Hitting Through the Hoops 🎯
🎯 Hitting Through the Hoops
Focus: Forehand technique, target accuracy, adaptability
Duration: 8–12 minutes (including setup and demonstration)
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Today we're going to practise hitting through hoops — just like archers aiming at a target! 🎯 We're working on our forehand swing and control."
Sit the children down and demonstrate the correct swing technique and aim.
Parents stand in front of the children holding hoops at varying heights, distances, and angles.
Children hit foam balls off tees, aiming to pass the ball cleanly through the hoop.
🧱 Equipment Needed:
Hitting tees
Foam balls
Hoops (held by parents)
Optional: cones to mark out waiting and hitting spots
🎾 Forehand Technique Focus:
Sideways on: Turn your body so your shoulder faces the target.
Strings to the ball: Make sure the racket face is pointing where you want the ball to go.
Low to High: Let the wrist drop and swing upwards for lift and spin.
Finish over the shoulder: End with your racket up and across.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Children):
Throw balls and footballs instead of hitting
Let children focus just on swing shape without worrying about aiming through the hoop.
Parents can help load balls onto tees while keeping distance.
Stand closer to the hoop for easier success.
Use balloons instead of balls for easier, slower targets.
⚡️ Progressions (Older / Confident Children):
Parents hold hoops further away or higher/lower to challenge hitting angles.
Children drop-feed themselves instead of using a tee.
Introduce a “wall rally” station — hit against the wall to maintain control.
Balloon rallies: pair up and rally balloon with forehand over a net or mini barrier.
Create a 4-station free-flow circuit with varied hoop setups and hitting challenges.
✅ Coach Tips:
Remind parents to keep one arm extended while holding hoops and stay well back from the tee.
Watch out for over-rotation — remind children to stay sideways on.
Use cues like:
“Lift the pancake” (for low-to-high swing)
“Eyes on the target”
“Finish like a rainbow over your shoulder”e ball, 2 points for hitting the target.