🌀 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

🏘️ Naughty Neighbours

🎯 Objective:

Develop overarm throwing technique, power generation, and confidence by throwing up and over obstacles, using the whole body.

🧠 Focus:

Sideways stance • throwing mechanics • coordination • power • spatial awareness

⏱️ Duration:

5–7 minutes (including demonstration)

🎤 Coach Script / Story Setup:

“Uh oh… we’ve got naughty neighbours on the other side of the fence! 😮

Your job is to throw the ball high into the sky and over their fences — without knocking them down!

Remember:

👉 Sideways on

👉 Arm back behind your ear

👉 Big throw using your whole body!”

 Over the Fence

A fun movement-and-control game focused on dribbling, guiding, and lifting objects over an obstacle.

⏱️ Duration: Flexible — repeat as long as engagement stays high

🎤 Coach Script / Setup

“Right team! Your job is to move your ball all the way across the court and get it over the fence!
Tap it like hockey, keep it under control, and when you get to the cones, lift it over the wall using your racket. Then run back and try again!”

🧱 Game Layout

• Create a long working channel using
  • a row of cones (the “fence”)
  OR a mini net (optional)

• All balls start at the baseline

• Children work individually, each with:
  • A racket
  • A starting ball (foam ball, light ball, balloon, etc.)

• Coaches or parents recycle balls back to the start.

🔁 Gameplay – Stages

Stage 1 — Tap & Travel

• Children tap the ball (“hockey dribble”) along the floor.

• Keep ball close, small controlled taps.

Stage 2 — Lift Over the Fence

When they reach the row of cones:

• Slide racket under the ball

• Gently lift and flip it over the cones

• Ball must land on the far side

• Children run back to start and continue with a new ball

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)

Perfect for younger Tots or less confident players:

• Use bigger, lighter balls (utility balls, beach balls, balloons) for slower movement

• Use scarves instead of balls: drag or float the scarf to the fence and lift it over

• Lower the fence (shorter cones or flat markers)

• Allow children to pick up and drop over instead of lifting with the racket

• Let a coach assist the lift motion

• Shorten the distance they must dribble

• Work parent–child pairs: one guides, one lifts

⚡ Progressions (For Titans / Troopers)

• Use smaller, firmer balls for more control challenge

• Add direction changes before reaching the fence

• Ball must be tapped through a series of gates before the lift

• Lift only with racket — no hands

• Add a time challenge (“How many can you lift in 60 seconds?”)

• Use balloons outdoors only on still, humid days

• After lifting, child must catch the ball on the other side

• Add a second fence for double lift

🎾 Technical Coaching Tips

• “Soft taps — keep the ball close.”

• Encourage side-on body position for the lift

• Racket slides under the ball, not pushing from the side

• Follow through upwards for a smooth lift

• Bend knees and use legs, not just arms

• Eyes on the ball before lifting

‍ ‍🐶 Doggy Day Care

A themed movement & coordination game where children look after “dogs” (tennis balls) and guide them safely to their kennels.

🌟 Story / Theme

“Today you’re all dog handlers at the Doggy Day Care Centre!
Your job is to take the dogs (tennis balls) out of their pen, take them for a little walk, and put them safely to bed in the right kennel!”

Kids LOVE this theme — simple, imaginative and perfect for indoor sessions.

🎯 Objective

• Improve racket control (leading, pushing, guiding)
• Build agility and spatial awareness
• Develop colour matching skills
• Encourage turn-taking, responsibility, and teamwork

🧩 Setup

1. Dog Pen (Start Area)

• Create a circle of traffic cones
• Place a mix of coloured tennis balls inside (these are the “dogs”)

2. Walking Track

• Make a larger circle using flat circular cones
• This is where children “walk” their dogs using their rackets like leads

3. Dog Kennels (Finish Area)

• Place upturned plastic tubs, each with a coloured cone or marker
• The colour MUST match one of the dog colours
• Spread kennels around the edge of the space

Environment Notes

• Works best indoors (balls stay controllable)
• If outside → use harder balls so they don’t get stuck on grass

🎤 Coach Script / How to Play

“Welcome to Doggy Day Care!
Inside this pen we have lots of dogs waiting for a walk.
One at a time, you’ll choose a dog, take it for a gentle walk around the circle…
…and then put it safely to bed in the matching kennel!”

▶️ How It Runs

1. Children line up or stand ready around the pen

2. One at a time, each child:
    • Steps into the pen
    • Chooses a coloured tennis ball (“dog”)
    • Uses their racket as a lead to guide it around the circular track/ or they can get behind and push the doggies using their rackets
    • Finishes by placing the dog into the matching coloured kennel

3. Return to the start

4. Next child goes

5. Continue until all dogs are walked and put to bed

🐾 Teaching Points

• Racket out in front → gentle guiding
• Slow, small touches → don’t let the dog escape
• Watch the ball while moving
• Keep control on corners
• Big finish: drop the dog gently into the correct tub

🪶 Feathers (Make It Easier)

• Use bigger balls (foam or playground balls)
• Shorten the walking track
• Allow children to use two hands on the racket
• Partner or parent walks beside the child
• Remove colour-matching and let them choose any kennel

🔺 Progressions (Harder)

• Two dogs at once (two balls!)
• Must walk the dog twice before bedtime
• Add mini obstacles (cones to weave around)
• Timed challenge: “How many dogs can your team walk in 2 minutes?”
• Carry a second ball under their arm (multi-tasking “dog trainer mode”)

‍ ‍❄️ Snowball Fight

A fast, fun, safe throwing game using soft balls only.

🎤 Coach Script / Intro

“Has anyone here ever played in the snow before?
When it snows, what can we have? A snowball fight! ❄️
Today we’re doing our own safe version using soft snowballs only!”

🎯 Objective

• Develop throwing accuracy
• Build quick reactions (catching, dodging, blocking)
• Encourage teamwork and cooperation
• Safe distance throwing practice

🧩 Setup

• Use two long rows of cones to divide the space into two sides
• Distance should be close enough for balls to reach but far enough to avoid face hits
• One bucket of soft balls only (foam balls, sponge balls, “fat balls”)
• Decide teams:
 – Small group → Kids vs Parents
 – Large group → Kids vs Kids

❄️ How to Play

1. Each team starts on their side behind the cone line

2. Balls are scattered evenly

3. On the coach’s whistle, both teams:
    • Pick up balls
    • Throw them over the cone line at the other team
    • Players can catch and throw back
    • Players may duck behind cones for cover

4. No crossing the cone boundary

5. Play in short rounds (45–60 seconds)

🧊 Winning Options

Choose based on age group:

• Most balls on the other team's side at the whistle
• Hit tally (coach keeps count of snowballs that land on players’ legs/body)
• First team to 10 successful hits

🪶 Feathers (Make It Easier)

• Use larger, slower foam balls
• Shorten the distance between cone lines
• Players can roll or bounce snowballs instead of throwing
• Allow parents/coaches to help younger players

🔥 Progressions (Harder)

• Players must throw with their non-dominant hand
• Add movement lanes behind cones to force footwork
• “Catch = extra point” rule
• Timed rounds with increasing distance
• Introduce two-ball “snowstorm mode”

🛡️ Safety Notes

• Soft balls only
• No aiming at faces (coach emphasises “below the shoulders”)
• Keep safe spacing behind cones
• Stop immediately if someone wanders across the cone line
• Encourage safe throwing, not maximum power

🎾 Tennis Obstacle Course Challenge! 🏁⚽

A high-energy, skill-building circuit that brings tennis and movement together in the most exciting way!

Kids must dribble large footballs with control using their tennis rackets, manoeuvring through a series of fun and challenging stations before hitting the ball over the net. Perfect for developing coordination, balance, and racket skills!

🔶 Station 1: Double Cone Circles

Navigate around two tall traffic cones, dribbling the ball in a figure-of-eight pattern. Once both circles are complete, race to the net and hit the ball over with forehand/backhand or serve

🔶 Station 2: Slalom Weave

Dribble in and out through a classic cone slalom. Stay tight and controlled—then line up and strike the ball over the net when you reach the end with forehand/backhand or serve

🔶 Station 3: Wiggly Tunnel

Enter the cone tunnel! Stick carefully to the wiggly lines between the cones, making sure the ball stays within the path. Finish strong with a shot over the net with forehand/backhand or serve

👨‍🏫 Coach Tips:

• Coaches stand on the opposite side of the net to collect and recycle footballs.

• For younger players: allow hands or multiple touches to help with ball control.

• For older players: at the end of the course, they must reach into the ball tub and hit a forehand, backhand, or serve over the net to score!

🏗️ Additional Station Ideas:

• 🔁 Hurdle Zone – Go over one, under the next! Great for agility.

• 🌲 Broken Forest – A wide spread of random cones the player must dribble through with quick reactions.

• High rail – use two parallel hurdles to create a high rail to push footballs across

🎯 Target Zone – Place hoops, cones, or bins on the opposite side of the net for kids to aim at with their shot!

 Make it competitive 🏁 -Award points for success and declare winners, or you can split the kids into teams.

🏒 Story / Theme:
Two teams face off in a fast-paced hockey-style game — but with 🎾 tennis rackets and ⚽ balls instead of sticks and pucks! Pass, block, and score goals while keeping it safe.

🎯 Equipment:
• 🥅 4 small goals (2 per team, placed at opposite ends or sides)
• ⚽ 1 football
• 🎾 1 racket per player
• 🟧 Cones to mark safe play areas and boundaries

🎮 How to Play:

1. 🔵🔴 Split players into two teams (use bibs)

2. 🥅 Set up two mini goals per team, spaced apart to encourage passing.

3. 🏑 Players use tennis rackets to push or tap the ball hockey-style (no swinging).

4. ⏱️ 3-second rule: Players must pass within 3 seconds of receiving — encourage quick decision-making and team play.

5. 🛡️ Defenders may intercept or block shots but no tackling or physical contact.

6. 🔁 Play starts from the centre after every goal.

7. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Teams may assign positions (attackers, defenders, goalkeepers).

🚀 Progressions:

1. ⏱ Timed Possession: Pass within 3 seconds.

2. 🗺️ Zones: Mark attack, midfield, and defence zones — rotate roles.

3. 🎯 Multiple Balls: Add a second ball to increase speed and chaos.

4. ⚡ One-Touch Passing: Ball must be played instantly on contact.

🎲 Variations:
• 🔄 Score Anywhere: Any goal counts — encourages switching sides.
• 📏 Goal Size Change: Make goals smaller for older kids.
• ✨ Double Points: Bonus points for 3+ consecutive passes before scoring.

🎯 Tennis Golf
⏱️ Duration: 10–15 minutes: This game would usually run through two or maybe three phases, as is a circuit.

🏗️ Setup & Intro:
Organise children into lines or circles depending on space. Gather everyone together to explain the stations and demonstrate how swing path and racket trajectory change based on the type of shot.

Coach sets up three stations:

🏌️‍♂️ Drivers
• Use hitting tees to practise forehands.
• Aim to hit with control and distance along the full length of the hall.
• Emphasise low-to-high swing and follow-through.

🏹 Chippers
• For younger kids: hit off a tee or be drop-fed by parents.
• For confident children: self drop-feed.
• Goal: hit the ball high and land it into buckets placed at varying distances.
• Focus on arc, control, and soft hands.

⛳ Putters
• Use soft balls to roll along the ground into upturned plastic tubs.
• Children perform forward-and-backward racket movements, keeping the ball rolling smoothly (not bouncing).
• Emphasise racket face control and touch.

⚡ Progressions (Advanced):
• Introduce topspin technique at all three stations.
• Encourage confident players to control ball height and spin, especially at the Chipper and Putter stations.

🎾 Technical Focus:
• Swing path (low to high)
• Racket angle and face control
• Topspin development
• Control over power

‍ 🟧 General Layout:

• Divide the space into four activity zones using cones as boundaries.

• Each zone runs horizontally across the court or hall.

• Kids move station-to-station, ideally in a clockwise or zig-zag pattern.

• Coaches/parents stationed to help with resetting targets and giving technical tips.

🔢 Stations:

1️⃣ Strong Man

• Kids hit from a tee (or drop feed) toward the far wall, aiming for distance.

• Older kids can hit with more power, younger ones can hit closer.

• Use cones to mark out zones they reach for bonus challenges.

• For older players, vary to backhands and serves

2️⃣ Chip the Bucket

• Multiple small buckets/tubs grouped ahead.

• Players chip the ball using a forehand motion (from tee or drop-feed).

• Emphasis on height and accuracy to land balls in the tubs.

• Label this as “Chipping Zone”

• For older players, vary to backhands and serves

3️⃣ Carnival Putters

• A straight putting lane with drop-down lines players must stay behind.

• Kids gently roll the ball along the floor aiming into upturned tubs.

• Focus on pace control, and keeping the ball on the ground and not too hard or the ball will bounce in and out again.

4️⃣ Coconut Shy

• Players throw beanbags at balls placed on tees, aiming to knock them off.

• Use cones to mark a throwing line they must stay behind.

• Optional: Add silly targets like cone towers or “coconuts” for extra fun.

‍ ‍🌌 Star Wars Throwing Game – “Battle of the Asteroid Belt”

🎯 Objective: Develop aim, accuracy, and decision-making through an imaginative, fast-paced throwing challenge!

🌠 Story Script Intro

“Welcome, young Jedi! 🧑‍🚀🛰️ The galaxy is in chaos, and your mission is to launch stars into the asteroid belt and knock the comets and planets into your opponent’s solar system! Beware – the Dark Side cheats, so stay behind your lines and throw with focus. May the Force be with you!”

🧠 Skills Focus

• Overarm and underarm throwing
• Aim and target control
• Teamwork and decision-making
• Fun, energetic movement

🏗️ Set-Up:

• Space Zone: Set up two parallel lines of traffic cones across the court to create the asteroid belt (centre zone).

• Inside the belt:

  • Scatter balloons (comets)

  • Perch inflatable balls or foam balls on round cones (planets)

• Create a team zone at either end of the hall.

•  

• Provide each team with soft balls (“stars”) to throw.

🎮 How to Play:

1.     Divide children into 2–3 teams at opposite ends of the space.

2.     On the coach’s signal, children throw soft balls into the asteroid belt.

3.     Aim: Knock balloons and inflatable planets over the central line into the other team’s zone.

4.     Each time a balloon or ball lands in the opponent’s solar system, your team scores!

5.     Coaches may recycle stars back to keep the game flowing.

6.     No stepping into the asteroid belt – if a player crosses the line, the other team gets a point!

🪶 Feathers – Simplifications for Younger Children:

• Use larger balls or balloons only for easier targets.

• Allow rolling or underarm throws only.

• Let parents or assistants help place balls back on cones.

• Use a smaller space and bring the targets closer.

• Remove the “no-step” rule for walking-age children.

⚡ Progressions – For Older Kids:

1.     Timed Rounds: 1-minute attacks! Who can knock down the most?

2.     Precision Targets: Assign points to each object (e.g. 1 for balloon, 2 for big ball, 3 for cone).

3.     One-Handed Jedi Throwing: Use non-dominant hand only.

4.     Bounce Hit Challenge: Players must bounce the ball off the ground before hitting targets.

5.     Team Roles: Attackers throw, Defenders place targets back upright.

🎭 Seasonal Variations:

🎃 Halloween – “Pumpkin Panic”

• Use orange balloons as “floating pumpkins” and black cones as haunted trees. Kids become witch apprentices blasting spooky objects into the other zone.

🐣 Easter – “Eggsplosion!”

• Use pastel balloons as “Easter Eggs” and challenge kids to knock them over to uncover hidden bunnies underneath the cones.

🎅 Christmas – “Snowball Strike”

• Use white balloons as “snowballs” and inflatable baubles as “Christmas planets” — can they knock Santa’s sleigh safely to the other galaxy?

💘 Valentine’s Day – “Heart Attack!”

• Use pink/red balloons with paper hearts inside – each heart has a compliment or silly dare!

🏁 End Game Idea:

Do a Galactic Blitz Round – everyone throws at once, chaos ensues, laughter guaranteed. Then settle with a Jedi meditation cooldown 😌🧘‍♂️

 ‍ ‍

‍ ‍Smash the Wall 🧱🎾🏰

‍ ‍🎥https://youtu.be/h38KZ5lFg28?si=LF5BfbctcfVbI4DQ ‍

‍ ‍📝 Setup & Explanation‍ ‍

• Line the children up at a safe distance from the wall.

• Sit them down and explain the rules clearly before starting.

• Build a “wall” out of traffic cones:

  • Tallest cones at the back

  • Quickly build tall towers by using circular cones between tall cones

  • Smallest at the front‍ ‍

‍ ‍

🏓 How to Play

‍ ‍

1. Each child dribbles their big inflatable ball along the ground with their racket towards the wall.

2. When they reach the wall/ hitting line, they whack their ball to knock down as many cones as possible.

3. They leave their ball there, collect a new one, and repeat until attention starts to wander. Coach recycles balls to start

4. To finish: let kids kick or whack down the wall (with or without balls).

‍ ‍‍ ‍

🔁 Progressions

‍ ‍

• Create a hitting line/ move the hitting line further back so children have further to aim

• Encourage children pick ball up and let bounce before hitting forehand (in air rather than floor); switch to backhands/ serves

• Add a time challenge: how many cones can they knock down in 30 seconds?

• Make it team-based: two teams try to knock down their half of the wall first.‍

‍ ‍🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)‍ ‍

• Let children carry the ball to the wall if dribbling is too hard.

• Use smaller gaps between cones so they’re easier to hit.

• Have parents or assistants help guide the ball with the child’s racket.

• Let really little children just hit the cones over without using ball at all.‍

⚠️ Safety Notes‍ ‍

• Remind children to keep a safe distance while others are hitting.

• Tell parents to help monitor their child’s spacing.

• Be careful of potential bumps from rackets or cones.‍‍‍

‍ ‍

🎾 Smash the Wall – Seasonal Themes‍ ‍

🎄 Christmas – Smash the Christmas Chimney 🎅🎁
The wall becomes a chimney made of stacked presents (cones in red, green, gold).
🎯 Goal: Break the chimney so Santa can deliver the gifts!
Swap inflatable balls for "snowballs" (white balloons or foam balls).
Finish with a fun “snowball fight” by letting the kids knock over cones however they like.‍‍ ‍

🐣 Easter – Smash the Easter Egg Tower 🐰🥚
The wall becomes a tower of colourful Easter eggs (brightly coloured cones).
🎯 Goal: Crack the giant Easter egg wall to reveal the hidden chocolate inside!
Use egg-shaped beanbags or pastel-coloured foam balls.
Final round: kids roll giant eggs (balls) to knock down the "tower."

‍ ‍‍

🎃 Halloween – Smash the Haunted House 👻🏚️
The wall is now a spooky haunted house built of ghostly cones (white + black + orange).
🎯 Goal: Break down the haunted house before the monsters escape!
Add Halloween music and decorate cones with eyes or cobwebs.
Coach can wear a witch or skeleton hat for extra effect!

‍ ‍

‍ ‍

💘 Valentine’s – Smash the Heart Wall 💘🏹
Make a heart-shaped wall or decorate cones with hearts/stickers.
🎯 Goal: Knock down the "Wall of Hearts" to release the trapped love messages inside!
Use pink and red balls or balloons.
Final round: shout “Love Attack!” and let all children charge and knock down the wall together.

‍ ‍

‍ ‍

👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Smash the Chore Tower 🧹🛠️
Each cone represents a silly "chore" (e.g., “Do the dishes,” “Make lunch,” etc.).
🎯 Goal: Help mum/dad by smashing through all the chores so they can rest!
Add a funny story intro: “Let’s clear all the jobs before Mum/Dad gets home!”
Encourage kids to yell out a chore before smashing each cone.

‍ ‍

‍ ‍

Sleeping Giants   😴🏰🏑

Story / Theme:
The giants are fast asleep in their lair, but if they wake up, they’ll try to steal your ball! Keep moving, keep control, and stay out of reach.

Equipment:

Large inflatable balls (one per child + extras)

Rackets (for adults and children)  

Cones to mark the giants’ lair (circle in the middle)

How to Play:

1.     Assistant coaches form a circle lying down inside the lair, pretending to be asleep — each with a racket.

2.     Children move around the room dribbling large inflatable balls hockey-style with their rackets.

3.     At random, the coach shouts: “Wake up, sleeping giants!”

4.     The giants jump up and try to steal the children’s balls by reaching in with their rackets and tackling their ball and returning it to the lair.

5.     If a child loses their ball, the child either sits out or finds another ball and continues playing.

Progressions: Role Swap: Children take turns being the sleeping giants (for those who want to).

1. Timed Wakes: Giants wake up every 30–40 seconds to keep children on their toes.

2. Double Trouble: Have two lairs so children must watch more than one area.

NOTE: Often, the children prefer being the giants themselves, so you can just play a quick game with them chasing, and then play the rest of the game with them as giants.

Variations:

• Safe Zones: Create small cone “safe spots” where children can stop for 3 seconds before rejoining play.

• Treasure Return: Children can try to sneak into the lair to steal back balls without being caught.

Seasonal variations for your Sleeping Giants 😴🏰🏑 game, perfect for weaving in a touch of imagination and celebration during different parts of the year:

·      

·       🎄 Christmas – Sleeping Snowmen

·       ☃️ The snowmen are snoozing in their snowy cave! But if they wake up, they'll roll after your snowballs (inflatable balls)!
🎅 Coaches = snowmen with red scarves and foam rackets
🧤 Optional twist: kids wear gloves/mittens to make dribbling trickier
🎁 Balls = snowballs or presents they must protect

·      

·       🎃 Halloween – Haunted House of Mummies

·       🧟‍♂️ The spooky mummies are asleep in the haunted house... but when they wake, they lurch after your cursed pumpkins!
🎃 Balls = inflatable orange pumpkins
👻 Add cobwebs or Halloween music for theme
💀 Mummies = coaches wrapped in toilet paper or using “ghost rackets” (white foam)

·      

·       🐣 Easter – Sleeping Chicks

·       🐥 The giant chicks are snoozing in their coop — but if woken, they’ll peck at your Easter eggs (balls)!
🥚 Decorate balls with pastel dots or stickers
🐰 Kids try to sneak past the coop (giant lair) without waking them
🍬 Wake-up cue: “Cock-a-doodle-doooo!”

·      

·       💘 Valentine’s – Sleeping Cupids

·       💘 Cupids are resting in their heart-shaped clouds, but if disturbed, they try to snatch your love letters (balls)!
💌 Dribble the “letters” safely without being tapped by the cupids' rackets
❤️ Add pink/red cones and heart decorations to the lair

·      

·       👩‍👧‍👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day – Snoozing Parents Game

·       😴 Mum and Dad are trying to nap, but noisy kids are playing with bouncy breakfast items (eggs, toast = balls).
🥱 If parents wake up, they try to “scoop” the breakfast and go back to sleep!
🥐 Make balls food-themed with stickers or call-outs like “Don’t drop the toast!”

🎯 A team game focused on hand-eye coordination, aiming, catching, and simple technique cues

⏱️ Duration:

5-7 minutes (including demonstration)

🎤 Coach Script / Game Setup:

"Alright troops! Today, you're going to defend your castle… or try to knock one down! Each team will take turns being the Attackers or the Defenders.

We’re going to play Siege the Castles! 🏰⚔️"

🧱 Game Layout:

• Divide players into two teams, attackers and defenders, or you can mix up attackers and defenders on both sides

• Use nets or hurdles to create a central "castle wall" between the teams.

• Each team has:

  • A castle zone (behind their own line)

  • 3–5 hitting tees or places to drop-feed or throw from

  • A supply of foam balls ("cannonballs") and catching nets or cones.

🔁 Gameplay:

Phase 1 – Attackers

• Stand behind the row of the hitting tees.

• Their job is to:

  • Hit cannonballs over the wall of the opposing castle from tees, sideways on and low to high.

  • Score 1 point for every successful ball hit over the wall.

  • Optional: Catches by attackers = 0 points for that ball.

Phase 2 – Defenders:

• Stand on the opposite side of the wall.

• Their job is to catch balls using:

  • Catching nets, or

  • Big traffic cones (for groups without enough nets), or

  • Bare hands (for older groups).

• Score 1 point per catch.

• After catching, place the ball in a bucket and get ready for the next.

After 3–5 minutes or a clear turn sequence, swap roles and repeat.

✅ SCORING SYSTEM (Simple):

• Count how many balls the team hit over the wall.

• Then count how many were caught.

• Total = Points scored for that round.

• Ask children their team scores before swapping – this builds ownership and team spirit.

🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for Younger Children):

• Reduce wall height for more success.

• Let children place balls on the tee and coach assist with swing.

• Allow rolling the ball under or through a mini wall if hitting is too difficult.

• Use traffic cones for easier catching targets.

⚡️Progressions (For Older or Confident Children):

• Swap hitting tees for drop feeds or self-toss before hitting.

• Add a “Starfish” hitting technique challenge:

  • Feet wide, sideways on, racket from behind ear, contact in front, low to high.

• Make catching hands only — no nets or cones.

• Introduce time limits or hit quotas.

• Create a competition mode: best team over two rounds.

• Have attackers and defenders on the same side; NB make sure the are evenly spaced

🎾 Technical Coaching Tips:

• Emphasise low-to-high swing path (especially from tee).

• Show sideways stance and balance with non-dominant arm raised.

• For catchers:

  • Catch at waist height

  • Encourage moving feet under the ball

  • Reinforce two hands for younger kids or "bucket hands" shape.

Seasonal alternatives for 🏰 Siege the Castle:

🎄 Christmas – Siege Santa’s Workshop

The Elves are guarding Santa’s Workshop! The Snowball Fighters (children) launch snowballs (foam balls) over the festive wall to try and sneak in. The Elves catch with buckets or “mittens” (catching nets) to stop the snowballs. Decorate the court with red/green cones and tinsel. 🎁

🐣 Easter – Siege the Bunny Burrow

The Easter Bunny's Burrow is under attack from flying eggs (foam balls)! Defenders try to catch as many eggs as possible before they land in the burrow. Use pastel-coloured balls and call out "golden egg bonus" if a special colour gets hit or caught! 🐇🥚💐

🎃 Halloween – Siege the Haunted House

The ghouls are guarding their haunted mansion! Attackers throw “pumpkin bombs” (orange foam balls) over the spooky fence. Defenders (witches/ghosts) try to catch them in cauldrons (nets or buckets). Add cobwebs or Halloween cones for spooky effect. 🕸️👻🎃

💘 Valentine’s – Siege the Heart Castle

Heart-shaped messages (foam balls) are flying over the wall — can Cupid’s team catch them? Use red/pink balls and decorate the court with paper hearts. Players can “deliver love letters” instead of cannonballs. 💌❤️🏹

👩‍👧 Mother’s Day – Siege the Garden Gate

Children are flinging flower seeds (foam balls) into Mum’s magical garden! Defenders (Mums or coaches) try to catch them before they land. You can decorate the area with fake flowers or green cones to look like flower beds. 🌸🌼🌿

👨‍👧 Father’s Day – Siege the Tool Shed

The kids are throwing tools (balls) over the workshop wall! Dads (or coaches) catch the flying “screwdrivers and hammers” before they land in the shed. Playfully theme it around fixing things with Dad. Add boxes or buckets labelled with “tools.” 🛠️🧰👨‍🔧

SERVES AND SHIELDS 🛡️

Focus: Split-step, anticipation, blocking, serving and returning
Ages: Titans or Troopers
Duration: 6–10 mins

🎤 Coach Script / Setup

“Today you are defenders — you’re using your rackets as shields to block incoming balls. Can you protect yourself like a superhero or a knight?”

• Space out children across the playing area.

• Each child holds a racket in front of them (two hands if possible), standing in split-step position (knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart, alert).

• Coaches, parents, or older children act as “servers” (or attackers).

• Use foam balls and serve gently toward the children’s bodies (belly height or legs).

• Children must react quickly and block the ball using the sweet spot of their racket — no swinging, just controlled blocks.

• Encourage a mini jump or hop (split-step) just as the server makes contact with the ball.

🪶 Feathers (for younger / less confident children):

• Let children catch the ball with their hands first to practice tracking.

• Use larger softballs or balloons for slower movement.

• Parents can kneel beside them and help guide racket to ball.

• Have them stand closer to the server to reduce ball speed.

⚡️ Progressions (for older / confident children):

• Get some of the kids to serve

• Decrease the distance between servers and the blockers.

• Encourage quicker split-step reactions and back to the ready position.

• Add directional blocking — bring servers 360 degrees from all directions

• Try team version: Line of blockers vs. 1–2 servers, then rotate.

• Last man standing! Last person to get hit wins

• Introduce scoring: 1 point for each successful block; swap roles after 1 minute.

IMPORTANT: IF KIDS ARE HITTING, YOU MUST USE SOFT BALLS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE FULLY SPACED OUT TO MINIMISE RISK OF IMPACT.

🏏 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

🎯 Target practice game to develop aim, coordination, and correct swing mechanics

⏱️ Duration:
5–8 minutes

🎤 Coach Script / Setup

“Okay troops! Your mission today is to take down the enemy soldiers — but not with swords or water balloons… with your best tennis shots! These rackets have lined up and they're daring you to knock them down! Let’s see if you’ve got the accuracy and the power!”

🧱 Game Setup

• Soldiers = Spare rackets placed upright (handle/butt on ground, strings facing forward)

  • Place 3–6 rackets across from each child

  • If short on rackets, stack traffic cones and round cones into tall unstable towers to simulate soldiers

• Hitting Zone = Tees or Drop Feeds

  • Children take turns hitting balls low to high from a hitting tee or drop feed

• Distance between hitter and soldier wall depends on age/ability

• Parents can help pick up and reset soldiers between turns

🔁 Gameplay

1.       Children line up at their hitting station (tee or feeder).

2.       One ball at a time – aim to knock over a “soldier” (racket or cone tower).

3.       Hitters use forehand technique (low to high) first.

4.       When soldiers fall, parents/coaches reset them quickly.

5.       After a few rounds, progress to backhand or self-feed.

🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Children)

• Let them throw the ball underarm to start

• Reduce distance to soldiers

• Use larger balls for more success

• Place ball in child’s hand and guide their swing together

• Let parents support hand placement and help reset soldiers

⚡ Progressions (Older or Confident Children)

• Drop Feed: Children toss the ball and hit it themselves instead of from a tee

• Backhand Challenge: Have children switch to backhand side and adjust footwork

• Hit from movement: Add a side step or small shuffle before contact

• Scoring: 1 point per soldier knocked down, track team scores for competition

• Timed Challenge: Knock down all soldiers in 30 seconds

🎾 Technical Coaching Tips

• Emphasise low-to-high swing

• Sideways stance for both forehand and backhand

• Encourage early preparation – racket back and eyes on the ball

• Use “split step then hit” cue if child is rushing

• Praise accuracy over power – “aim not smash!”

Seasonal variations for the "Racket Soldiers" game — keeping the same gameplay (children hitting down upright rackets or cone towers), but changing the theme and props slightly to match the season:

🎄 Christmas – Knock Down the Naughty Elves

Santa’s workshop is under siege from mischievous elves who are standing upright (rackets or cone towers). Children must use their tennis balls to knock them down before they cause more trouble! Parents can help set the elves back up quickly. Optional: place little elf hats (paper cut-outs or visuals) on the top of cones/rackets for effect. 🎅🎄🎁

🎃 Halloween – Smash the Skeletons

Skeleton soldiers (white rackets or cone towers) are guarding the haunted tennis court! Kids must smash them down using tennis balls. Spooky music and “BOO!” sounds encouraged. For added fun, use glow sticks or spooky stickers on the targets. 👻🕸️💀

🐣 Easter – Topple the Chocolate Bunnies

Giant chocolate bunnies (cone towers with round cones as ears or decorated rackets) have popped up on court! Kids must gently knock them down to collect their Easter treats. Optional: place a chocolate wrapper or Easter sticker on each “bunny” to collect after it’s hit. 🐰🍫🌸

💘 Valentine’s – Cupid’s Target Practice

Cupid has lined up heart-shaped towers (use pink/red rackets or cones with heart stickers). Children aim their balls to knock them down as practice for spreading love across the land! Add red or pink beanbags as “love letters” to deliver after each successful hit. 💘🎾💌

💐 Mother’s Day – Knock Down the Flower Pots

Beautiful flower displays (cone towers or upright rackets) are blocking the tennis garden — children must gently knock them over so the flowers can be rearranged. Use round cones in pink, purple, and yellow to resemble petals. 🪻🌼🌷

👔 Father’s Day – Tip Over the Toolboxes

The tennis court has been turned into Dad’s workshop! The upright rackets or cones are now “toolboxes” standing in the way. Knock them down with tennis balls and rebuild them quickly! Add fun stickers of tools (spanners, screwdrivers) to the towers. 🧰🔧🎾

🥅 Penalties – Racket Save Challenge

🏴‍☠️ Story Intro:

"Welcome to the Penalty Challenge! The enemy pirates are trying to fire cannonballs into your goal! Grab your racket, guard your treasure, and don’t let any balls get past you! Can you become the ultimate shot-stopper?"

🎯 Purpose:

• Improve reaction time and lateral footwork

• Introduce defensive movement (crab steps)

• Encourage focus and fun parent/child interaction

🏗 Setup:

• Each pair (parent & child) needs:

  • 4 tall traffic cones (to build 2 mini goals – about 3 ft wide)

  • 1 throw-down cone (start position)

  • 1 circular cone (to rest ball on for "penalty shot")

  • 1 inflatable ball

• Place 2 goals about 8–10 ft apart

• The child starts on the middle spot between goals (on the throw-down cone)

🕹 How to Play:

1. Parent sets the inflatable ball on a circular cone about 6 ft in front of the child.

2. When ready, they gently “shoot” the ball towards one of the goals.

3. The child uses crab side-steps and tries to block or stop the shot using their racket.

4. After each save attempt (or goal!), the child resets by returning to the middle cone.

5. Repeat shots — aim for different goals to keep it unpredictable!

🛠 Progressions:

• Player Swap: Let the child have a turn doing the shooting while the parent defends (switch roles).

• Racket Strike Return: Instead of blocking, the child must hit the ball back using a forward or backward swing.

• Serve Defence: Use a balloon instead of a ball for a “slow motion” challenge — try to catch and volley it away mid-air.

🪶 Feathers (for younger players):

• Reduce the width between the goals.

• Allow children to use both hands on the racket.

• Let the ball roll slower — parent can roll rather than strike.

• Coach or parent stands behind the child to help guide racket movement.

🌈 Seasonal Variations:

• 🎃 Pumpkin Penalties: Use orange balloons as pumpkin cannonballs.

• ❄️ Snowball Saves: Use white foam balls as "snowballs" from Frost Giants.

• 💖 Cupid’s Arrows: Parents pretend to "fire" heart arrows toward goals with dramatic flair.

• 🐣 Egg Saves (Easter): Use pastel balloons and shout “Save the egg!”

• 👻 Ghost Balls: Pretend the ball is a spooky ghost trying to sneak past the child!

🎯 Parachute Darts

A calm, focused game great for winding down or building throwing accuracy.

📝 Setup:

• Spread the parachute flat on the ground — this is your giant dartboard.

• Mark a throwing line (“oche”) a few metres back using a mini net, cones, or chalk.

• Use coloured beanbags (ideally matching the colours of the parachute segments).

🎲 How to Play:

1. Children take turns standing behind the oche.

2. They throw beanbags, aiming to land them on a matching colour on the parachute.
   → Red beanbag = aim for red section, etc.

3. Coach or assistant collects and returns beanbags between rounds.

4. Optional: Score 1 point for a hit, 2 for a perfect match!

🏹 Variations:

• Timed Round: Who can land the most matches in 60 seconds?

• Team Play: Take turns and add up total team scores.

• Colour Call: Coach shouts a colour — child must quickly pick the correct beanbag and throw.

• Target Zones: Mark a bullseye zone in the middle for bonus points 🎯

🪶 Feathers (Younger Children):

• Let them walk up and place beanbags to learn colour matching.

• Throw from closer up.

• Use larger beanbags or soft balls for easier aiming.

‍  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:

1. On the whistle, players throw or hit softballs over the net to the other team’s side.

2. They can use rackets (forehands/backhands/ serves), throw with their hands, or roll.

3. Coaches/parents help monitor and encourage from the outside.

4. After a set time (e.g. 2–3 minutes), blow the whistle to stop.

5. 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