🎈 Balloon Match
A fun indoor game developing coordination, awareness, and simple rallying skills.
⏱️ Duration:
5–15 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Today we’re going to play Balloon Match! You’ll work together with your adult as a doubles team. Your goal is to keep the balloon off your floor and try to land it on your opponent’s side. You can hit it as many times as you need — just don’t let it fall!"
Set up multiple small courts using:
Mini-nets, cones, benches, or rows of tubs and tees
Each court = 2 children and 2 parents (doubles match)
One balloon per court
🧱 Court Zones:
Add "no-go zones" (using cones) 1–2 metres on each side of the net/barrier to:
Prevent children colliding while both go for a balloon in the middle
Encourage spatial awareness and teamwork
🔁 Gameplay:
Children and adults can tap the balloon as many times as needed
Goal = get balloon over the net/barrier and land on opponent's floor
If it lands on the floor, that team scores a point
Games can go to 3 or 5 points before switching partners or opponents
End every round with a high-five or handshake
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications):
Younger children can:
Be allowed to catch and release the balloon
Move closer to the net or remove the barrier entirely
⚡️ Progressions (Older or Confident Children):
1-on-1 Matches: Child vs child, with adult umpiring
Limit touches before having to hit baloon over, three touches, two and then has to go straight over.
Swap Balloon for Inflatable Football:
Allow 2 bounces
Child can catch and throw/hit back, but must stay in position
1 Bounce Rally Game:
One bounce allowed
Use inflatable/foam balls
Encourage racket use (forehands, two-hand backhands)
✅ Coaching Focus:
Encourage controlled touches
Praise teamwork and fair play
Reinforce spatial awareness (no-go zone and partner coordination)
Highlight importance of rallying and soft hands
Balloon Keepy-Uppy 🧺🎈
🎯 Objective
Keep the balloon in the air using any part of the body or racket. Don’t let it touch the ground – or it gets very upset! 😢
Note: some young children may not like balloons, please use your judgement; if a child is not happy with balloons please give them something else to do, scarf, ball, etc…
👟 Setup
NB doesn’t work with any wind at all so it's better inside
Children sat in a circle or group
Balloons hidden inside a bag (e.g. drawstring sack)
1–2 balloons blown up in advance
🗣️ Coach Introduction Script
"I've brought something very special in this bag... can anyone guess what it is?"
(Play the guessing game for a minute)
"It's a balloon! But not just any balloon... these are full of air, and they absolutely love floating in the sky 🌤️. But if they touch the ground or stop moving... they get very upset!"
(Make funny sad/crying sounds)
"We have to keep them happy by keeping them in the air! You can use your hands, feet, head, shoulders… even rackets – just don’t let them drop!"
🎈 How to Play
Coach releases a balloon into the air.
Players must keep it in the air using any body part or a racket.
If the balloon touches the ground or is held too long – coach makes a silly “crying” noise and resets the game.
Optional: Add more balloons for chaos & teamwork!
IMPORTANT: IF THE SPACE IS TOO SMALL PLEASE DO NOT USE RACKETS TO AVOID INJURY!
🪶 Feather Levels (Differentiation)
🪶 One Feather – Starter
Only one balloon in play
Use hands only
Coach helps redirect the balloon
🪶🪶 Two Feathers – Developing
Add more balloons
Encourage racket use
Players must stay in their own space
🪶🪶🪶 Three Feathers – Confident
Keep balloon aloft for 10+ hits
Count aloud each hit
Use only rackets or only non-dominant hand
Introduce small challenges (e.g. spin before hitting, or tap it to a partner)
🔁 Progressions & Variations
🧢 Team Rally: Count how many touches as a team before balloon drops
🏃♂️ Movement Balloon: Must travel from one cone to another while keeping balloon up
🎯 Target Zones: Tap the balloon over a line or into a hoop
⛔ No Hands Round: Only use feet, knees, or rackets
🧦 Balloon Chase: Everyone has a balloon to chase and keep up