Siege the Castle 🏰

🎤 Coach Script / Setup

"Alright troops! Today, you're going to defend your castle… or try to knock one down! Each team will take turns being the Attackers or the Defenders.

We’re going to play Siege the Castles! 🏰⚔️"

🧱 Game Layout:

• Divide players into two teams, attackers and defenders, or you can mix up attackers and defenders on both sides

• Use nets or hurdles to create a central "castle wall" between the teams.

• Each team has:

• A castle zone (behind their own line)

• 3–5 hitting tees or places to drop-feed or throw from

• A supply of foam balls ("cannonballs") and catching nets or cones.

🔁 Gameplay:

Phase 1 – Attackers

• Stand behind the row of the hitting tees.

• Their job is to:

• Hit cannonballs over the wall of the opposing castle from tees, sideways on and low to high.

• Score 1 point for every successful ball hit over the wall.

• Optional: Catches by attackers = 0 points for that ball.

Phase 2 – Defenders:

Stand on the opposite side of the wall.

• Their job is to catch balls using:

• Catching nets, or

• Big traffic cones (for groups without enough nets), or

• Bare hands (for older groups).

• Score 1 point per catch.

• After catching, place the ball in a bucket and get ready for the next.

After 3–5 minutes or a clear turn sequence, swap roles and repeat.

✅ SCORING SYSTEM (Simple):

• Count how many balls the team hit over the wall.

• Then count how many were caught.

• Total = Points scored for that round.

• Ask children their team scores before swapping – this builds ownership and team spirit.

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for Younger Children):

• Reduce wall height for more success.

• Let children place balls on the tee and coach assist with swing.

• Allow rolling the ball under or through a mini wall if hitting is too difficult.

• Use traffic cones for easier catching targets.

⚡️Progressions (For Older or Confident Children):

• Swap hitting tees for drop feeds or self-toss before hitting.

• Add a “Starfish” hitting technique challenge:

• Feet wide, sideways on, racket from behind ear, contact in front, low to high.

• Make catching hands only — no nets or cones.

• Introduce time limits or hit quotas.

• Create a competition mode: best team over two rounds.

• Have attackers and defenders on the same side; NB make sure the are evenly spaced

🎾 Technical Coaching Tips:

• Emphasise low-to-high swing path (especially from tee).

• Show sideways stance and balance with non-dominant arm raised.

• For catchers:

• Catch at waist height

• Encourage moving feet under the ball

• Reinforce two hands for younger kids or "bucket hands" shape.

Seasonal alternatives for 🏰 Siege the Castle:

🎄 Christmas – Siege Santa’s Workshop

The Elves are guarding Santa’s Workshop! The Snowball Fighters (children) launch snowballs (foam balls) over the festive wall to try and sneak in. The Elves catch with buckets or “mittens” (catching nets) to stop the snowballs. Decorate the court with red/green cones and tinsel. 🎁

🐣 Easter – Siege the Bunny Burrow

The Easter Bunny's Burrow is under attack from flying eggs (foam balls)! Defenders try to catch as many eggs as possible before they land in the burrow. Use pastel-coloured balls and call out "golden egg bonus" if a special colour gets hit or caught! 🐇🥚💐

🎃 Halloween – Siege the Haunted House

The ghouls are guarding their haunted mansion! Attackers throw “pumpkin bombs” (orange foam balls) over the spooky fence. Defenders (witches/ghosts) try to catch them in cauldrons (nets or buckets). Add cobwebs or Halloween cones for spooky effect. 🕸️👻🎃

💘 Valentine’s – Siege the Heart Castle

Heart-shaped messages (foam balls) are flying over the wall — can Cupid’s team catch them? Use red/pink balls and decorate the court with paper hearts. Players can “deliver love letters” instead of cannonballs. 💌❤️🏹

👩‍👧 Mother’s Day – Siege the Garden Gate

Children are flinging flower seeds (foam balls) into Mum’s magical garden! Defenders (Mums or coaches) try to catch them before they land. You can decorate the area with fake flowers or green cones to look like flower beds. 🌸🌼🌿

👨‍👧 Father’s Day – Siege the Tool Shed

The kids are throwing tools (balls) over the workshop wall! Dads (or coaches) catch the flying “screwdrivers and hammers” before they land in the shed. Playfully theme it around fixing things with Dad. Add boxes or buckets labelled with “tools.” 🛠️🧰👨‍🔧