🌈 Over the Rainbow – Journey to the Emerald City (Wizard of Oz Edition)

🎯 Movement · Racket Skills · Imagination
🧠 Focus: sideways footwork · forehands/backhands · tracking · confidence

🌪️ Story Setup

“Today we’re travelling Over the Rainbow 🌈 into the Emerald City!
To cross each colour of the rainbow, you must unlock it with your magic tennis racket.
But once you arrive in Oz… the portal home closes!
You can only return if you bring the Wizard an emerald 💚.”

🏗️ Setup

• 5 coloured cones arranged in a rainbow arc
• Net or row of cones = barrier between Kansas & Emerald City
• Foam balls = Emeralds 💚
• Catching nets or buckets for the return challenge
• Coach feeds balls from the side

🎾

Make it stand out

Stage 1 – Unlock the Rainbow

1. Child starts at the red cone

2. Coach feeds → child hits a forehand

3. Shuffle to the next cone

4. Repeat for all 5 colours (orange → yellow → green → blue)

5. Once all colours are hit, the child steps across the barrier into Emerald City

🎉 They’ve completed their journey Over the Rainbow!

✨ Stage 2 – Return from the Emerald City

You now offer the kids TWO magical ways home.
The coach can choose based on group size, energy, or time.

OPTION A — The Emerald Catch Challenge (Jailbreak Style)

Perfect when you want reaction time, catching, and excitement.

Once a player enters Emerald City:

• Other children still hitting rainbow shots send emeralds flying over the barrier

• The player in Oz must catch ONE emerald:
  ✅ on the full OR
  ✅ with one bounce

• They may use:
  • a catching net
  • a bucket
  • or hands (harder groups)

Once they catch one emerald, they run to the Wizard and say:

✨ “There’s no place like home!” ✨

The Wizard (coach) opens the portal and they return to the start.

Why this option is great:
• It’s fast
• It’s fun
• Kids love hunting emeralds
• It keeps the whole group active because the hitters are helping too

OPTION B — Emerald Collector Mission (Perpetual Game Loop)

Perfect when you want continuous movement and longer turns.

After unlocking all 5 rainbow colours:

• The player must collect 5 emeralds from around Emerald City
  (or as many emeralds as they hit — your choice)

• Emeralds can be collected:
  • From a scattered area
  • From a helper
  • From a bucket or cone zone

• Once they have all their emeralds, they bring them to the Wizard and say:

✨ “There’s no place like home!” ✨

Wizard opens the portal → player returns to Kansas.

Why this option is great:
• Longer activity for each child
• Ideal for large groups
• Works well when you want a non-stop circuit
• Players feel like they’re “gathering treasure”

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)

• Use fewer colours (3 instead of 5)
• Walk instead of shuffle
• Use underarm slow feeds
• Use balloons or big foam balls
• Wizard hands the emerald directly for very young players
• Barrier can be a floor line instead of a net

⚡ Progressions (Challenges)

• Combine forehands & backhands
• Randomised colour calling
• Add targets behind cones
• Increase distance between colours
• Faster feeds
• Require catching emeralds hands only
• Catch with one bounce only
• Wizard Challenge: catch 2 emeralds before returning

🎾 Technical Coaching Tips

• “Stay sideways as you shuffle!”
• “Brush the ball — not too big a swing.”
• “Eyes on each colour before you move.”
• “Make each hit count — unlock the rainbow!”
• “Catch with soft hands, eyes behind the ball.”

🎉 Seasonal Variations (Wizard of Oz Style)

🎄 Christmas — Over the Snowbow to Santa’s Workshop

Emeralds = snowballs
Magic phrase: “Merry Christmas!”

🐣 Easter — Eggbow Adventure

Emeralds = eggs
Magic phrase: “Happy Easter!”

🎃 Halloween — Witch’s Rainbow

Emeralds = glowing pumpkin orbs
Magic phrase: “Open the portal, Witch!”

❤️ Valentine’s — Heart Rainbow

Emeralds = heart tokens
Magic phrase: “Cupid, send me home!”