Jewel Thief 💎
🎯 Objective
To practice teamwork, coordination, catching, colour-matching, and eventually racket control through a fun, competitive "jewel heist" relay game.
🧠 Setup
Jewels: Use round flat cones of different colours. Each team has 4–5 upside-down cones representing "jewels" stored in cases.
Cases: Place the cones at the feet of one player at each end of the activity space.
Teams: Players work in pairs or threes. Space them apart depending on age and skill level. A barrier/net can be used between them if available.
Projectiles:
Foam or mini-red balls.
How to Play (Main Game)
One player begins with all the jewels (flat cones).
On the coach’s call (“Go!”), they steal the first jewel and throw it to their teammate.
The teammate catches the jewel and places it into the matching case (by colour).
Repeat this process for all jewels.
Once all jewels are transferred and set, the players switch roles and throw them back to the original player.
First pair to have all jewels returned and correctly placed sits down to signal completion.
Coach or helper can verify correct colour matching.
🧸 Feathers Adaptation (Under 4s)
Use catching nets/ buckets to catch
Parent Involvement: Parents or coaches can kneel in the centre, helping guide them to the right colour or offering encouragement.
⚙️ Progressions
🎾 Throwing/Catching
Begin with gentle underarm throws and progress to overarm as skills improve.
Use nets or buckets for catching instead of hands for variety.
Upgrade from overarm throws.
🏸 Racket Control
Catch and return on the racket strings – players try to trap the ball instead of catching with hands.
Challenge: trap on the backhand side or one hand only.
Can use hitting tee’s for those who were struggling
🚀 Advanced Progressions
Slingshot serve or forehand rally to send the jewels back.
Use serves/ backhands (make sure
Competitive:
First to collect and return all wins.
Add a third round to repeat forward and back again.
Add a central “helper” (coach/parent) who acts as a gem inspector or black market fence, transferring jewels between players to add layers of teamwork.
👻 Seasonal Variations
🎃 Halloween – “Spooky Jewel Heist”
Jewels are haunted! Use glow-in-the-dark cones or cover them with tissue/ghost stickers.
Coaches wave scarves or throw flying discs (ghosts!) trying to distract players.
Add a “Haunted Tower” in the middle that must not be knocked over during throws!
🎄 Christmas – “Elf Express”
Jewels become Christmas baubles or presents.
Players wear Santa hats or elf ears.
Add sleigh bells to players’ shoes or rackets for festive noise.
The transfer is helping Santa pack the sleigh with colour-matched presents.
🐣 Easter – “Bunny Jewel Drop”
Jewels are Easter eggs!
Add mini bunny ears to rackets or use plastic egg cases.
Players hop instead of run; introduce “burrows” (hoops) they must jump in before throwing.
Use pastel-coloured beanbags/balls and ask them to find the correct “nest.”