‍ ‍🍝 Meatball Madness

It's a wild day in the tennis kitchen! One child is the Meatball Chef 👨‍🍳, the other is the Wrap Maker 🌯 — together, they’ll collect ingredients and build the perfect wrap! The more ingredients you add, the more points you earn!

🧺 Equipment Needed:

• 🟠 Soft balls = “Meatballs”
• 🎾 2 tennis rackets per pair = “Tongs”
• 🔵 Flat circle cones = “Wraps”
• 🧀 Yellow cones/beanbags = “Cheese”
• 🥕 Green cones/beanbags = “Vegetables”
• 🧣 Scarves = “Sauce”
• 🪣 Tub or bucket = “delivery bags”

👯 How to Play (in pairs):

1. 👨‍🍳 Player 1: Meatball Chef:
   • Uses two rackets like tongs to grab a meatball
   • Carefully carries it through the kitchen zone
   • Optional: can also pick up any other ingredients using racket tongs: cheese 🧀 veggies 🥕 Sauce 🧣 (marked by cones with drop-down lines), collecting them as they go
   • Delivers all to the Wrap Maker

2. 🌯 Player 2: Wrap Maker:
   • Takes a flat circle “wrap”
   • Folds it over the ingredients
   • Adds a scarf sauce on top 🧣
   • Places the finished wrap in the tub 🪣

3. 🔁 Swap roles after a few wraps — teamwork is key!

🏆 Scoring: optional (better for Titans)

• +1️⃣ point for each completed wrap
• +1️⃣ bonus for cheese 🧀
• +1️⃣ bonus for veggies 🥕
• +1️⃣ bonus for sauce 🧣
• ✅ Most complete wraps = the winning kitchen team!

🧠 Skill Focus:

• Racket control 🎾
• Teamwork 🤝
• Balance and movement 🏃‍♀️
• Role play and sequencing 🎭

🪶 Feathers (Support for Younger Players):

• Don’t pair them up; have some children be the chefs and others make the wraps, but don’t have it structured.

👫 Parents guide each step — helping collect ingredients
• Let children use one racket and their hand if needed
• Make ingredient stations closer together
• Use beanbags instead of balls for easier control

🛠 Progressions & Fun Variations:

1. Spinning Sauce: Wrap maker spins once before placing the scarf

2. Obstacle Kitchen: Add cones or nets to dodge around

3. Timed Service: Complete as many wraps as possible in 3 minutes!

4. Creative Combo: Add silly combo names for each ingredient wrap (“The Crunchy Veggie Melt!”)

 Adaptations & Feathers:

For Younger Kids (ages 4–6):

• Each child has 3 lives.

• Give “shields” (rackets held out front) to help defend.

• Allow throwing the ball back in if striking is too hard.

• Use a tee to drop-feed if struggling with timing.

For Older Kids (ages 7+):

• Must hit using backhands only, or serve-only challenges.

• Coaches or eliminated kids can hit from a greater distance. From the ring to increase difficultly

• Set time limits per round for intensity.

Bonus Feathers:

• Let eliminated players earn a “life” back with a challenge (e.g., rally 5 shots with a coach).

🏆 Winning Moment:

• Crown the last child “King or Queen of the Court” – give them a fun token like a toy crown or wristband.

Seasonal themed variations for your game “👑 King or Queen of the Court”, designed to keep the gameplay fresh and festive while retaining the structure and key coaching goals:

🎄 **Christmas – “Santa’s Sleigh Dodge” 🛷🎅🎁

🎯 Setup: Kids are elves in Santa’s sleigh loading zone, dodging incoming falling presents (soft balls) from mischievous snowmen (coaches outside the ring).
🎅 Out? You become a helper elf, feeding more “presents” from outside the ring.
🧝‍♂️ Last elf standing becomes Chief Elf and gets a jingle bell prize!

🐣 **Easter – “Egg Arena!” 🐰🥚

🎯 Setup: Players are dodging falling chocolate eggs (foam balls) launched by the Easter Bunny's helpers.
🥚 Out? They become egg-launchers!
🌟 Bonus: Catch a golden egg (yellow foam ball) to earn an extra life!

🎃 **Halloween – “Pumpkin Panic!” 🎃👻

🎯 Setup: The ring becomes a haunted graveyard!
Kids dodge haunted pumpkins (orange balls) thrown by ghosts outside the ring.
👻 If you’re “haunted,” you become a ghost too!
🧙‍♀️ Last survivor becomes the Pumpkin Prince/Princess and earns a spooky sticker!

💘 **Valentine’s – “Cupid’s Ring” 💘🏹

🎯 Setup: Kids are in the “Heart Arena,” dodging Cupid’s arrows (soft balls in pink/red).
💝 If hit, they become Cupid’s helpers on the outside.
🕊️ Optional twist: players inside have to hold a “love letter” (beanbag) and protect it from being knocked out of their hands!

👩‍👧‍👦 **Mother’s Day – “Breakfast Dash!” 🍳☕

🎯 Setup: Children are serving imaginary breakfast to mum – don’t spill it!
Balls = flying croissants or cups of tea thrown by “hungry family members.”
🍞 If you drop it, join the family and start lobbing more breakfast in!
👑 Last one = “Head Chef of the Court!”

👨‍👦‍👦 **Father’s Day – “Tool Shed Scramble!” 🔧🧰

🎯 Setup: Kids are dodging falling tools in dad’s messy garage (balls = hammers, spanners, etc.).
🧰 Once hit, they become helpers, tossing more tools in.
🏆 Winner becomes “Super Sidekick” and gets a pretend wrench (trophy)!

🏆 Finishing Ideas

• Play upbeat music to finish
• Let the last round be just for fun — mix up teams or combine everyone for a MEGA sandwich run!
• Award wristbands/stickers to all participants — focus on teamwork, not just winning

🎉 Seasonal Variations

🎄 Christmas Dash – "Santa's Delivery Race"
• Swap beanbags for small wrapped presents or stuffed stockings
• Use cones shaped like Christmas trees 🎄
• Story: “You’re Santa’s elves — deliver the presents without dropping them!”
• Add sleigh bell sound effects or play Christmas music

🎃 Halloween Havoc – "Pumpkin Panic Relay"
• Use orange cones and mini pumpkins (or orange balls)
• Story: “You’re racing through a spooky forest to deliver the magical pumpkins before the witch wakes up!”
• Add cobweb decorations or play spooky music 🎃👻

🥚 Easter Hop – "Egg Hunt Dash"
• Use colourful eggs (plastic or foam) balanced on rackets
• Set out “Easter nests” (hoops) for them to deliver eggs into
• Story: “The Easter Bunny needs your help hiding eggs all over the court!” 🐰

💘 Valentine's Race – "Heart to Heart"
• Replace beanbags with red foam hearts ❤️
• Players pair up for the sandwich race – “Spread the love as a team!”
• Add a “Cupid Challenge” — hit a foam arrow (cone) down the lane with the racket

🌷 Mother’s Day – "Flower Dash"
• Each child delivers a foam flower to a big cone marked “Mum”
• Use soft music and keep it gentle – “Let’s run carefully so we don’t squish the petals!” 💐
• Parents can join in and receive a “thank you flower” at the end

🛠 Father’s Day – "Tool Time Relay"
• Beanbags = “tools,” buckets = “toolboxes”
• Kids pretend they’re racing to fix something — bonus points for sound effects!
• Add a “high five Dad” station before tagging the next player 👋🔧

🎾 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

🌈 Rainbow Hitting

🎯 Objective: Practise forehands and backhands while moving sideways across the rainbow!
🧠 Focus: movement, timing, accuracy, tracking, confidence

🎭 Story Introduction:

“Welcome to the Rainbow Challenge! 🌈 Your mission is to travel along the rainbow and collect all the colours — but you must use your tennis racket magic to unlock each one with a powerful shot!”

🏗️ Setup:

• Use one side of the court or a hitting area
• Line up 5 different coloured traffic cones (or flat spots) in a wide rainbow arc across the hitting zone (start close to the net for younger groups)
• Mark a starting line in the corner of the court
• Coach stands with balls to drop-feed or racket-feed

🎾 How to Play:

1.     Children start at the corner of the rainbow 🌈

2.     Coach feeds to Cone 1 (closest), player hits a forehand

3.     They shuffle sideways like a crab to the next colour

4.     Repeat across all 5 cones, one shot per station

5.     Once finished, the child:

o   Returns to the back of the queue

o   Helps collect balls

o   Or hits on a spin machine if you have one! 🎾⚙️

6.     After everyone has had a go — switch sides and repeat with backhands

🕺 While waiting: Encourage “dancing feet” and quick reactions
💬 Coach cues: “Stay on your toes!”, “Paint the rainbow!”, “Nice footwork, crab!”

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications):

• Let them walk cone-to-cone slowly if crab shuffle is too tricky
• Coach stands closer and feeds underarm
• Use balloons, beanbags or foam balls for nervous tots
• Let them do just 3 colours instead of all 5

⚡️ Progressions (Challenges):

• Use racket feeds or fast drop-feeds
• Add targets behind the cones (buckets, hoops)
• Challenge: “Can you hit 3 in a row over the net?”
• Combine both forehands & backhands in one rainbow
• Add a reaction challenge: call out random cone colours instead of moving in order
• Time trial: “Who can do all 5 with good technique in 30 seconds?”

🎉 Seasonal Variations:

🎅 Christmas:
Line up Christmas baubles (coloured cones) and “decorate the tree” by hitting each colour. Can you hit the star (gold cone) last?

🐣 Easter:
It’s an Easter Egg Hunt! Hit one egg of each colour and try to get the golden egg at the end.

🎃 Halloween:
Witch’s Potion Ingredients! Each colour is a spooky ingredient: slime, spider legs, eyeballs... Hit them all to complete the potion!

❤️ Valentine’s Day:
Hit the colours of the “Heart Rainbow” to unlock Cupid’s arrow — hit a pink or red cone at the end for a love bonus 💘

👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day:
Decorate Mum’s/Father’s rainbow with special colours — one for hugs, one for laughter, one for helping, etc. Each hit is a thank-you!

🪣🎯 Story / Theme:

A fun accuracy challenge where kids try to land beanbags into a “pot” that keeps moving further away. 🚶‍♂️↩️👧

🧰 Equipment:

• 🪣 1 tub, bucket, or large pot per pair
• 🟠 Beanbags (or small foam balls)
• ⚽ Footballs (optional variation)

🎮 How to Play:

1. 🧍‍♂️👧 Line children up on the baseline, with parents standing in front holding a tub.

2. 🟠 Each child throws a beanbag aiming to land it in the tub.

3. ✅ If they make it, the parent takes a big step back. 👣

4. 🛑 If they miss, the parent takes a step forward. 🔁

5. 🔄 After a few turns, swap roles — the child holds the pot and the parent throws. 👨‍👧‍👦

⏫ Progressions:

1. ⚽ Ball Swap: Use footballs instead of beanbags — allow one bounce before catching.

2. 🤾 Throwing Styles: Encourage side-arm or rugby-style throws for variety.

3. 🏃 Moving Target: The catcher walks side-to-side while holding the tub. 🪣👣

PACMAN 🎮 – Balance & Court Awareness Game

Duration: 5–10 mins
Age group: 3–10 yrs (adapt as needed)

📝 Setup & Description:

This fun game helps children develop balance, footwork, and spatial awareness using the tennis court lines.

1. Each child starts with a beanbag balanced on their racket.

2. They must walk only along the court lines — baseline, service lines, tramlines, etc.

3. The goal is to keep the beanbag balanced while continuously moving, staying on the lines, and not bumping into others.

4. If they meet another player head-on, they must turn around or swap paths.

5. Introduce the coach as “Professor RacketHands” — walk behind children banging two rackets like cymbals. The professor must also stay on the lines.

6. If the Professor catches up or the child drops the beanbag, they’re “out” or return to the start.

🪶 Feathers (Simplified):

• Children can stop briefly to rebalance the beanbag.

• Coach walks slower as Professor RacketHands; NB some of the children wont like it so judge the age etc

• Allow children to walk without racket — simply carry beanbag and follow lines.

• Instead of elimination, if caught, just “restart.”

⚡️ Progressions (Advanced):

• Use balls instead of beanbags for more balance challenge.

• Introduce friendly sabotage: players can try to gently knock off others’ beanbags if they meet.

• Make it a last one standing challenge — if you drop it or get tagged, you're out.

• Add more professors (assistant coaches or parents) to increase pressure.

• Try fast-walk or tiptoe only rounds. 

🟡 Pac-Man – Seasonal Variations

(Original Game Concept: Kids dribble their balls through a maze while avoiding “Ghosts” played by coaches or parents)

🎃 Halloween – Pumpkin-Pac
Children are mini pumpkins trying to escape spooky ghosts (coaches in costume or with masks). Decorate the maze with cobwebs or mini skeleton cones. They must escape while collecting “pumpkin seeds” (beanbags). 👻🎃

🐣 Easter – Eggy-Pac
Children are Easter eggs being chased by sneaky foxes or rabbits. The maze is filled with pastel-coloured cones, and the eggs have to dribble their ball (the yolk!) to safety — collecting “chocolate drops” (mini cones) along the way. 🐰🥚🍫

🎄 Christmas – Santa-Pac
Players are Santa’s elves delivering presents through the North Pole maze. Coaches are Grinches trying to catch them. Kids collect “gift tags” (small cones/beanbags) while navigating snowy obstacles (white cones). 🎅❄️🎁

💘 Valentine’s – Heart-Pac
Children are hearts running through a maze of love! They dribble their balls through rosy red and pink cones while avoiding Cupid’s arrows (gentle coach interference). Every time they make it across, they drop a heart token in the love jar. 💘🏹

👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Flower-Pac
Children are flowers in bloom trying to avoid rain clouds (coaches). The aim is to collect sunlight tokens (yellow beanbags) while dribbling around watering can cones and back to their parent’s flowerpot. 🌼☀️

Moon Mice   🌕🐭🧀

🌕🚀 Story / Theme

The brave space explorers 🧑‍🚀 must travel through a meteor field ☄️ to the moon 🌕, collect cheese 🧀, and bring it safely back to Earth 🌍 — but the mischievous moon mice 🐭 are waiting to steal it!

🧰 Equipment

• 🟠 Traffic cones tipped on their side (meteors)
• 🟡 Yellow round cones (moon surface)
• 🧀 Soft balls hidden under yellow cones (cheese)
• 🟢 Green cones or hoop to mark Earth
• 🪣 Tub/bucket to collect the cheese
• 🧸 Balls on strings or beanbags (simplified option)
• 🪖 Optional: Round cones as “helmets”
• ⚽ Optional: Large inflatable ball (for kick/dribble challenge)

🎮 How to Play

1. ☄️ Scatter traffic cones to create a meteor field.

2. 🌕 Create the moon at one end using yellow round cones, each hiding a cheese ball.

3. 🌍 At the opposite end, mark Earth with a circle of green cones and place a bucket inside.

4. 🧑‍🚀 Players navigate the meteor field, avoiding cones to reach the moon.

5. 🧀 They lift one cheese at a time and balance it on their racket.

6. 🐭 On the return journey, moon mice (coaches/parents) try to steal cheese if it drops!

7. 🌍 Children deliver the cheese to Earth by placing it in the tub.

8. 🔁 Repeat until all the cheese is collected.

🐣 Feathers

• 🫘 Use beanbags instead of balls to make balancing easier for younger children.

🧠 Progressions

1. 🪖 Helmet Challenge: Balance a round cone on the head while carrying cheese.

2. 🧺 Multi-Collection: Collect more than one cheese at a time.

3. ⚽ Dribble Challenge: Carry cheese while kicking or dribbling an inflatable ball.

🌀 Variations

• 🏃‍♂️ Team Race: Two teams collect from the same moon — the team with the most cheese wins!
• ❓ Hidden Cheese: Only some yellow cones contain cheese — adds surprise!
• 🕵️ Sneaky Mode: Players can sneak into the moon mice’s lair and try to steal back lost cheese without being caught!

Seasonal

Story / Theme:
The moles are busy hiding tennis balls under the ground, while the squirrels want to stash them safely on top of the cones. Can your team complete their mission before the other side?

Equipment:

·       2 buckets or baskets (1 at each end of the space)

·       Plenty of tennis balls

·       Round dome cones (any colours) scattered through the centre area

How to Play:

1.     Split the group into two teams – Moles and Squirrels.

2.     Place a bucket of tennis balls for each team at opposite ends of the hall or court.

3.     Scatter round cones throughout the centre to make the “field.”

4.     Moles: hide balls under cones.

5.     Squirrels: place balls on top of cones.

6.     At the start, players may only place balls on empty cones.

7.     When all balls are placed (or after a set time), the coach calls “Steal!” – teams can now take balls placed by the other side and move them to their position.

Progressions:

1.      Role Swap: At any point, the coach can call “Swap!” and Moles become Squirrels, Squirrels become Moles.

2.      Timed Rounds: Limit each round to 1–2 minutes for quick, high-energy play.

3.      Extra Obstacles: Add cones or markers that players must run around before placing a ball.

Variations:

·       Competitive: Count how many cones are “won” by each team at the end to declare a winner.

·       Colour Match: Assign each team a cone colour they must use (e.g., Moles = blue cones only).

·       Relay Version: Only one player per team can be in the field at a time — tag teammates to swap.

.

Seasonal alternatives for Moles vs Squirrels 🐿️🎾 — one for each key celebration:

🎄 Christmas – “Elves vs Snowmen” ☃️🎁

The Elves are busy hiding presents under snow mounds (dome cones), while the Snowmen want to stack them neatly on top for Santa to collect.
🎅 Use festive-coloured balls (red, green, gold) and call “SNOWSTORM!” to trigger the Steal phase where teams can switch up the other’s presents!

🐣 Easter – “Chicks vs Bunnies” 🐰🥚

🐣 Chicks want to bury their eggs under the grass (under cones), while Bunnies want to hide them in bushes (on top of cones).
🌸 At “EGG HUNT!” the sides can sneak the other team’s eggs back to their side.
Use pastel-coloured cones and eggs for full effect!

🎃 Halloween – “Witches vs Goblins” 🧙‍♀️🎃

Witches hide spells and potions under cauldrons (cones), while Goblins try to place their pumpkin stash on top.
🕸️ When the coach shouts “TRICK OR TREAT!” the teams can sabotage each other’s stash.

💘 Valentine’s – “Hearts vs Hugs” 💞💌

One team hides valentines under envelopes (cones), while the other stacks chocolates or flowers on top.
💌 Playfully chaotic — when “LOVE STORM!” is called, teams rush to move each other’s tokens before the timer ends.

‍  Jewel Thief 💎

🎯 Objective:

To practice teamwork, coordination, catching, colour-matching, and eventually racket control through a fun, competitive "jewel heist" relay game.

🧠 Setup

• Jewels: Use round flat cones of different colours. Each team has 4–5 upside-down cones representing "jewels" stored in cases.

• Cases: Place the cones at the feet of one player at each end of the activity space.

• Teams: Players work in pairs or threes. Space them apart depending on age and skill level. A barrier/net can be used between them if available.

• Projectiles:

  • Foam or mini-red balls.

🕵️ How to Play (Main Game)

1. One player begins with all the jewels (flat cones).

2. On the coach’s call (“Go!”), they steal the first jewel and throw it to their teammate.

3. The teammate catches the jewel and places it into the matching case (by colour).

4. Repeat this process for all jewels.

5. Once all jewels are transferred and set, the players switch roles and throw them back to the original player.

6. First pair to have all jewels returned and correctly placed sits down to signal completion.

7. Coach or helper can verify correct colour matching.

🧸 Feathers Adaptation (Under 4s)

Use catching nets/ buckets to catch

Parent Involvement: Parents or coaches can kneel in the centre, helping guide them to the right colour or offering encouragement.

⚙️ Progressions

🎾 Throwing/Catching

• Begin with gentle underarm throws and progress to overarm as skills improve.

• Use nets or buckets for catching instead of hands for variety.

• Upgrade from overarm throws.

🏸 Racket Control

• Catch and return on the racket strings – players try to trap the ball instead of catching with hands.

• Challenge: trap on the backhand side or one hand only.

• Can use hitting tee’s for those who were struggling

🚀 Advanced Progressions

• Slingshot serve or forehand rally to send the jewels back.

• Use serves/ backhands (make sure

• Competitive:

  • First to collect and return all wins.

  • Add a third round to repeat forward and back again.

• Add a central “helper” (coach/parent) who acts as a gem inspector or black market fence, transferring jewels between players to add layers of teamwork.

👻 Seasonal Variations

🎃 Halloween – “Spooky Jewel Heist”

• Jewels are haunted! Use glow-in-the-dark cones or cover them with tissue/ghost stickers.

• Coaches wave scarves or throw flying discs (ghosts!) trying to distract players.

• Add a “Haunted Tower” in the middle that must not be knocked over during throws!

🎄 Christmas – “Elf Express”

• Jewels become Christmas baubles or presents.

• Players wear Santa hats or elf ears.

• Add sleigh bells to players’ shoes or rackets for festive noise.

• The transfer is helping Santa pack the sleigh with colour-matched presents.

🐣 Easter – “Bunny Jewel Drop”

• Jewels are Easter eggs!

• Add mini bunny ears to rackets or use plastic egg cases.

• Players hop instead of run; introduce “burrows” (hoops) they must jump in before throwing.

• Use pastel-coloured beanbags/balls and ask them to find the correct “nest.”

‍ Rally Progressions – Teaching Guide
‍ ‍

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr68ma64o6w

These exercises typically make up the middle portion of a session and can be combined with other rotations such as hitting off tees or coach-fed hitting.

One of the key challenges for young children in Tennis Tots and Tennis Titans is being able to hold a consistent rally over the net. Most children in this age group will find this extremely difficult, even when working with a coach. It’s essential, therefore, to build this skill gradually by simplifying the challenge and slowing things down using props, clear structure, and parental involvement.

Also see the separate game: “Rally in the Alley” for another alternate rally-based exercise.

🛠️ Set-Up – Mini Nets Using Adjustable Hurdles

Use your adjustable hurdles as mini nets. We usually:

• Start with the highest rung, allowing children to rally both under and over the bar

• Position players either side (coach/parent one side, child on the other)

🌱 FEATHERS (Simplified Variations)

For Tots and less confident Titans:

• ⚽ Football Pushes Under the Hurdle: Great starting point. Encourage children to roll or push an inflatable ball under the bar using hands or feet.

• 🎈 Balloon Rally Over the Hurdle (Indoors Only): Balloons slow the pace significantly and make rallying achievable, even for walking-age tots.

• 🪄 Bounce & Catch: Use an inflatable ball or soft foam ball. Player catches after bounce, then gently rolls or throws back under/over.

• 🎯 Target Rally with Parents: Focus on cooperation. Place a marker or cone to aim for instead of over a net.

⚡ PROGRESSIONS

🔁 Intermediate Rally Building:

• 👐 Start with throw & catch over the hurdle using inflatable or foam ball

• 🔁 Add rhythm: “Throw – bounce – catch – throw – bounce – catch”

• 🧺 Rally 3+ times before dropping the ball

• 🔄 Encourage turn-taking: child hits, parent returns, repeat

🏸 Racket Introductions:

• 👟 Begin with parent and child rallying under the hurdle

• 🧱 Allow child to control first: catch or volley to settle ball before sending it back

• 🎾 Start with tee-hits or drop-feeds transitioning into light rallies

• ↔️ Try back-and-forth rallies using inflatable or foam balls

• 🧲 Use two drop-down markers to define boundaries/footwork zones

🚀 Progressions for Older or Confident Children:

• 🎾 Swap from inflatable ball to mini red foam ball

• 🥎 Begin over the hurdle using low-to-high swing after bounce   

• ↪️ Add serve to start the rally

• 🔄 Alternate between forehand and backhand

• 🎽 Create a points-based challenge: e.g. “3 rallies = 1 point”

• Encourage children to use topspin and correct hitting technique, accelerating racket paths up the ball.

💡 Coaching Tips:

• Demonstrate each variation with energy and exaggeration

• Use parents to model correct feeding, rhythm and encouragement

• Use cues like “bounce, catch,” or “swing up, let it fly”

• Keep sessions positive, even when rallies fail – the process is the progress!

• Adjust the net height, ball type, and distance depending on the group’s age and confidence

• Further progressions for Titans and Troopers : https://youtu.be/qS5E904i5D4?si=Ivzk553d-9BZFDzF

👟 HOW TO PLAY

1. Children use their rackets to carefully lift the pumpkin (beanbag/ball) off its patch (under the cone).

2. They must balance the pumpkin on the racket while walking over to drop it into the matching colour collecting tub.

3. Coaches and assistants throw scarves (ghosts) and frisbee-style cones (ghouls) gently toward children to try and knock pumpkins off rackets or make them dodge.

4. Children must restart the collection journey if their pumpkin falls before reaching the tub.

5. Keep rotating – once all pumpkins are collected, reset the patch and start again!

💡 Progressions

• Add time challenges – who can collect the most pumpkins in 60 seconds?

• Add foot dribbling as a return challenge (e.g., dribble a ball back after delivery).

• Use smaller rackets or wobblier balls for advanced balance control.

🪶 Feathers (Younger Players – Under 3s)

• Use beanbags instead of balls

• Children use upside-down rackets or hands to carefully pick up a "pumpkin" (cone on top of a beanbag or ball).

• They walk slowly over to a collecting bucket to match the colour.

• Coaches gently wave or toss scarves as friendly "ghosts" – but not too close to startle them.

• Focus on: Colour recognition, matching, safe travel, and object manipulation.

🚀 Progressions (Older Players – 3+ years)

• Children balance the pumpkin (cone + beanbag) on a racket while navigating through a “haunted” path.

• Coaches throw scarves or soft cones across the space as obstacles ("ghouls") trying to knock pumpkins off.

• Add a rule that if your pumpkin is knocked off, you must go back and start again!

• Optional: Add throwing challenge at the end – throw the "pumpkin" (beanbag) into the matching coloured tub.

🌸 Seasonal Variations:

🎅 Christmas – “Elf Harvest”

• The cones become Christmas puddings or presents, and the balls/beanbags are toys or decorations.

• Coaches are Grinches or naughty elves trying to make deliveries more difficult by tossing scarves or “snowballs.”

• Buckets become Santa’s sleighs or chimneys for toy delivery.

🐣 Easter – “Egg Garden”

• Beanbags = Easter eggs, cones = nests.

• Children balance “eggs” to take to the baskets or bunny dens at the far end.

• Coaches toss scarves as swooping birds or frisbee “rolling logs” to dodge.

💘 Valentine’s Day – “Love Bug Hunt”

• Beanbags = love bugs, cones = flower pots, buckets = Valentine mailboxes.

• Scarves become flying love notes or petals blowing in the wind that distract or knock items off rackets.

‍ Story / Theme:
A fast-paced, interactive way for kids to learn and remember the names of tennis court lines — with a fun story twist to make it stick.

Equipment:

• Tennis court (full or mini)

• Coach to lead the calls and story

How to Play – Learning the Lines:

1. Gather all players in the middle of the court.

2. Walk as a group to each line and explain its name, shortening each to a single word:

   • Baseline → “BASE”

   • Net → “NET”

   • Centre line → “CENTRE”

   • Tramline → “TRAM”

   • Service line → “SERVICE”

   • Alley (space between tramlines) → “ALLEY”

3. Encourage players to shout the word back to you at each stop.

How to Play – Call & Run:

1. Stand in the middle of the court.

2. Call out one of the one-word abbreviations.

3. All players run to that line as fast as they can.

4. Mix up the order to keep them on their toes.

Story Game Variation:

1. Tell a silly story, highlighting any of the line names you’ve taught.

2. When players hear a line name, they must run to that line immediately.

3. Example story:
   “I had to get my suitcase out of the BASEment, then call a taxi SERVICE.
   But my phone had no NETwork, so I walked through an ALLEY.
   When I landed, I took a TRAM to the town CENTRE…”

Progressions:

1. Add a competition element — last player to reach the correct line is out for that round.

2. Add in fake calls to test listening skills.

3. Use more complex stories with faster line name changes.

Variations:

• Team Play: Divide players into two teams. Whichever team gets all members to the line first scores a point.

• Reverse Calls: Coach stands on the wrong line to confuse players — they must listen, not watch.

‍ King of the Ring 👑🥊

🎾 A fun tennis-themed elimination game with a boxing-ring twist!

🧠 Purpose:

Develop quick reactions and footwork

Improve hand-eye coordination

Encourage strategic dodging and racket control

Add fun competition to end the session

🎤 Story Script Intro:

"Welcome to the ultimate tennis showdown! 🎤
Today, you’ll step into the ring as a young champion — but only one will be crowned King or Queen of the Ring! 💥
To survive, you’ll need ninja-fast reflexes, crab-like movement, and a warrior’s focus. Step up, champs — the ring awaits!" 🦀🥊👑

🏟️ Setup:

Create a square ring using cones or mini tennis nets (or use a service box area)

Place all players inside the ring (no rackets at first)

Coaches/assistants line the outside with a supply of foam balls, tennis balls, or soft balls

Designate a safe "eliminated zone" outside the ring

👟 How to Play:

Start the match: All kids stand in the ring.

Dodge time: Coaches gently toss, roll, or drop-feed soft balls into the ring, aiming to tag players (below waist height).

Elimination:

If a player is hit → they are out and move outside the ring.

Once outside, they grab a racket and join the coach’s team, helping to eliminate others by drop-feeding, tapping, or rolling balls into the ring.

Last player standing = the King/Queen of the Ring! 🎉

🪶 Feathers (Easier for Younger Players):

Each child starts with 3 lives before they’re out

Use rackets as shields to block balls

Let them catch the ball instead of dodge

Encourage parents to join in and protect the kids

Use only foam balls for super soft impact

⚡ Progressions (For Older Kids):

Must dodge AND keep moving sideways like a crab

Add racket hits from outside (drop-feed volleys or bounce feeds)

Challenge rounds:

Round 1: Dodge only

Round 2: Racket shields only

Round 3: Bounce + hit back if you’re inside

Add a time limit for each round (e.g., 1 minute max)

🎄 Seasonal Variations:

Halloween: "Haunted Ring" – dodge ghost balls or pumpkins 👻🎃

Christmas: "Snowball Ring" – white balls only, “freeze” when hit ❄️

Easter: "Egg Drop Ring" – dodge bouncing eggs 🥚

Valentine’s: "Heart Hit" – soft pink balls shaped like hearts 💘

Summer Beach Ring: Use beachballs and dodging becomes slow-mo 🏖️

Mum/Dad Challenge: Coaches become parents, and kids try to survive parent volleys 💪👨‍👩‍👧

🏆 Finishing Touches:

Crown the winner with a paper crown or wristband

Everyone gets a cheer and optional “comeback match”

Add music to pump up the drama 🎵🎤 

🍦 Ice Creams

⏱️ Time: 5–7 mins
👶 Best for: Under 3’s (but adaptable for older children)
📍 Position in Session: (after warm-up or skills)

🎯 Purpose

A fun movement-based game to develop motor coordination, balance, imagination, and object handling skills. Especially useful for engaging younger Tots while reinforcing basic object placement and sequencing.

🎮 How to Play

1. Circle time intro: Sit the children down and ask:

“Who likes ice cream? 🍦” (Big enthusiastic YES!)

2. Explain that they will be building their own magical ice creams — with each item representing a new layer.

🛠️ Setup (by assistants)

Scatter the following stations around the room:

• Cone = Traffic cone

• Fillings = Beanbags

• Marshmallows = Tennis balls

• Ice Cream scoop = Large football

• Toppings = Round cones

• Sauce = Colourful scarves

• Flake = Drop-down line

👟 Activity Flow

• Children start by picking up a cone.

• Then they travel around the room, collecting each “ingredient” one at a time and carefully stacking them on the cone.

• Once the whole "ice cream" is built, they walk over and drop it into a sack/bucket held by a coach or parent.

• Repeat as many times as attention span allows!

• End the game with a clean-up mission: encourage children to sort items into matching tubs (e.g., all beanbags here, all cones there).

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for Little Ones)

• Let them collect just 2–3 items at a time.

• Allow parents to help with balance or carry extra pieces.

• Let children place items inside the cone rather than stacking on top.

🔁 Progressions (for Older Tots 3.5–5+)

• Balance Challenge- Tongs: They must carry the ice cream between two rackets (tongs) while walking!

• Add obstacle paths between stations (slalom cones, low hurdles, etc.).

• Introduce a relay version in teams with each child adding a new layer before the next person goes.

• Time-based challenge: “How many full ice creams can you make in 2 minutes?”

🧠 Coaching Tips

• Sit them down to start the explanation clearly.

• Ask fun questions to involve them (“What’s your favourite flavour?”).

• Big celebration every time they complete an ice cream!

• If kids get frustrated balancing: simplify, reset and praise.

Seasonal variation breakdown for your 🍦 Ice Creams game (assuming the format is similar to “Sandwich Shop” with children building cones and delivering them):

·      

·       🍦 Ice Creams – Seasonal Variations

·       🎄 Christmas – Build a Christmas Pudding
Children stack red (berries), brown (pudding), and white (icing) beanbags or round cones between rackets to make a Christmas dessert. They then deliver them to Santa’s dessert table (cones or tubs) without dropping the “pudding”! 🎅🍰

·       Alternative for Christmas: Christmas stockings

·       🐣 Easter – Easter Sundae Station
Kids create an Easter-themed sundae using pastel-coloured balls and beanbags (think yellow for lemon curd, pink for strawberry, green for mint). They carry the sundaes on rackets or plates to the bunny café. 🐰🍨

·       🎃 Halloween – Monster Cone Factory
The cones are filled with “slime” (green beanbags), “eyeballs” (round white cones), and “bat wings” (black cones). Kids stack their monster cones and deliver them to the haunted dessert stand while avoiding spooky obstacles! 🦇🧁

·       💘 Valentine’s Day – Love Sundaes
Children build pink and red ice creams using matching coloured cones and soft balls, sandwiched between rackets or lids. Once made, they deliver them to heart-shaped tubs or to a pretend Valentine’s picnic blanket. 💖🍧

·       👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Special Treat Delivery
Kids make a special ice cream cone for Mum or Dad using their favourite “flavours” (let kids pick their colours). Carefully balance and deliver to the family lounge (delivery zone). Add a note or pretend flower for extra fun! 💐🍦

Honey Monster 🐝🍯🐻

Setup:

·       Teams: 2–4 teams, each starting in a corner next to their coloured honey pot (this could be a hoop or a circle made from traffic cones).

·       Hive: Scatter lots of yellow dome cones across the central playing area. Under each yellow cone, place a coloured cone (blue, red, green, etc.) to represent the honey’s flavour/colour.

·       Honey Monster: A coach or designated player sits in the middle of the hive pretending to sleep.

How to Play:

1.     Players are worker bees. Using their rackets, they carefully lift yellow cones to check the colour underneath.

2.     If the colour matches their team’s honey pot, they collect it and place it in their pot.

3.     After collecting honey, they must replace the yellow cone on top so other teams don’t know where their colour is hiding.

4.     Every so often, the Honey Monster “wakes up” (coach shouts or blows whistle). Bees must run back to their pots for safety.

5.     After a set time, count the number of matching honeys each team has — the most wins.

Progression:

·       Stingers: Each bee wears a scarf tucked into their waistband (their “stinger”).

·       Coaches (or Honey Monster) try to steal stingers.

·       If caught, a bee must crawl on hands and knees one lap around the hive to get their stinger back before rejoining the game.

Variations & Challenges:

1.      Monster Chases: When awake, Honey Monster can chase bees — if tagged, they lose a piece of honey.

2.      Guard Bees: Add 1–2 “guard bees” from each team who try to block other teams’ access to their coloured honey.

3.      Sneaky Swap: Allow players to steal honey from other teams’ pots if they reach them undetected.

4.      Timed Wake-ups: Monster wakes up at regular intervals (e.g., every 30 seconds).

5.      Double Honey: Hide some cones with two matching coloured cones underneath for bonus points.

Seasonal alternatives for your Honey Monster 🐝🍯🐻 game — perfect for adapting the theme to Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s, and Mother’s/Father’s Day:

🎄 Christmas – “The Gingerbread Monster” 🍬🎅🍪

Worker elves are collecting sweets and cookies from the snowy forest (yellow cones).
🎄 Flavours are peppermint, gingerbread, chocolate, etc. (represented by different cone colours).
🎅 The Gingerbread Monster sleeps in the middle of the forest but wakes randomly to chase the elves and steal their sweets!

🐣 Easter – “Easter Chick Chase” 🐥🥚

Teams are bunnies or chicks collecting Easter eggs hidden under yellow cones.
🐣 The Mother Hen or Giant Chick guards the field — if they wake up and catch a player, that player must drop their egg and return to the start.
Egg colours match each team's basket (cones or hoops).

🎃 Halloween – “The Candy Monster” 🍭👻

Teams of little witches and wizards are trick-or-treating for hidden sweets under yellow cones.
👹 The Candy Monster guards the haunted town — if players get too greedy, he wakes up and chases them back to their cauldron.
Use spooky cone decorations and Halloween-themed beanbags for extra fun.

💘 Valentine’s – “Love Bug Hunt” 💌🐞

Players are love bugs collecting hidden hearts or love notes (coloured cones) from under pink/yellow domes.
💘 A sleepy Love Monster guards the meadow and wakes up to chase any love bugs wandering too long!

👩‍👧‍👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day – “Breakfast in Bed Monster” 🛏️☕🥐

Children are little chefs gathering breakfast ingredients (coloured cones) from under “toast” domes (yellow cones).
🥱 The Sleepy Parent Monster is in bed and wakes up if they hear too much racket!
If caught, the chefs must redo the task — quiet teamwork wins!

FLOWER SHOP & FRISBEES 🌸🎁

Time: 10–15 mins total (includes interlude + throw progression)
Ages: 2.5 – 7 years
Focus: Matching, travelling with ball control, object manipulation, and target throwing.

🧠 SETUP

• Flower Beds: Spread round cones randomly across the middle of the hall/space (like flowers in a meadow).

• Vases: Place tall cones (mostly orange—add matching small cones or rubber tubs on top for colour coding) along one side of the hall.

• Buckets (Throwing Targets): Add buckets behind the tall cones for the Frisbee & Throws progression.

🪶 FEATHERS (Under 3s)

• Kids sit in a circle while you introduce the story.

• Ask: “Do you know what Valentine’s/ mothers Day is?” or “Have you ever given flowers to someone?”

• Explain: “We’re making beautiful bouquets and delivering them to special vases!”

• Children carry an upside-down racket (handle in air) like a bouquet

  • Walk over to the flower bed.

  • Carefully balance a round cone (flower) on the handle of racket to make a bouquet

  • Walk back and match it to a tall cone of the same colour.

  • Keep repeating until the flowers are all picked.

💡 Encourage motor skills, balance, and colour recognition.

🎈 PROGRESSIONS (Over 3s)

Travelling with Ball:

• Use a soft football or balloon to travel with to add a coordination challenge.

• To the flower bed: Dribble with a racket or like a hockey stick.

• Returning: Dribble with feet, trying to keep ball under control.

Add Challenge:

• Hold the racket tray in one hand while dribbling with the other (encourage switching).

• Add time-based challenges or fun sounds for colour-matching correctly.

🎯 ADD ON | FRISBEES

After finishing their flower deliveries, children “spin round” and prepare for a frisbee challenge:

🧸 Frisbee Cones

• Children “frisbee” toss their flower cones into buckets placed behind the tall cones.

• Encourage matching colours again.

• “Can you get your red flower into the red bucket?”

• Technique, sideways on and flick out the back of hand

Spin Challenge 🌀🎯

🧠 Objective

• Understand how spin affects the ball’s movement
• Introduce the difference between topspin, underspin, and sidespin
• Encourage physical awareness and hand control

👩‍🏫 Coach Introduction

“Today we’re learning to spin the ball – just like the pros! 🎾 Spin helps the ball dip, bounce higher, or skid low – and it makes your shots much harder to return!”

🌀 Sit the group down and demonstrate with an assistant:
• Topspin – brush low to high (ball dips & kicks up)
• Underspin – brush high to low (ball floats and skids)
• Sidespin – twist side to side (ball curves left or right)

👉 Use visual aids like:
• ⚙️ Spin machines (if available)
• 🟥⚪ Two-tone balls to show rotation
• 🧸 Inflatable balls for hands-on practice

👫 Main Activity – Parent & Child Rolling

📍Children spread out with their parents in a safe space.
🎈 Each pair works with an inflatable ball.

1. Start crouched in crab position 🦀 (knees bent, low to floor)

2. Child places hands at the bottom of the ball and rolls it forward while brushing over the top = Topspin roll 🌀

3. Then try Side spin – twist the hands on the ball before releasing

4. Parents return the ball using same spin style

🎉 Keep it fun – encourage silly spins, fast spins, long rolls!

🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Kids):

• Sit on knees or crouch lower for control
• Use larger balls for easier contact
• Skip sidespin – focus only on topspin
• Practice without a partner (roll to a cone, hoop or wall)

⚡ Progressions (Challenge for Older Kids):

1. Add rackets – keep the ball on the floor but try to push it with topspin or sidespin

2. Start rolling from standing (adds balance + control)

3. Introduce bounce – drop the ball and brush with racket

4. Use spin machines, tees, or foam balls for air contact

5. Try slice (underspin) or even serve spin from cone setups

6. Parents/ coaches feeding and child trying to hit the ball with either topsplin or underspin

7. Speed up balls with foam/ mini-red (advanced)

8. Try to rally with parents h

✅ Coaching Tips:

• Encourage creativity – “Can you make your ball curve like a rainbow?” 🌈 slice the ball like chopping the tomatoes 🍅
• Walk around to offer guidance and praise
• Point out who made the ball bounce “super high” or “super spinny”
• Emphasise low to high for topspin, side twist for side spin

Bug Bashers 🐞

Story Setup:
The trolls have knocked down the forest and stolen the fruit! Some trees have survived, but they need the stolen fruits to survive.
Your job: sneak through the broken forest, collect the fallen fruit, and return it to the remaining trees without waking the trolls.

Equipment:

·       Broken trees: Traffic cones tipped on their side, scattered to make a “forest” maze.

·       Fruit: Round dome cones in various colours, placed beyond the forest.

·       Healthy trees: Tall, upright traffic cones at the far end, one per fruit colour.

How to Play:

1.     Start: Children begin at one side of the broken forest.

2.     Through the Forest:

o   Players weave through the “trees” without knocking them over.

3.     Collecting Fruit:

o   At the far side, they find the fallen fruit (round cones).

o   They can push from behind with their racket or drag from the front, but cannot use hands.

4.     Return Journey:

o   Carefully guide the fruit back through the forest.

5.     Delivery:

o   Match the fruit colour to the correct “healthy tree” (tall cone) and place it there.

Progressions:

1.     Troll Guards: Coaches or players act as trolls who try to steal fruit from anyone carrying it.

2.     Touch Penalty: If a player touches a tree, they must return to the start.

3.     Timed Rescue: Teams have 2 minutes to collect as much fruit as possible.

4.     Double Fruit: Allow players to try and carry two fruits at once (more risk, more reward).

5.     Reverse Run: Trolls can only steal fruit inside the forest — encourage careful dodging.

Variations:

·       Relay Mode: One player at a time per team collects fruit.

·       Silent Forest: No speaking allowed — if a player talks, the trolls wake up!

·       Trap Trees: Some fallen trees are “unstable” — if touched, player must freeze for 5 seconds before moving again.

Seasonal alternatives

Its always fun to adapt the game to the season, some ideas are below but you can always try a valentines addition, mothers/father’s day use your imagination.

🎄 Christmas Alternative – "Santa's Forest Rescue"
The Christmas trees have lost their baubles! Sneak through the snowy forest to collect fallen baubles (round cones) and hang them on the upright Christmas trees (tall cones). Watch out for mischievous elves trying to tangle you in tinsel! 🎁🎄🧝‍♂️

🐣 Easter Alternative – "Egg Hunt in the Woods"
The Easter Bunny has hidden eggs (round cones) deep in the forest. Carefully navigate the broken trees and retrieve the eggs without waking the snoozing foxes 🦊. Deliver the eggs to matching colour baskets at the edge of the forest. 🐰🥚🌼

🎃 Halloween Alternative – "Haunted Forest"
Spooky pumpkins (orange cones) have rolled into the haunted woods! Players must sneak past ghost trees and return the pumpkins to their spooky shrines before the witches catch them. No touching the haunted trees or the ghosts may wake! 👻🎃🕸️

Broken Forest  🌲🎾🍎👹

Story Setup:
The trolls have knocked down the forest and stolen the fruit! Some trees have survived, but they need the stolen fruits to survive.
Your job: sneak through the broken forest, collect the fallen fruit, and return it to the remaining trees without waking the trolls.

Equipment:

·       Broken trees: Traffic cones tipped on their side, scattered to make a “forest” maze.

·       Fruit: Round dome cones in various colours, placed beyond the forest.

·       Healthy trees: Tall, upright traffic cones at the far end, one per fruit colour.

How to Play:

1.     Start: Children begin at one side of the broken forest.

2.     Through the Forest:

o   Players weave through the “trees” without knocking them over.

3.     Collecting Fruit:

o   At the far side, they find the fallen fruit (round cones).

o   They can push from behind with their racket or drag from the front, but cannot use hands.

4.     Return Journey:

o   Carefully guide the fruit back through the forest.

5.     Delivery:

o   Match the fruit colour to the correct “healthy tree” (tall cone) and place it there.

Progressions:

1.     Troll Guards: Coaches or players act as trolls who try to steal fruit from anyone carrying it.

2.     Touch Penalty: If a player touches a tree, they must return to the start.

3.     Timed Rescue: Teams have 2 minutes to collect as much fruit as possible.

4.     Double Fruit: Allow players to try and carry two fruits at once (more risk, more reward).

5.     Reverse Run: Trolls can only steal fruit inside the forest — encourage careful dodging.

Variations:

·       Relay Mode: One player at a time per team collects fruit.

·       Silent Forest: No speaking allowed — if a player talks, the trolls wake up!

·       Trap Trees: Some fallen trees are “unstable” — if touched, player must freeze for 5 seconds before moving again.

Seasonal alternatives

Its always fun to adapt the game to the season, some ideas are below but you can always try a valentines addition, mothers/father’s day use your imagination.

🎄 Christmas Alternative – "Santa's Forest Rescue"
The Christmas trees have lost their baubles! Sneak through the snowy forest to collect fallen baubles (round cones) and hang them on the upright Christmas trees (tall cones). Watch out for mischievous elves trying to tangle you in tinsel! 🎁🎄🧝‍♂️

🐣 Easter Alternative – "Egg Hunt in the Woods"
The Easter Bunny has hidden eggs (round cones) deep in the forest. Carefully navigate the broken trees and retrieve the eggs without waking the snoozing foxes 🦊. Deliver the eggs to matching colour baskets at the edge of the forest. 🐰🥚🌼

🎃 Halloween Alternative – "Haunted Forest"
Spooky pumpkins (orange cones) have rolled into the haunted woods! Players must sneak past ghost trees and return the pumpkins to their spooky shrines before the witches catch them. No touching the haunted trees or the ghosts may wake! 👻🎃🕸️

🎾 🤚🔴🔵 Cone Hands

Theme: Reactions • Colours • Two-handed coordination

🗣️ Story/Script Intro

“Did you know tennis players use both hands — for balance, control, and power? Today you’ll need sharp eyes, fast feet, and your special cone hands to win the challenge!”

🧠 Purpose

• Improve colour recognition
• Develop two-handed awareness
• Encourage quick reactions
• Build fun parent-child interactions

🏗 Setup

• Every child has 2 mini traffic cones –different colours; have another set for parents so you need lots of the same colour cones e.g. blue and red
• Coaches and parents have extra coloured cones to hold up or use as “hats”
• Spread out around a tennis court, sports hall, or open space

🟢 Coach-Led Colour Calls

1. Children space out in the playing area with a cone in each hand

2. Get the children to wear the cone hands with one colour on each hand, thumb on the outside and two fingers inside, get the children to play the cones like cymbals.

3. Coach calls out a cone colour (e.g., “BLUE!”)

4. Players must lift that colour cone high in the air with the correct hand

👀 Mix it up:
• Call out “both!” to lift both cones
• Call “switch!” and have them swap cones between hands
• Add jump or spin before lifting the cone

👨‍👩‍👧 Progression 1 – Parent Hi-Five Challenge Good for small Tots

1. Pair: each child with their parent

2. Parent: holds up a coloured cone (like a signal)

3. Child: runs to the parent and hi-fives their cone with the matching cone in hand

4. Progress: to parents tricking child with calling one colour but holding up the other, swapping cones over

🔵 Progression 2 – Cone Hat Smash! Good for small Tots

1. Parents place an inflatable football on the ground

2. Add a cone hat (colourful cone placed upside down on top of the ball)

3. Children run forward and knock off the cone hat using the matching coloured cone from their hand

4. Reset and repeat with new colours

🔴 Progression 3 – Rolling Reaction Smash

1. Parents roll a football toward the child

2. As they roll, they call out a cone colour (e.g., “Red!”)

3. The child must use the matching cone to “whack” or block the rolling ball

4. Progress to trick calling; feed the ball out to left-hand colour but call right, so that the child has to scamper around and use the called hand

5. Progress to child turning away: child turns away and parent leaves it later and later to call, they need to turn and tap the ball back using the correct colour quickly.

🔴 Progression 5 – Cone hands rally (older Tots or Titans)

1. Progress from rolling, parents parent now bounce football toward the child and calls colour, child lets it bounce and hits back with correct colour.

2. Progress to rallying with parents (both wearing cone hands)

🪶 Feathers (Easier Variations)

• Use just one cone (simplify decisions)
• Use stationary balls instead of rolling
• Allow walking between stations instead of running
• Parent stands close to reduce travel distance
• Have children shout the cone colour before moving

⚡️ Progressions (Advanced Play)

Add a further progression for older children: Parent bounces ball to child and calls out a colour

• Add 2–3 colour calls in a sequence (“Red, Blue, Switch!”)
• Use small foam balls instead of inflatable balls
• Have kids spin before cone contact
• Race format: Which pair finishes all colour calls first?

·       Switch to two rackets and call left and right instead of colours

🌸 Seasonal Variations

🎄 Christmas – “Santa’s Helpers”
• Red = Santa hat 🎅
• Green = Elf cone 🧝
• Knock off “presents” (cones on foam balls) into Santa’s sleigh

🎃 Halloween – “Pumpkin Smash”
• Orange cones = pumpkins 🎃
• Add ghost/witch sound effects when running to smash cones
• Call it the "Haunted Hat Whack!"

🌼 Easter – “Bunny Bounce”
• Use pink and yellow cones as Easter eggs
• Children must “hop” to each cone hat to knock it off with their matching egg-cone

❤️ Valentine’s Day – “Cupid’s Cone Catch”
• Pink and red cones
• “Catch” the love heart cone and match with a parent hug/high-five

🧺 Finishing Touch

Let children help collect cones and balls at the end — encourage sorting them into the right tubs or colours. Reward effort, teamwork, and listening.