Tug of War

🎯 Objective:
To pull the opposing team across a center line using a rope. Great for teamwork, strength, coordination, and energy release.

🔧 Setup:

• Use a long rope (soft grip if possible).

• Mark a clear center line on the ground using cones, chalk, or tape.

• Tie a scarf to the centre of the rope as a marker

• Add two win lines about 1.5–2 meters each side of the center.

🕹️ How to Play:

• Divide into two equal teams in numbers and strength.

• Line them up holding the rope evenly on either side of the center line.

• On the signal “3…2…1…GO!” both teams pull.

• First team to pull the scarf  past the win marker wins the round.

• Can be played best of 3.

🛟 Safety Tips:

• Ensure all players hold with two hands and never wrap the rope around hands or body.

• Use shoes with grip.

• Encourage a low stance and bent knees.

• One coach should always supervise closely to pause if needed.

🐣 Easier Variants for Younger Children:

• Use a lightweight rope or resistance band.

• Play 1v1 or 2v2 using cones to mark a zone.

• Introduce a Teddy Tug: tie a teddy or plush toy to the center of the rope for themed fun.

• Try “Friendly Tug”: no winners, just teams pulling the rope back and forth across a midline to build coordination and laughter.

🏏 Objective:
Score as many runs as possible by hitting the ball and running around bases before the fielders return the ball.

🔧 Equipment:

• Tennis racket (used as the bat)

• Soft tennis ball or sponge ball

• 4 bases (cones)

• Fielding team and batting team (about 6–8 kids per side)

• One coach or player acts as feeder (pitcher)

👥 Teams:

• Divide the group into 2 teams: Batting and Fielding

• Switch roles after all batters have had a turn (or after 3 outs)

📝 Basic Rules:

1. Batting:

• Each batter gets one underarm feed (or two for younger players).

• They must hit the ball with the racket and run to at least first base.

• If they make it around all 4 bases = 1 full rounder (run)

• If they make it to 2nd or 3rd base and get stuck, they stay there. Next batter continues.

2. Running:

• You can run on a hit or miss (if ball is in play).

• Only one runner per base.

• If a batter overtakes another runner, the overtaker is out.

• Batters must run in one direction (no backtracking).

3. Fielding:

• Fielders try to catch the ball or collect it and return it to the feeder/pitcher.

• If they return the ball to the pitcher before the batter reaches the next base, the batter is out.

• Catches (on the full) = batter out.

4. Outs:

• A batter is out if:

  • The ball is caught on the full

  • The ball beats them back to the base i.e. they are stumped

  • They run backwards or miss a base

✅ Coaching Tips:

• Adjust base distances for age groups

• Let younger kids have 2 or 3 hits before running

• Use a sponge or foam ball for safety

• Rotate roles so everyone gets a chance to bat and field

• Use hitting tee’s/ coach manually hits the ball.

🎾 Rally in the Alley 🎾

A fun and structured rally game for pairs!

Setup:

• Set up as many mini-nets as possible in parallel across the tennis court.

• Use court lines or drop-down markers to establish clear baselines.

• Position the activity near a corner to use fences/ walls as backstops and sidestops, the idea is to limit disruption of ball flying all over the place; keeping it contained.

👯‍♂️ Step 1: Friends Mode

Pairs rally together to build control, teamwork, and technique.

➡️ Start by pushing a football to each other from baseline to baseline.
➡️ Focus on controlling and pushing the ball (sideways on using forwards and backwards motion) before progressing to hitting.

Progressions:

• Control ➡️ Hit forehands

• Control ➡️ Hit backhands

• Rally freely with forehands and backhands

Challenge:
🎉 “Bingo!” – Count successful rallies.

• Reach 10 hits and shout “Bingo!” then sit down, see who is first pair to sit

• Repeat with 15, 20, or 30 hits, alternating forehands and backhands.

⚔️ Step 2: Enemies Mode

Now the pairs compete to win points!

🎯 Objective: Try to push or hit the ball past your partner’s baseline.

Teaching Points:
🦀 Move like a crab: stay facing opponent, recover to middle
🎾 Must Keep the ball on the ground
👌 Unlimited touches to control

🏆 Win the point if your opponent lets the ball pass their baseline.
🔁 Rotate partners regularly – winners move up, others move down

Overview

A fast-paced, fun-packed team game that combines agility, dodging, teamwork, and throwing accuracy. Kids take on the role of stealthy “agents” trying to complete their mission without getting “caught” (hit by a soft ball).

Set up 🎯

• Divide into 3 teams:
o 🟥 Team A – Throwers (left side)
o 🟦 Team B – Throwers (right side)
o 🟩 Team C – Runners (start at one end and attempt the mission)
• 📍 Place beanbags at the far end of the playing area.
• 🚫 Throwing zones are marked with cones — throwers must stay behind these when throwing.
• 🧱 Set up obstacles (cones, mini nets, boxes, etc.) across the playing surface for runners to use as cover.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• 🎾 Soft balls (e.g. foam tennis balls)
• 🪣 Rubber tubs for throwing/collecting
• 🟨 Beanbags (for runners to collect)
• 🟠 Cones/markers (to mark throw zones and runner paths)
• 🧱 Optional: mini nets, benches, or ball tubs as cover

🏃‍♂️ How to Play

1. Team C (Runners) tries to collect as many 🟨 beanbags as possible, moving across the zone (right to left).

2. They 🕵️‍♀️ dodge, dash, or hide behind obstacles to avoid being hit.

3. If a runner is hit, they must 🚶 return to the start and try again.

4. Once they reach the beanbags, they become 🛡️ immune on their return (must use the outside route).

5. Teams A & B (Throwers) try to hit runners with soft balls and inflatable footballs:
   o 🎯 Must throw from behind the line.
   o 🔁 Can retrieve loose balls, but must get back behind cones before throwing again.

IMPORTANT: COACHES NEED TO ADJUDICATE TO ENSURE FAIRNESS, CALL OUT WHEN CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HIT AND NEED TO RETURN TO THE START. REWARD HONESTY BY GIVING EXTRA LIVES TO CHILDREN WHO RETURN TO THE START WHEN HIT.  

📜 Rules Recap

• ❌ Only runners may be on the central surface.
• 🛡️ Runners are safe when returning via the outside after grabbing a beanbag.
• 🚫 Throwers must not block runners.
• 🔄 Rotate every 5 mins or after a full round.
• 🏆 Track beanbags collected — team with most wins!

🧠 Variations

• ⏱️ Add a time limit for runners.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Add a “spy” runner who gets 2 lives.
• 🛡️ Younger kids can use rackets as shields (remove if misused!).

🎓 Coach Tips

• 🎭 Encourage creative movement — crawling, diving, sneaking, etc.
• 📣 Cheer on brave or sneaky moves.
• ✅ Safety first: soft throws only, below the waist.

Great for summer camps

Objective

Build, defend, and attack a makeshift fort using teamwork and serving accuracy.

Setup

·       One team constructs a “fort” in the centre of the court using tennis nets (coaches help for speed), cones, and a large parachute for shelter. They have a set time limit (e.g. 3–5 minutes) to complete their build.

·       During this time, the opposing team spreads out around the court collecting “ammunition” (soft balls, foam balls, etc.).

How to play

1.       Once time is up, the attacking team lines up around a marked firing radius (created using cones).

2.       Players take turns serving balls into the fort, aiming to get them past the fort’s defences and through the structure to the players inside.

3.       Defenders must stay seated inside the fort and cannot block shots.

4.       Count and score how many balls make it through.

5.       Teams then swap roles – attackers become builders and vice versa.

Skills Developed

·       Teamwork and problem-solving (building phase)

·       Serving accuracy and power control (attacking phase)

·       Spatial awareness and tactical creativity

Coaching Tips

·       Encourage creativity in building – test different ways to prop up the parachute.

·       Challenge kids to improve accuracy with progressive serving distances.

·       Optionally reward best fort design and most accurate attacker!