Floor is Lava! 🌋
Floor is Lava! 🌋
🔥 Adventure Balance Game – 5–8 mins
🚶♂️ Transition from Warm-Up:
This game follows perfectly from the warm-up, as much of the setup remains in place. It's a great way to channel the children’s excitement into imaginative, skill-building movement with purpose.
🧠 Purpose:
Develop balance, spatial awareness & coordination
Encourage careful footwork and decision-making
Reinforce ball/beanbag handling skills
Provide imaginative and physical transition to main skill stations
🗣 Story Script (Coach Narration):
“Oh no — the tennis court has turned into a lava pit! 🔥 The only way across is by stepping on floating islands and bridges! Put on your safety helmets (🎩 upside-down cones!) and collect the magical treasure (beanbags) without touching the lava. Watch out — lava eruptions and fireballs might get in your way!”
🏗 Set-Up:
Scatter tennis balls = lava
Place hoops, dots, and throw-down lines = islands and bridges
Add buckets or tubs = volcano checkpoints
Kids wear helmets made of upside-down round cones or small cones on their heads
Starting point on one end of court; destination on the other
🎮 Main Game Mechanics:
Children start at one side, balancing beanbags, foam balls, or carrying rackets
They move only on safe items (hoops, spots, lines) to cross the lava
At volcano checkpoint (centre or end), they toss the beanbag into a bucket, collect another, and return
If they fall off, they return to the start
No jumping or running — slow, stable travel encouraged
🪶 Feathers (Easier Variants):
No racket needed – carry item in hands
Make islands closer together
Let assistants or parents hold children's hands
No “lava eruptions” until later
⚡ Progressions (Challenge Add-Ons):
🔥 Rolling Fireballs: Coaches gently roll tennis balls across paths
🌋 Volcano Eruption: A bucket of soft balls is thrown in the air while coaches frisbee round cones (lava rocks) for kids to dodge
🎭 Tell kids to wear helmets (round or traffic) to challenge balance as they move around
🎯 Checkpoint Challenge: Kids throw into the bucket to “disarm the volcano” before moving on
🎒 Load Swap at checkpoints: Swap beanbags for soft balls or juggling scarves
🧗 Racket Carry: Older kids balance a ball or beanbag on a racket as they cross
🎭 Seasonal Adaptations:
🎃 Halloween – "The Floor is Slime!": Use green cones & spooky music, roll “ghost balls” (white balloons)
🎅 Christmas – "Santa’s Rooftop Rescue": Hoops become chimneys, beanbags are presents
🐣 Easter – "Egg Escape Lava": Balance “eggs” (foam balls) in spoon or on racket
💘 Valentine’s Day – "Heart Rescue Mission": Beanbags are hearts; kids rescue them from lava
👩👧 Mother's Day / 👨👦 Father's Day – "Gift Dash": Kids carry gifts to their parents across the lava
🧠 Coach Reminders:
Keep it safe — always check islands are spaced sensibly and not slipping
Get into character — volcanoes, fire monsters, or rescue leaders!
Encourage teamwork by letting kids help each other cross