🏗️ Over the Fence

A fun movement-and-control game focused on dribbling, guiding, and lifting objects over an obstacle.

⏱️ Duration: Flexible — repeat as long as engagement stays high

🎤 Coach Script / Setup

“Right team! Your job is to move your ball all the way across the court and get it over the fence!
Tap it like hockey, keep it under control, and when you get to the cones, lift it over the wall using your racket. Then run back and try again!”

🧱 Game Layout

• Create a long working channel using
  • a row of cones (the “fence”)
  OR a mini net (optional)

• All balls start at the baseline

• Children work individually, each with:
  • A racket
  • A starting ball (foam ball, light ball, balloon, etc.)

• Coaches or parents recycle balls back to the start.

🔁 Gameplay – Stages

Stage 1 — Tap & Travel

• Children tap the ball (“hockey dribble”) along the floor.

• Keep ball close, small controlled taps.

Stage 2 — Lift Over the Fence

When they reach the row of cones:

• Slide racket under the ball

• Gently lift and flip it over the cones

• Ball must land on the far side

• Children run back to start and continue with a new ball

Make it stand out

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)

Perfect for younger Tots or less confident players:

• Use bigger, lighter balls (utility balls, beach balls, balloons) for slower movement

• Use scarves instead of balls: drag or float the scarf to the fence and lift it over

• Lower the fence (shorter cones or flat markers)

• Allow children to pick up and drop over instead of lifting with the racket

• Let a coach assist the lift motion

• Shorten the distance they must dribble

• Work parent–child pairs: one guides, one lifts

⚡ Progressions (For Titans / Troopers)

• Use smaller, firmer balls for more control challenge

• Add direction changes before reaching the fence

• Ball must be tapped through a series of gates before the lift

• Lift only with racket — no hands

• Add a time challenge (“How many can you lift in 60 seconds?”)

• Use balloons outdoors only on still, humid days

• After lifting, child must catch the ball on the other side

• Add a second fence for double lift

🎾 Technical Coaching Tips

• “Soft taps — keep the ball close.”

• Encourage side-on body position for the lift

• Racket slides under the ball, not pushing from the side

• Follow through upwards for a smooth lift

• Bend knees and use legs, not just arms

• Eyes on the ball before lifting

Make it stand out

🎨 Variations / Equipment Alternatives

You can mix and match:

Obstacle Options

• Row of cones

• Scarf line (children lift over a line of brightly coloured scarves)

• Low cardboard wall

• Mini net

• Foam beam

• Pool noodles laid across the court

Ball Options

• Foam balls

• Light training balls

• Utility balls

• Balloons (only indoors or still days)

• Scarves (floating lift challenge)

🎄 Seasonal Alternatives

🎄 Christmas — Elves at the North Pole

The children are Elves, and the balls become presents they must push through the snowy forest and lift over the fence into Santa’s Delivery Zone.

• Cones = Christmas trees

• Balls = presents

• Fence = snowy wall

• Add festive music

• Every golden ball = bonus “special delivery”

🐣 Easter — Bunny Egg Push

Children push “Easter eggs” (foam balls) through the meadow and lift them into the egg basket over the fence.

• Use pastel-coloured balls

• Lift into a “nest” (hoop)

🎃 Halloween — Pumpkin Roll

Kids roll pumpkins (orange balls) to the spooky gate and flip them into the cauldron.

• Add witch hats, cobweb cones

• A “glow ball” can be worth extra points

💘 Valentine’s — Deliver the Love Letters

Children dribble pink/red balls (“love letters”) to the fence and gently flip them over into the Post Box zone.