

• Use cones to mark a throwing line they must stay behind.

• Optional: Add silly targets like cone towers or “coconuts” for extra fun.

‍ ‍🎯 Sweet Spot – Aiming for the Middle

Objective:
To help children develop hand-eye coordination, balance, and racket awareness by focusing on hitting or catching in the sweet spot — the centre of the racket. 

👨‍🏫 Coach Introduction

Sit the children down and introduce the concept of the sweet spot.
🗣️ “This is the middle of the racket — the place where the ball or beanbag feels best when it hits. If you miss the sweet spot, it feels wobbly or bouncy. So today we are going to practise using just the middle.”

🔄 Activity Breakdown

1️⃣ Flip the Pancake

• Each child has a racket and a beanbag.

• Stand in a wide stance (feet apart), knees slightly bent.

• “Sizzle” the pancake (shake it gently), then flip it into the air and catch it — repeat 10x.

• Focus: catch in the sweet spot, keep the racket still and balanced.

2️⃣ Catch the Pancake – Parent Involvement

• Parents throw beanbags softly toward their child’s racket.

• Kids try to catch them using their sweet spot (not hands).

• Encourage wide stance and readiness.

• Coach walks around helping with stance and control.

3️⃣ Balloon Control

• Move to balloons (ideal indoors).

• Keep balloon in the air using the racket only.

• Try to keep it up for as long as possible using the middle of the racket.

• Coach Tip: Use commands like “Ready!” or “Freeze!” to regain focus mid-activity.

4️⃣ Sweet Spot Challenges

• Parents throw cones like frisbees (flat traffic cones).

• Kids must track them and catch them on the racket.

• Adds variation in movement and tracking for kids.

• Try left and right throws for lateral footwork.

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)

• Use catching nets instead of rackets

• Use scarfs instead of bean bags (to really slow down)

• Let children use two hands to hold the racket for better control.

• Parents stand closer and throw slower.

⚡ Progressions (Extensions)

• Use smaller beanbags or foam balls for advanced groups.

• Encourage gentle rallying with parents (hit balloon or ball back and forth, staying in sweet spot).

• Try alternating forehand and backhand catches.

• Introduce scoring: “Can you catch 3 in a row in the sweet spot?” ‍ ‍

‍ ‍🌌 Star Wars Throwing Game – “Battle of the Asteroid Belt”

🎯 Objective: Develop aim, accuracy, and decision-making through an imaginative, fast-paced throwing challenge!

🌠 Story Script Intro

“Welcome, young Jedi! 🧑‍🚀🛰️ The galaxy is in chaos, and your mission is to launch stars into the asteroid belt and knock the comets and planets into your opponent’s solar system! Beware – the Dark Side cheats, so stay behind your lines and throw with focus. May the Force be with you!”

🧠 Skills Focus

• Overarm and underarm throwing
• Aim and target control
• Teamwork and decision-making
• Fun, energetic movement

🏗️ Set-Up:

• Space Zone: Set up two parallel lines of traffic cones across the court to create the asteroid belt (centre zone).

• Inside the belt:

  • Scatter balloons (comets)

  • Perch inflatable balls or foam balls on round cones (planets)

• Create a team zone at either end of the hall.

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• Provide each team with soft balls (“stars”) to throw.

🎮 How to Play:

1.     Divide children into 2–3 teams at opposite ends of the space.

2.     On the coach’s signal, children throw soft balls into the asteroid belt.

3.     Aim: Knock balloons and inflatable planets over the central line into the other team’s zone.

4.     Each time a balloon or ball lands in the opponent’s solar system, your team scores!

5.     Coaches may recycle stars back to keep the game flowing.

6.     No stepping into the asteroid belt – if a player crosses the line, the other team gets a point!

🪶 Feathers – Simplifications for Younger Children:

• Use larger balls or balloons only for easier targets.

• Allow rolling or underarm throws only.

• Let parents or assistants help place balls back on cones.

• Use a smaller space and bring the targets closer.

• Remove the “no-step” rule for walking-age children.

⚡ Progressions – For Older Kids:

1.     Timed Rounds: 1-minute attacks! Who can knock down the most?

2.     Precision Targets: Assign points to each object (e.g. 1 for balloon, 2 for big ball, 3 for cone).

3.     One-Handed Jedi Throwing: Use non-dominant hand only.

4.     Bounce Hit Challenge: Players must bounce the ball off the ground before hitting targets.

5.     Team Roles: Attackers throw, Defenders place targets back upright.

🎭 Seasonal Variations:

🎃 Halloween – “Pumpkin Panic”

• Use orange balloons as “floating pumpkins” and black cones as haunted trees. Kids become witch apprentices blasting spooky objects into the other zone.

🐣 Easter – “Eggsplosion!”

• Use pastel balloons as “Easter Eggs” and challenge kids to knock them over to uncover hidden bunnies underneath the cones.

🎅 Christmas – “Snowball Strike”

• Use white balloons as “snowballs” and inflatable baubles as “Christmas planets” — can they knock Santa’s sleigh safely to the other galaxy?

💘 Valentine’s Day – “Heart Attack!”

• Use pink/red balloons with paper hearts inside – each heart has a compliment or silly dare!

🏁 End Game Idea:

Do a Galactic Blitz Round – everyone throws at once, chaos ensues, laughter guaranteed. Then settle with a Jedi meditation cooldown 😌🧘‍♂️

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‍ ‍Smash the Wall 🧱🎾🏰

‍ ‍🎥https://youtu.be/h38KZ5lFg28?si=LF5BfbctcfVbI4DQ ‍

‍ ‍📝 Setup & Explanation‍ ‍

• Line the children up at a safe distance from the wall.

• Sit them down and explain the rules clearly before starting.

• Build a “wall” out of traffic cones:

  • Tallest cones at the back

  • Quickly build tall towers by using circular cones between tall cones

  • Smallest at the front‍ ‍

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🏓 How to Play

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1. Each child dribbles their big inflatable ball along the ground with their racket towards the wall.

2. When they reach the wall/ hitting line, they whack their ball to knock down as many cones as possible.

3. They leave their ball there, collect a new one, and repeat until attention starts to wander. Coach recycles balls to start

4. To finish: let kids kick or whack down the wall (with or without balls).

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🔁 Progressions

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• Create a hitting line/ move the hitting line further back so children have further to aim

• Encourage children pick ball up and let bounce before hitting forehand (in air rather than floor); switch to backhands/ serves

• Add a time challenge: how many cones can they knock down in 30 seconds?

• Make it team-based: two teams try to knock down their half of the wall first.‍

‍ ‍🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)‍ ‍

• Let children carry the ball to the wall if dribbling is too hard.

• Use smaller gaps between cones so they’re easier to hit.

• Have parents or assistants help guide the ball with the child’s racket.

• Let really little children just hit the cones over without using ball at all.‍

⚠️ Safety Notes‍ ‍

• Remind children to keep a safe distance while others are hitting.

• Tell parents to help monitor their child’s spacing.

• Be careful of potential bumps from rackets or cones.‍‍‍

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🎾 Smash the Wall – Seasonal Themes‍ ‍

🎄 Christmas – Smash the Christmas Chimney 🎅🎁
The wall becomes a chimney made of stacked presents (cones in red, green, gold).
🎯 Goal: Break the chimney so Santa can deliver the gifts!
Swap inflatable balls for "snowballs" (white balloons or foam balls).
Finish with a fun “snowball fight” by letting the kids knock over cones however they like.‍‍ ‍

🐣 Easter – Smash the Easter Egg Tower 🐰🥚
The wall becomes a tower of colourful Easter eggs (brightly coloured cones).
🎯 Goal: Crack the giant Easter egg wall to reveal the hidden chocolate inside!
Use egg-shaped beanbags or pastel-coloured foam balls.
Final round: kids roll giant eggs (balls) to knock down the "tower."

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🎃 Halloween – Smash the Haunted House 👻🏚️
The wall is now a spooky haunted house built of ghostly cones (white + black + orange).
🎯 Goal: Break down the haunted house before the monsters escape!
Add Halloween music and decorate cones with eyes or cobwebs.
Coach can wear a witch or skeleton hat for extra effect!

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💘 Valentine’s – Smash the Heart Wall 💘🏹
Make a heart-shaped wall or decorate cones with hearts/stickers.
🎯 Goal: Knock down the "Wall of Hearts" to release the trapped love messages inside!
Use pink and red balls or balloons.
Final round: shout “Love Attack!” and let all children charge and knock down the wall together.

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👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Smash the Chore Tower 🧹🛠️
Each cone represents a silly "chore" (e.g., “Do the dishes,” “Make lunch,” etc.).
🎯 Goal: Help mum/dad by smashing through all the chores so they can rest!
Add a funny story intro: “Let’s clear all the jobs before Mum/Dad gets home!”
Encourage kids to yell out a chore before smashing each cone.

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Sleeping Giants   😴🏰🏑

Story / Theme:
The giants are fast asleep in their lair, but if they wake up, they’ll try to steal your ball! Keep moving, keep control, and stay out of reach.

Equipment:

Large inflatable balls (one per child + extras)

Rackets (for adults and children)  

Cones to mark the giants’ lair (circle in the middle)

How to Play:

1.     Assistant coaches form a circle lying down inside the lair, pretending to be asleep — each with a racket.

2.     Children move around the room dribbling large inflatable balls hockey-style with their rackets.

3.     At random, the coach shouts: “Wake up, sleeping giants!”

4.     The giants jump up and try to steal the children’s balls by reaching in with their rackets and tackling their ball and returning it to the lair.

5.     If a child loses their ball, the child either sits out or finds another ball and continues playing.

Progressions: Role Swap: Children take turns being the sleeping giants (for those who want to).

1. Timed Wakes: Giants wake up every 30–40 seconds to keep children on their toes.

2. Double Trouble: Have two lairs so children must watch more than one area.

NOTE: Often, the children prefer being the giants themselves, so you can just play a quick game with them chasing, and then play the rest of the game with them as giants.

Variations:

• Safe Zones: Create small cone “safe spots” where children can stop for 3 seconds before rejoining play.

• Treasure Return: Children can try to sneak into the lair to steal back balls without being caught.

Seasonal variations for your Sleeping Giants 😴🏰🏑 game, perfect for weaving in a touch of imagination and celebration during different parts of the year:

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·       🎄 Christmas – Sleeping Snowmen

·       ☃️ The snowmen are snoozing in their snowy cave! But if they wake up, they'll roll after your snowballs (inflatable balls)!
🎅 Coaches = snowmen with red scarves and foam rackets
🧤 Optional twist: kids wear gloves/mittens to make dribbling trickier
🎁 Balls = snowballs or presents they must protect

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·       🎃 Halloween – Haunted House of Mummies

·       🧟‍♂️ The spooky mummies are asleep in the haunted house... but when they wake, they lurch after your cursed pumpkins!
🎃 Balls = inflatable orange pumpkins
👻 Add cobwebs or Halloween music for theme
💀 Mummies = coaches wrapped in toilet paper or using “ghost rackets” (white foam)

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·       🐣 Easter – Sleeping Chicks

·       🐥 The giant chicks are snoozing in their coop — but if woken, they’ll peck at your Easter eggs (balls)!
🥚 Decorate balls with pastel dots or stickers
🐰 Kids try to sneak past the coop (giant lair) without waking them
🍬 Wake-up cue: “Cock-a-doodle-doooo!”

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·       💘 Valentine’s – Sleeping Cupids

·       💘 Cupids are resting in their heart-shaped clouds, but if disturbed, they try to snatch your love letters (balls)!
💌 Dribble the “letters” safely without being tapped by the cupids' rackets
❤️ Add pink/red cones and heart decorations to the lair

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·       👩‍👧‍👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day – Snoozing Parents Game

·       😴 Mum and Dad are trying to nap, but noisy kids are playing with bouncy breakfast items (eggs, toast = balls).
🥱 If parents wake up, they try to “scoop” the breakfast and go back to sleep!
🥐 Make balls food-themed with stickers or call-outs like “Don’t drop the toast!”

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‍ ‍Serving progressions 🎾🎯

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🧠 Overview

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The serve is arguably the most important shot in tennis—and often the most difficult. It’s vital to introduce fundamentals early to build confidence and long-term technique.

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Children learn best by imitation, so coaches should demonstrate a forehand or serve at every stage of development, even if simplified.

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Good serving technique video: https://youtu.be/0tP2pmXd9Gk?si=iKxPKIPcBQAV3sDu

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‍ ‍🧸 Throwing = Serving Foundation

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Before a child can serve, they need to learn to throw.

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• Basic Technique: Start sideways on, with the throwing hand behind the ear.

• Progression 1: Introduce hip and shoulder rotation as they throw—use the whole body, not just the arm.

• Progression 2: Add targets to encourage distance and accuracy.

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‍ ‍💡 Serving Progressions (Starting from Tots)

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1. Kiss-Kiss

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• Children stand sideways, racket in one hand, ball in the other.

• They gently "kiss" the ball onto the strings twice:

  1. At knee height

  2. Above the head

• This teaches timing and synchronised arm movement.

2. Hammer the Sky

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• Encourage proper grip: chopper grip, not frying pan.

• Children imagine the edge of the racket is a hammer, and they’re hammering a nail into the sky.

• Reinforces serving "on edge" to promote correct spin later.

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‍ ‍3. Balloons (Indoor Alternative)

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• Use balloons to slow the action down.

• Pop the balloon upward with the non-dominant hand, then “hammer” it with the racket.

• Great for developing hand-eye coordination and arm synchronisation.

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4. Two Beanbags

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• Hold one beanbag in each hand.

• Toss the first (non-dominant hand) straight up.

• Launch the second (dominant hand) from throwing position behind the ear and try to collide them in the air.

• Progress to using tennis balls.

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5. Slingshot serve

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• Hold the ball onto the racket and pull back behind your ear.

• Release the ball and throw the racket at the same time, projecting the ball

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‍ ‍6. Back Scratch & Reach

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• Child stands sideways on, in “back scratch” position (racket behind their back).

• Step 1: Coach holds the racket and guides the swing while tossing the ball.

• Step 2: Coach tosses, child swings from back scratch position.

• Step 3: Child performs ball toss + swing for a full serving motion.

• Note: Focus on technique, not result.

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7. Directional Serving

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• Introduce the concept of serving diagonally from a baseline into a service box.

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‍ ‍8. Introduce Chopper Grip

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• Essential for spin and control.

• Introduce early in Titans and Troopers groups.

• Reinforces the “on-edge” hammer motion.

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‍ ‍9. Lengthen the Action

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• Start from “back scratch and reach” → progress to full arm extension.

• Let the hitting arm dangle, then swing in a throwing motion with a ball toss.

10. Lengthen further: Tossing arm raises straight up, Hitting arm swings back in a smooth pendulum, Contact ball at full reach; focus on rhythm and body coordination, not power.

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🥪 Sandwich Shop

🎯 A creative game focused on balance, control, coordination, colour matching, and fun!
⏱️ Duration: 8–12 minutes

🎤 Coach Script / Introduction

“Who’s hungry? 🍞 Welcome to the Tennis Tots Sandwich Shop! Today you’re not just tennis players — you're chefs!
Your job is to make a sandwich, carry it carefully to the customer, and drop it into the right delivery bag!”

Sit the children down at one end of the hall near the “ingredients” area and demonstrate.

🧺 Game Setup

• Scatter soft balls and beanbags in a long line (the “ingredients”).

• Ingredients are grouped or colour-coded:

  • 🟡 Cheese = yellow

  • 🔴 Tomato = red

  • 🔵 Blueberry jam = blue

  • 🟢 Salad = green

  • 🟣 Grapes = purple (optional)

• Children use two rackets to clamp together 1–3 “ingredients” (beanbags/balls).

• Set out “delivery bags” (buckets, cones, hoops, etc.) at the opposite end of the space, each colour-coded to match the sandwich fillings.

🚚 How to Play

1.     Build your sandwich using two rackets to scoop and hold the filling(s).

2.     Carry the sandwich across the hall to the serving area (large cones/line).

3.     Drop the filling into the correctly coloured delivery bag — try to keep the sandwich together until you reach the bag!

4.     Return to the start and repeat.

🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Under 3s / Beginners)

• Use beanbags only (easier to balance and colour-code).

• Allow them to carry with hands or just one racket.

• Try making a burrito with a folded drop-down dot over a beanbag if the rackets are difficult to control

• Set the delivery bags much closer.

• Use cones on their side instead of upright bags to drop into.

• Let adults/assistants help “build” the sandwich.

⚡️ Progressions (Older / Confident Children)

• Introduce foam balls as sandwich fillings (harder to balance).

• Encourage building sandwiches with multiple ingredients.

• Add a challenge zone:

  • Move the bags further away so children must fling the sandwich contents (not the rackets!) by opening their rackets in a coordinated movement.

• Introduce a relay format or team competition:

  • How many sandwiches can you deliver in 2 minutes?

• Use racket hand only, or alternate hands each round.

🎾 Coaching Tips

• Emphasise control: soft, steady hands on the rackets.

• Demonstrate how to clamp and release evenly — both rackets open together.

• Reinforce matching skills: talk through colours, food names, and what makes a “complete” sandwich.

• For older players, challenge them to balance while walking heel-to-toe or on lines for added focus.

Seasonal variations for the 🥪 Sandwich Shop game — each version adds a themed twist while preserving the original structure of carrying and delivering “sandwiches” using rackets or alternatives:

🎄 Christmas – Christmas Dinner Dash

Children are delivering Christmas dinners to Santa’s elves! Replace fillings with festive items like turkey (brown ball), sprouts (green beanbag), cranberry sauce (red cone), and roasties (yellow ball). Sandwiches are still held between rackets, and delivery cones are labelled with elf names or "North Pole Mail." Kids must carry their Christmas sandwich to the matching colour cone or “chimney.”

🐣 Easter – Easter Picnic Drop-Off

Children are delivering picnic snacks to baby bunnies! Fill sandwiches with chocolate eggs (foil balls or beanbags), carrots (orange cones), or lettuce (green cones), and walk them to baskets (upturned cones or tubs). Add “bunny hops” before delivering to make it fun! Use burritos (drop-down dots with beanbags inside) for younger ones.

🎃 Halloween – Monster Meal Delivery

Children are chefs delivering spooky sandwiches to hungry monsters! Fill with monster eyeballs (white balls), slime (green beanbags), or bat wings (black cones). Carry your sandwich across the haunted hall and drop it into monster mouths (cones with faces drawn on). You can decorate the rackets with cobweb stickers too.

❤️ Valentine’s Day – Love Letter Lunches

Kids deliver “heart sandwiches” full of love to their secret admirers 💌. Fillings might be hearts (red/pink cones or beanbags), and the delivery zones are mailboxes or cones with Valentine messages. Encourage whispering a kind message before dropping their sandwich. Bonus: Let them decorate their rackets with heart stickers.

👩‍👧 Mother’s Day – Mum’s Breakfast in Bed

Kids build Mum a lovely breakfast sandwich with toast (yellow cones), jam (red), and tea bags (brown beanbags). Gently walk the sandwich to “Mum’s bed” (pink delivery cone) without dropping it. Use burritos as an easier alternative for younger players.

👨‍👦 Father’s Day – Dad’s Mega Sandwich

Kids make a supersized sandwich with strong fillings like sausages (brown balls), mustard (yellow beanbags), or tools (grey cones!) and deliver to the “Dad Zone.” Use cones with ties or moustaches drawn on. For older kids, move the delivery zones further back and challenge them to throw the filling — not the rackets!

Run The Gauntlet

https://youtu.be/wAqA4ptPoxw?si=j18RtjVKxpA3ftbV

🎯 Purpose:Fun game to burn energy and keep kids engaged at the end of a session.

🧠 Set-up

🏟️ Use a hall, court or open indoor space

🎯 Mark out a channel or corridor down the middle using cones, lines or throw-down markers

🎾 Scatter a pile of soft balls or foam balls to one side

🚀 How to Play

🧒 Children line up at one end of the corridor

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents kneel or stand along both sides of the corridor, holding soft balls

On “Go!” 👉 children run, skip or jump through the gauntlet

👨‍👩‍👦 Parents gently roll balls across the corridor, aiming to “tag” kids below the knees

⛔ If a child is hit — they freeze for 3 seconds or do a silly dance, then continue!

🔁 Progressions & Variations

‍ ‍🔄 Swap roles: Parents run, kids roll

👟 Coaches run while kids roll and cheer!

🏃‍♂️ Add movement types: hopping, crab walk, skipping

⏱️ Add a “timer” challenge — can the group beat the clock?

👶 Feathers (Adaptations for Younger Kids)

🧸 Allow kids to walk slowly at first

🙋 Use only 1–2 balls at a time to avoid chaos

🪄 Let them hold hands with a parent or assistant the first time

💡 Coach Tips

🎉 Keep the energy fun — make it dramatic! 📣 Get kids to shout out silly chants as they run (e.g. “Can’t catch me!”) 👏 Big round of applause at the end for bravery!

🎾 Rally in the Alley 🎾

A fun and structured rally game for pairs!

Setup:

• Set up as many mini-nets as possible in parallel across the tennis court.

• Use court lines or drop-down markers to establish clear baselines.

• Position the activity near a corner to use fences/ walls as backstops and sidestops, the idea is to limit disruption of ball flying all over the place; keeping it contained.

👯‍♂️ Step 1: Friends Mode

Pairs rally together to build control, teamwork, and technique.

➡️ Start by pushing a football to each other from baseline to baseline.
➡️ Focus on controlling and pushing the ball (sideways on using forwards and backwards motion) before progressing to hitting.

Progressions:

• Control ➡️ Hit forehands

• Control ➡️ Hit backhands

• Rally freely with forehands and backhands

Challenge:
🎉 “Bingo!” – Count successful rallies.

• Reach 10 hits and shout “Bingo!” then sit down, see who is first pair to sit

• Repeat with 15, 20, or 30 hits, alternating forehands and backhands.

⚔️ Step 2: Enemies Mode

Now the pairs compete to win points!

🎯 Objective: Try to push or hit the ball past your partner’s baseline.

Teaching Points:
🦀 Move like a crab: stay facing opponent, recover to middle
🎾 Must Keep the ball on the ground
👌 Unlimited touches to control

🏆 Win the point if your opponent lets the ball pass their baseline.
🔁 Rotate partners regularly – winners move up, others move down

🌈 Rainbow Hitting

🎯 Objective: Practise forehands and backhands while moving sideways across the rainbow!
🧠 Focus: movement, timing, accuracy, tracking, confidence

🎭 Story Introduction:

“Welcome to the Rainbow Challenge! 🌈 Your mission is to travel along the rainbow and collect all the colours — but you must use your tennis racket magic to unlock each one with a powerful shot!”

🏗️ Setup:

• Use one side of the court or a hitting area
• Line up 5 different coloured traffic cones (or flat spots) in a wide rainbow arc across the hitting zone (start close to the net for younger groups)
• Mark a starting line in the corner of the court
• Coach stands with balls to drop-feed or racket-feed

🎾 How to Play:

1.     Children start at the corner of the rainbow 🌈

2.     Coach feeds to Cone 1 (closest), player hits a forehand

3.     They shuffle sideways like a crab to the next colour

4.     Repeat across all 5 cones, one shot per station

5.     Once finished, the child:

o   Returns to the back of the queue

o   Helps collect balls

o   Or hits on a spin machine if you have one! 🎾⚙️

6.     After everyone has had a go — switch sides and repeat with backhands

🕺 While waiting: Encourage “dancing feet” and quick reactions
💬 Coach cues: “Stay on your toes!”, “Paint the rainbow!”, “Nice footwork, crab!”

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications):

• Let them walk cone-to-cone slowly if crab shuffle is too tricky
• Coach stands closer and feeds underarm
• Use balloons, beanbags or foam balls for nervous tots
• Let them do just 3 colours instead of all 5

⚡️ Progressions (Challenges):

• Use racket feeds or fast drop-feeds
• Add targets behind the cones (buckets, hoops)
• Challenge: “Can you hit 3 in a row over the net?”
• Combine both forehands & backhands in one rainbow
• Add a reaction challenge: call out random cone colours instead of moving in order
• Time trial: “Who can do all 5 with good technique in 30 seconds?”

🎉 Seasonal Variations:

🎅 Christmas:
Line up Christmas baubles (coloured cones) and “decorate the tree” by hitting each colour. Can you hit the star (gold cone) last?

🐣 Easter:
It’s an Easter Egg Hunt! Hit one egg of each colour and try to get the golden egg at the end.

🎃 Halloween:
Witch’s Potion Ingredients! Each colour is a spooky ingredient: slime, spider legs, eyeballs... Hit them all to complete the potion!

❤️ Valentine’s Day:
Hit the colours of the “Heart Rainbow” to unlock Cupid’s arrow — hit a pink or red cone at the end for a love bonus 💘

👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day:
Decorate Mum’s/Father’s rainbow with special colours — one for hugs, one for laughter, one for helping, etc. Each hit is a thank-you!

🎯 Target practice game to develop aim, coordination, and correct swing mechanics

⏱️ Duration:
5–8 minutes

🎤 Coach Script / Setup

“Okay troops! Your mission today is to take down the enemy soldiers — but not with swords or water balloons… with your best tennis shots! These rackets have lined up and they're daring you to knock them down! Let’s see if you’ve got the accuracy and the power!”

🧱 Game Setup

• Soldiers = Spare rackets placed upright (handle/butt on ground, strings facing forward)

  • Place 3–6 rackets across from each child

  • If short on rackets, stack traffic cones and round cones into tall unstable towers to simulate soldiers

• Hitting Zone = Tees or Drop Feeds

  • Children take turns hitting balls low to high from a hitting tee or drop feed

• Distance between hitter and soldier wall depends on age/ability

• Parents can help pick up and reset soldiers between turns

🔁 Gameplay

1.       Children line up at their hitting station (tee or feeder).

2.       One ball at a time – aim to knock over a “soldier” (racket or cone tower).

3.       Hitters use forehand technique (low to high) first.

4.       When soldiers fall, parents/coaches reset them quickly.

5.       After a few rounds, progress to backhand or self-feed.

🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Children)

• Let them throw the ball underarm to start

• Reduce distance to soldiers

• Use larger balls for more success

• Place ball in child’s hand and guide their swing together

• Let parents support hand placement and help reset soldiers

⚡ Progressions (Older or Confident Children)

• Drop Feed: Children toss the ball and hit it themselves instead of from a tee

• Backhand Challenge: Have children switch to backhand side and adjust footwork

• Hit from movement: Add a side step or small shuffle before contact

• Scoring: 1 point per soldier knocked down, track team scores for competition

• Timed Challenge: Knock down all soldiers in 30 seconds

🎾 Technical Coaching Tips

• Emphasise low-to-high swing

• Sideways stance for both forehand and backhand

• Encourage early preparation – racket back and eyes on the ball

• Use “split step then hit” cue if child is rushing

• Praise accuracy over power – “aim not smash!”

Seasonal variations for the "Racket Soldiers" game — keeping the same gameplay (children hitting down upright rackets or cone towers), but changing the theme and props slightly to match the season:

🎄 Christmas – Knock Down the Naughty Elves

Santa’s workshop is under siege from mischievous elves who are standing upright (rackets or cone towers). Children must use their tennis balls to knock them down before they cause more trouble! Parents can help set the elves back up quickly. Optional: place little elf hats (paper cut-outs or visuals) on the top of cones/rackets for effect. 🎅🎄🎁

🎃 Halloween – Smash the Skeletons

Skeleton soldiers (white rackets or cone towers) are guarding the haunted tennis court! Kids must smash them down using tennis balls. Spooky music and “BOO!” sounds encouraged. For added fun, use glow sticks or spooky stickers on the targets. 👻🕸️💀

🐣 Easter – Topple the Chocolate Bunnies

Giant chocolate bunnies (cone towers with round cones as ears or decorated rackets) have popped up on court! Kids must gently knock them down to collect their Easter treats. Optional: place a chocolate wrapper or Easter sticker on each “bunny” to collect after it’s hit. 🐰🍫🌸

💘 Valentine’s – Cupid’s Target Practice

Cupid has lined up heart-shaped towers (use pink/red rackets or cones with heart stickers). Children aim their balls to knock them down as practice for spreading love across the land! Add red or pink beanbags as “love letters” to deliver after each successful hit. 💘🎾💌

💐 Mother’s Day – Knock Down the Flower Pots

Beautiful flower displays (cone towers or upright rackets) are blocking the tennis garden — children must gently knock them over so the flowers can be rearranged. Use round cones in pink, purple, and yellow to resemble petals. 🪻🌼🌷

👔 Father’s Day – Tip Over the Toolboxes

The tennis court has been turned into Dad’s workshop! The upright rackets or cones are now “toolboxes” standing in the way. Knock them down with tennis balls and rebuild them quickly! Add fun stickers of tools (spanners, screwdrivers) to the towers. 🧰🔧🎾

🪣🎯 Story / Theme:

A fun accuracy challenge where kids try to land beanbags into a “pot” that keeps moving further away. 🚶‍♂️↩️👧

🧰 Equipment:

• 🪣 1 tub, bucket, or large pot per pair
• 🟠 Beanbags (or small foam balls)
• ⚽ Footballs (optional variation)

🎮 How to Play:

1. 🧍‍♂️👧 Line children up on the baseline, with parents standing in front holding a tub.

2. 🟠 Each child throws a beanbag aiming to land it in the tub.

3. ✅ If they make it, the parent takes a big step back. 👣

4. 🛑 If they miss, the parent takes a step forward. 🔁

5. 🔄 After a few turns, swap roles — the child holds the pot and the parent throws. 👨‍👧‍👦

⏫ Progressions:

1. ⚽ Ball Swap: Use footballs instead of beanbags — allow one bounce before catching.

2. 🤾 Throwing Styles: Encourage side-arm or rugby-style throws for variety.

3. 🏃 Moving Target: The catcher walks side-to-side while holding the tub. 🪣👣

📖 Story Script (Intro)

“Ahoy there, mateys! 🏴‍☠️ You’ve all been chosen as brave young pirates to join a treasure hunt! Deep in the middle of the sea lies a mountain of golden treasure (tennis balls)! 💰 But be quick — only the fastest, smartest pirates will collect the most treasure for their team. Ready to plunder, crew? Let’s hear your best pirate AARRRRGH! 🗣️⚓”

⚙️ Set-Up

• Place a large tub or pile of tennis balls (or beanbags) in the centre of the court/hall — this is the treasure chest.

• Divide children into three teams and assign an assistant coach or adult to each as their Captain.

• Line teams up on opposite sides of the court or triangle around the treasure.

• Mark team “bases” using cones or hoops.

🕹️ How to Play

1.     On the coach’s signal, all players from each team runs to the centre and collects one tennis ball (treasure) at the same time.

2.     They must return it to their team’s base before the next player goes.

3.     Repeat until all the treasure is gone.

4.     Teams count their treasure. The team with the most loot wins! 🎉

🔁 Progression: Reverse Treasure

• Now the treasure must be returned to the chest!

• One player at a time returns a ball from their base to the centre.

• The first team to return all their treasure and sit down in their base wins Round 2.

🪶 Feathers – Simplifications

• Allow running with two balls or more at a time if there are lots of kids.

• Replace balls with beanbags for easier grip.

• Let parents assist younger tots with holding and collecting.

• For walking tots, allow carrying treasure in small buckets or with help.

⚡ Progressions – For Older Kids

• Add obstacles between base and treasure (cones to weave, hurdles to jump).

• Add a time limit — which team collects most treasure in 60 seconds?

• “Sneaky Pirates” mode: once all treasure is gone, teams can steal one treasure at a time from other team bases.

• Penalty Rule: stepping over lines means one ball must be returned.

🎃 Seasonal Variants

🎅 Christmas:
🎁 “Santa’s Sack” – presents instead of treasure. Elves collect them for Santa’s sleigh.

🐣 Easter:
🥚 “Easter Egg Hunt” – scatter plastic eggs (or yellow beanbags) across the court. Tots return them to their “nest”.

🎃 Halloween:
👻 “Pumpkin Snatch” – collect “pumpkins” (orange cones or balls). Watch out for the ghost (coach) trying to tag you!

❤️ Valentine’s Day:
💌 “Love Letter Dash” – collect foam hearts or envelopes and deliver to your team’s mailbox.

👩‍👧‍👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day:
💐 “Flower Run” – run to collect paper flowers and deliver them to mum/dad’s “garden patch”.

🥅 Penalties – Racket Save Challenge

🏴‍☠️ Story Intro:

"Welcome to the Penalty Challenge! The enemy pirates are trying to fire cannonballs into your goal! Grab your racket, guard your treasure, and don’t let any balls get past you! Can you become the ultimate shot-stopper?"

🎯 Purpose:

• Improve reaction time and lateral footwork

• Introduce defensive movement (crab steps)

• Encourage focus and fun parent/child interaction

🏗 Setup:

• Each pair (parent & child) needs:

  • 4 tall traffic cones (to build 2 mini goals – about 3 ft wide)

  • 1 throw-down cone (start position)

  • 1 circular cone (to rest ball on for "penalty shot")

  • 1 inflatable ball

• Place 2 goals about 8–10 ft apart

• The child starts on the middle spot between goals (on the throw-down cone)

🕹 How to Play:

1. Parent sets the inflatable ball on a circular cone about 6 ft in front of the child.

2. When ready, they gently “shoot” the ball towards one of the goals.

3. The child uses crab side-steps and tries to block or stop the shot using their racket.

4. After each save attempt (or goal!), the child resets by returning to the middle cone.

5. Repeat shots — aim for different goals to keep it unpredictable!

🛠 Progressions:

• Player Swap: Let the child have a turn doing the shooting while the parent defends (switch roles).

• Racket Strike Return: Instead of blocking, the child must hit the ball back using a forward or backward swing.

• Serve Defence: Use a balloon instead of a ball for a “slow motion” challenge — try to catch and volley it away mid-air.

🪶 Feathers (for younger players):

• Reduce the width between the goals.

• Allow children to use both hands on the racket.

• Let the ball roll slower — parent can roll rather than strike.

• Coach or parent stands behind the child to help guide racket movement.

🌈 Seasonal Variations:

• 🎃 Pumpkin Penalties: Use orange balloons as pumpkin cannonballs.

• ❄️ Snowball Saves: Use white foam balls as "snowballs" from Frost Giants.

• 💖 Cupid’s Arrows: Parents pretend to "fire" heart arrows toward goals with dramatic flair.

• 🐣 Egg Saves (Easter): Use pastel balloons and shout “Save the egg!”

• 👻 Ghost Balls: Pretend the ball is a spooky ghost trying to sneak past the child!

Parachute Game 🎈 

Focus: Teamwork, sensory play, motor coordination, and fun group interaction.
Equipment: Large parachute, soft balls (foam or light), optional music

🎯 Main Activities:

🌀 1. Turning the Wheel

• Everyone holds the parachute and steps backwards until it’s taut.

• Begin slowly walking in a circle — like turning a big wheel.

• Freeze! Change direction and go the other way.

• Encourage teamwork: "We can only turn it if we work together!"

🌊 2. Wave Maker

• Start with long, slow waves — lift the parachute high, then gently lower.

• Feel the breeze! Great for cooling off on hot days.

• Switch to fast, choppy waves — hold it at waist height and shake using your forearms.

• Try the game with music to change rhythm (e.g., slow to fast).

🍿 3. Popcorn Time!

• Lower the parachute to the floor but keep holding.

• Coach adds soft balls (“popcorn seeds”) to the centre.

• Everyone starts making small, fast waves to bounce the balls — like popcorn popping.

• Once all balls are bouncing:
  👉 “The popcorn’s cooked — time to launch it out of the pan!”
  👉 Shake harder to pop the balls off!

• (Tip: keep extra balls handy in case they bounce off too quickly.)

• Progression:  Popcorn catchers, have some kids around the outside to catch the popcorn as it pops out of the Parachute: use catching nets/ tups

-          Catch on rackets

-          Older: hit balls back before balls roll.

-          Two teams: COOKS (trying to shake balls off) and CLEANERS, trying to catch the balls when they spill and throw them back on the parachute; optional: can hit the ball back.

-          Optional Time Trial: time which the team gets rid of all the popcorn first; declare a winner

⛺ 4. Parachute Tent (Bubble Dome)

• Start with big waves, then on the next high lift, shout “Under the tent!”

• Everyone walks forward, pulling the chute behind them and sits down on the outside edge (underside) of the parachute

• Inside the bubble:
  👉 Whisper high fives to coaches and friends 👋
  👉 Ask a simple question like “What animal lives in a tent?” or “Can you see the stars?”

🧲 5. 1-2-3... Let Go!

• End by gathering around. Coach counts “1… 2… 3…” and everyone lets go.

• Coach pulls the parachute in for a big dramatic finish (kids love the whoosh).

   

🪶 Feathers – Simplifications for Younger Tots

• Let parents hold the chute while children watch and slowly join in.

• Use fewer balls for popcorn to reduce chaos.

• Allow little ones just to feel the breeze if they don’t want to move.

• Keep instructions very visual and animated — e.g., mime popcorn, animals, waves.

• Sit under the tent for a moment can be a great time to sing a short rhyme or song 🎵.

🎮 Variations & Add-Ons:

• 🎨 Colour Games: Ask “Everyone holding blue – lift it up!”

• 🍂 Seasonal Popcorn:

  • Autumn = “Leaf shower” 🍁

  • Winter = “Snowflake bounce” ❄️

  • Spring = “Baby bunnies jumping” 🐰

  • Summer = “Beach balls on the waves” 🏖️

• 🎵 Musical Parachute: Play a track — move slow for verse, fast for chorus

• 👀 Object Search: Hide small soft toys under parachute — "Who can find the teddy?"

👧🧒 Older Tots / Tennis Titans 🎾• 🏃‍♂️🌈 Movement Challenges:
When you call a child’s name, they must run under the parachute and out again before it falls ⏱️ — everyone lifts the parachute up like a wave 🌊 and cheers 🎉 the runner underneath!

• 🌍 Around the World:
Everyone lifts the parachute high ⬆️ and calls someone's name 📣. That child must run around the outside of the circle 🌀 and return to their spot before:
 A️⃣ the parachute falls 💥
 B️⃣ they beat a count of 5 or 10 🔢

• 🏁 Around the World Race:
Throw the parachute up into the air 🪂 and call out two children’s names 👧👦 — they race around the outside and try to switch places before it lands. Optional: declare the winner 🥇!

 - 🔢 Call out three children
 - 🔢 Call out four children

⚠️ Safety Tip:
🚫 Never let two children run underneath the parachute at the same time — they could collide head-on 🤕!

🎯 Parachute Darts

A calm, focused game great for winding down or building throwing accuracy.

📝 Setup:

• Spread the parachute flat on the ground — this is your giant dartboard.

• Mark a throwing line (“oche”) a few metres back using a mini net, cones, or chalk.

• Use coloured beanbags (ideally matching the colours of the parachute segments).

🎲 How to Play:

1. Children take turns standing behind the oche.

2. They throw beanbags, aiming to land them on a matching colour on the parachute.
   → Red beanbag = aim for red section, etc.

3. Coach or assistant collects and returns beanbags between rounds.

4. Optional: Score 1 point for a hit, 2 for a perfect match!

🏹 Variations:

• Timed Round: Who can land the most matches in 60 seconds?

• Team Play: Take turns and add up total team scores.

• Colour Call: Coach shouts a colour — child must quickly pick the correct beanbag and throw.

• Target Zones: Mark a bullseye zone in the middle for bonus points 🎯

🪶 Feathers (Younger Children):

• Let them walk up and place beanbags to learn colour matching.

• Throw from closer up.

• Use larger beanbags or soft balls for easier aiming.