Million Ball Match 🎾
Million Ball Match
Two teams compete to clear their side of the court by throwing or hitting as many softballs over the net as possible. The team with fewer balls on their side when time is up wins!
🛠️ Setup:
Create a mini-court using cones or mini-nets.
Place a net across the middle (or cones/line as a divider if indoors).
Use soft foam balls (20–50 balls, depending on numbers).
Split players into two teams, one on each side.
Place balls evenly across both sides or in a pile in the middle to start.
🎯 How to Play:
On the whistle, players throw or hit softballs over the net to the other team’s side.
They can use rackets (forehands/backhands/ serves), throw with their hands, or roll.
Coaches/parents help monitor and encourage from the outside.
After a set time (e.g. 2–3 minutes), blow the whistle to stop.
Teams sit down and count the balls on their own side. The team with fewer balls wins the round!
🐣Feathers For Younger Children (ages 3–6):
✅ Throw only – no rackets needed to start.
✅ Allow rolling under the net for success.
✅ Play in short bursts (30 seconds to 1 minute).
🛡️ Add “Shield Zone” – a safe zone where 1 child can hold a racket and block.
👑 “Crown” the Most Helpful Teammate (not just winners).
🧗 Progressions For Older Children (ages 7+):
🎾 Must use rackets only to hit balls.
🎯 Designated hitters – assign 1–2 strikers per team, others feed.
🚫 No stepping in front of the service line.
🔁 Add a “reverse round”: each team must clear specific colour balls only.
🕒 Add a countdown timer for fast-paced final 30 seconds.
🧩 Introduce a “golden football” worth –2 points if it’s on your side at the end.
📦 Create a net trap: any ball caught on the net stays and counts as a penalty.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the children are not too close to one another. If they are close to hitting one another, take their rackets off them and revert to throwing.
🧹 Clean-up Crew: After each round, get kids to collect balls into a tub to reset – great for teamwork and structure. At points to incentivise cleanup