Grand Tour!🎾
Grand Tour!🎾
A fun multi-skill tennis circuit that combines hitting, throwing, drop-feeding, and putting – encouraging children to explore different techniques and body movements while working toward a common target.
⏱️ Duration:
10–15 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Introduction
"Okay travellers! ✈️ Today you're going on a trip Around the World! 🌍
You’ll need your luggage – that’s your racket and a little bucket of balls – and you’ll travel from country to country (station to station), trying to land your balls in the centre of the world. That’s our target zone!"
🧭 Setup & Station Descriptions
Lay out a large circle (or oval) around a central target zone with 2–3 upturned buckets.
Create 5–7 stations around the edge of the circle. Examples include:
Hitting Tee Station – Hit forehands off a tee toward the target buckets.
Throwing Station – Gently underarm or overarm throw into the buckets.
Drop-Feed Station – A parent or partner gently drops a ball for the child to hit.
Self Drop Station – Children drop the ball themselves and hit.
Putting Station – Use a tennis racket to gently roll the ball into sideways traffic cones or tubs.
Give each child a mini bucket or tub (their suitcase) with 3–5 balls inside.
Children move clockwise around the world trying each station.
🔁 Gameplay Instructions
Start at a station with their luggage (plastic tub)
Complete the activity at the station (1–2 balls max).
Collect missed balls near the station and carry on (leave balls that reach the middle).
Travel with racket and luggage to the next station.
End by picking up cones and tees with the children to reinforce responsibility.
🎯 Technical Coaching Tips
Tee stations: Focus on low to high swing and sideways stance.
Throwing stations: Teach underarm technique, balance, and follow-through.
Drop feed stations: Cue “watch the bounce, then swing”.
Putting station: Use forward-and-backward push like a golf putt, not a slap.
Highlight how the height of the hit affects whether the ball drops into the bucket.
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for Younger Children)
Use larger buckets in the middle.
Allow children to sit down and roll balls underarm instead of hitting.
Use balloons or large foam balls for throwing.
Let them use their hands to drop balls directly into buckets if needed.
Assign an adult helper at each station to give clear instructions.
⚡ Progressions (For Older or Advanced Children)
Reduce the size of the buckets or switch to cones on their side.
Enforce topspin hitting on tee and drop-feed stations.
Add a challenge: hit 2 out of 3 balls into the bucket before moving on.
Encourage use of backhand at one or more stations.
Add a timer per station to build urgency and pace.