Tennis Tots, Tennis Titans Joseph de la Nougerede Tennis Tots, Tennis Titans Joseph de la Nougerede

🌀 Maze Madness

🌀 Maze Madness

🎯 Objective:
Develop close ball control, dribbling skills, spatial awareness, and focus while navigating a fun obstacle maze.

🧠 Focus:
Dribbling • coordination • awareness • change of direction • keeping control under pressure

⏱️ Duration:
5–7 minutes (including demonstration)

🎤 Coach Script / Story Setup:

“Welcome to Maze Madness! 🌀
This is our giant maze, and your mission is to dribble your ball all the way through without losing control.
Weave through the fences, keep your ball close, and once you reach the end — loop back around and rejoin the line!”

🏗️ Game Layout:

(Uses the same setup as Naughty Neighbours)

• Set up mini tennis nets or low barriers in rows to create a clear maze pathway
• Leave gaps wide enough for safe dribbling and weaving
• One clear start point and exit point
• Balls placed at the start

Equipment:
• Tennis balls / soft balls
• Mini tennis nets (or cones / barriers)
• Optional: frisbees for coach distraction

🔁 Gameplay:

  1. Children start at the entrance of the maze with one ball

  2. On the coach’s signal, they:
    • Dribble the ball through the maze
    • Weave around the “fences”
    • Keep the ball close and under control

  3. Once they reach the end:
    • They exit the maze
    • Run around the outside
    • Join the back of the line

 

 

Coach demonstrates first:
• Slow dribble
• Small touches
• Eyes up where possible

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications):

• Use bigger / slower balls
• Allow rolling the ball with hands instead of feet
• Widen the maze gaps
• Let children stop the ball at each turn
• Reduce maze length
• Coach walks alongside to guide

⚡ Progressions:

• Two-ball challenge:
• Dribble one ball while carrying another
• Coach distractions:
• Coaches gently throw balls or roll frisbees across the maze to “put players off”
• Speed challenge:
• Still controlled — not a race
• Direction change:
• Go through forwards, come back backwards
• Add decision-making:
• Coach calls “LEFT” or “RIGHT” at junctions

🎾 Coaching Tips:

• “Little touches”
• “Keep it close”
• “Eyes up, not just down”
• Praise control over speed
• Reset calmly if the ball escapes — no pressure

🔄 Companion Game Pairings:

This game works especially well alongside:
• Naughty Neighbours – throwing over fences
• Rally in the Alley – movement and sending/receiving
• Dribble Relays – transition into team play

🌈 Seasonal Variations – Maze Madness

🎄 Christmas – Snow Maze

The maze is covered in snow! ❄️
Children dribble their “snowballs” carefully through icy paths without letting them slip away.

Theme tweaks:

  • Balls = snowballs

  • Coaches = cheeky snowmen throwing soft distractions

  • Add a “freeze” call where players must stop the ball dead

🐣 Easter – Egg Hunt Maze

The maze is an Easter Egg trail! 🥚
Children dribble their egg safely through the maze to reach the Easter baskets.

Theme tweaks:

  • Balls = Easter eggs

  • Coaches = Easter Bunnies hopping around to distract

  • Progression: carry a second “egg” while dribbling the first

🎃 Halloween – Spooky Maze

Welcome to the Haunted Maze! 👻
Children must creep their ball past spooky fences without waking the monsters.

Theme tweaks:

  • Balls = spooky eyeballs or pumpkins

  • Coaches = ghosts/witches floating balls or frisbees across the maze

  • Add a “freeze when spooked” moment

💘 Valentine’s – Love Maze

The maze is full of hearts! ❤️
Children must keep their “love ball” close and safe as they travel through.

Theme tweaks:

  • Balls = hearts

  • Maze paths = “love lanes”

  • Challenge: keep the ball within one racket length at all times

👩‍👧 Mother’s Day – Careful Delivery

Children are delivering a special package to Mum 💐
Gentle control and care are the focus.

Theme tweaks:

  • Balls = presents

  • Emphasis on slow, careful movement

  • Praise “gentle touches” and calm control

👨‍👧 Father’s Day – Builder’s Maze

The maze is a construction site 🛠️
Children dribble tools safely through the work zone.

Theme tweaks:

  • Balls = tools

  • Coaches = builders rolling obstacles across

  • Add direction calls: “STOP”, “GO”, “TURN”

🌞 Summer – Jungle Maze

The maze becomes a jungle trail 🌴
Children dribble their explorer ball past vines and obstacles.

Theme tweaks:

  • Balls = coconuts

  • Coaches = jungle animals rolling distractions

  • Encourage quiet feet and smooth movement

If you want, next we can:

  • Match each seasonal version with a one-line coach script

  • Create tiny icon emojis for each theme (to match your games library)

  • Or build a Maze Madness → Naughty Neighbours → Rally in the Alley themed circuit

 

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