Volleys 🎾
Volleys 🎾
🎯 🎾 Volleys – Tennis Tots/Titans Teaching Guide
Volleys are less important at the Tots/Titans stage, but it's good to introduce them early in tennis. The idea of a volley is to finish the point off at the net. The technique is very different from normal forehands and backhands.
Demonstrate: Children will learn from watching the coaches, so please demonstrate a forehand at every level
Technique: As players approach the net, they do not have time for big swings, so the technique involves keeping the racket head up, creating a V shape, and hitting from high to low. The same grip is used on both volleys (chopper grip), and the hand is turned for backhand. Footwork is crucial in volleying, enabling the body to turn for both forehand and backhand shots, and to attempt to impact the ball at shoulder height whenever possible. For a right-hander, when performing a forehand volley, the left foot wants to move towards the ball and turn the shoulders in the process; for a backhand volley, the right foot steps across. https://youtu.be/b2mHhUeeSvc?si=QIqHEoFzY2GAcfzu
🧸 Volley progressions
· High fives: pair the children up with parents/ other kids; put drop-down lines in front of the child to give them a starting point and get them to step forward and high-five. Encourage back-of-hand high-fives
· Cone hands. Use round cones (one of each colour) and put two fingers through the middle and hold the thumb on the outside. Get parents to have matching coloured cones, and the child matches the colour and high-fives parents' cones like cymbals. Encourage children to step forward across the body by holding the corresponding colour for the child to step across and tag the parent's cone.
· Lollipop volleys: Get children close to the net and to hold the racket up like a lollipop. Feed the ball a bit short so the child has to reach forward and hit down.
· Progress to kids standing further back by putting down lines for the child to recover to, then stepping forward with the correct leg and punching high to low down into the court
· Progress to hitting a groundstroke first, then moving forward and hitting a volley.
· Split step: introduce the idea of split step before volleying for balance
· Smashes: always good to throw in some smashes, which are essentially serves without the ball toss.
Tug of War 💪🎾
Tug of War
🎯 Objective:
To pull the opposing team across a center line using a rope. Great for teamwork, strength, coordination, and energy release.
🔧 Setup:
Use a long rope (soft grip if possible).
Mark a clear center line on the ground using cones, chalk, or tape.
Tie a scarf to the centre of the rope as a marker
Add two win lines about 1.5–2 meters each side of the center.
🕹️ How to Play:
Divide into two equal teams in numbers and strength.
Line them up holding the rope evenly on either side of the center line.
On the signal “3…2…1…GO!” both teams pull.
First team to pull the scarf past the win marker wins the round.
Can be played best of 3.
🛟 Safety Tips:
Ensure all players hold with two hands and never wrap the rope around hands or body.
Use shoes with grip.
Encourage a low stance and bent knees.
One coach should always supervise closely to pause if needed.
🐣 Easier Variants for Younger Children:
Use a lightweight rope or resistance band.
Play 1v1 or 2v2 using cones to mark a zone.
Introduce a Teddy Tug: tie a teddy or plush toy to the center of the rope for themed fun.
Try “Friendly Tug”: no winners, just teams pulling the rope back and forth across a midline to build coordination and laughter.
Tennis Obstacle Course Challenge! 🎾🏁⚽
🎾 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.
Tennis Hockey 🏑🎾
🏒 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:
🔵🔴 Split players into two teams (use bibs)
🥅 Set up two mini goals per team, spaced apart to encourage passing.
🏑 Players use tennis rackets to push or tap the ball hockey-style (no swinging).
⏱️ 3-second rule: Players must pass within 3 seconds of receiving — encourage quick decision-making and team play.
🛡️ Defenders may intercept or block shots but no tackling or physical contact.
🔁 Play starts from the centre after every goal.
🧑🤝🧑 Teams may assign positions (attackers, defenders, goalkeepers).
🚀 Progressions:
⏱ Timed Possession: Pass within 3 seconds.
🗺️ Zones: Mark attack, midfield, and defence zones — rotate roles.
🎯 Multiple Balls: Add a second ball to increase speed and chaos.
⚡ 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 🏌️♂️
🎯 Tennis Golf
⏱️ Duration: 10–15 minutes
🏗️ 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
Tennis Fairground 🎪
🟧 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.
Sweet Spot
🎯 Sweet Spot – Aiming for the Middle
Objective:
To help children develop hand-eye coordination, balance, and racket awareness by focusing on hitting or catching in the sweet spot — the centre of the racket.
👨🏫 Coach Introduction
Sit the children down and introduce the concept of the sweet spot.
🗣️ “This is the middle of the racket — the place where the ball or beanbag feels best when it hits. If you miss the sweet spot, it feels wobbly or bouncy. So today we are going to practise using just the middle.”
🔄 Activity Breakdown
1️⃣ Flip the Pancake
Each child has a racket and a beanbag.
Stand in a wide stance (feet apart), knees slightly bent.
“Sizzle” the pancake (shake it gently), then flip it into the air and catch it — repeat 10x.
Focus: catch in the sweet spot, keep the racket still and balanced.
2️⃣ Catch the Pancake – Parent Involvement
Parents throw beanbags softly toward their child’s racket.
Kids try to catch them using their sweet spot (not hands).
Encourage wide stance and readiness.
Coach walks around helping with stance and control.
3️⃣ Balloon Control
Move to balloons (ideal indoors).
Keep balloon in the air using the racket only.
Try to keep it up for as long as possible using the middle of the racket.
Coach Tip: Use commands like “Ready!” or “Freeze!” to regain focus mid-activity.
4️⃣ Sweet Spot Challenges
Parents throw cones like frisbees (flat traffic cones).
Kids must track them and catch them on the racket.
Adds variation in movement and tracking for kids.
Try left and right throws for lateral footwork.
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)
Use catching nets instead of rackets
Use scarfs instead of bean bags (to really slow down)
Let children use two hands to hold the racket for better control.
Parents stand closer and throw slower.
⚡ Progressions (Extensions)
Use smaller beanbags or foam balls for advanced groups.
Encourage gentle rallying with parents (hit balloon or ball back and forth, staying in sweet spot).
Try alternating forehand and backhand catches.
Introduce scoring: “Can you catch 3 in a row in the sweet spot?”
Star Wars Throwing Game 🌌
🌌 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 🧱🎾🏰
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
Each child dribbles their big inflatable ball along the ground with their racket towards the wall.
When they reach the wall/ hitting line, they whack their ball to knock down as many cones as possible.
They leave their ball there, collect a new one, and repeat until attention starts to wander. Coach recycles balls to start
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 😴🏰🏑
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).
Timed Wakes: Giants wake up every 30–40 seconds to keep children on their toes.
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!”
SERVING PROGRESSIONS 🎾🎯
Serving progressions 🎾🎯
🧠 Overview
The serve is arguably the most important shot in tennis—and often the most difficult. It’s vital to introduce fundamentals early to build confidence and long-term technique.
Children learn best by imitation, so coaches should demonstrate a forehand or serve at every stage of development, even if simplified.
Good serving technique video: https://youtu.be/0tP2pmXd9Gk?si=iKxPKIPcBQAV3sDu
🧸 Throwing = Serving Foundation
Before a child can serve, they need to learn to throw.
Basic Technique: Start sideways on, with the throwing hand behind the ear.
Progression 1: Introduce hip and shoulder rotation as they throw—use the whole body, not just the arm.
Progression 2: Add targets to encourage distance and accuracy.
💡 Serving Progressions (Starting from Tots)
1. Kiss-Kiss
Children stand sideways, racket in one hand, ball in the other.
They gently "kiss" the ball onto the strings twice:
At knee height
Above the head
This teaches timing and synchronised arm movement.
2. Hammer the Sky
Encourage proper grip: chopper grip, not frying pan.
Children imagine the edge of the racket is a hammer, and they’re hammering a nail into the sky.
Reinforces serving "on edge" to promote correct spin later.
3. Balloons (Indoor Alternative)
Use balloons to slow the action down.
Pop the balloon upward with the non-dominant hand, then “hammer” it with the racket.
Great for developing hand-eye coordination and arm synchronisation.
4. Two Beanbags
Hold one beanbag in each hand.
Toss the first (non-dominant hand) straight up.
Launch the second (dominant hand) from throwing position behind the ear and try to collide them in the air.
Progress to using tennis balls.
5. Slingshot serve
Hold the ball onto the racket and pull back behind your ear.
Release the ball and throw the racket at the same time, projecting the ball
6. Back Scratch & Reach
Child stands sideways on, in “back scratch” position (racket behind their back).
Step 1: Coach holds the racket and guides the swing while tossing the ball.
Step 2: Coach tosses, child swings from back scratch position.
Step 3: Child performs ball toss + swing for a full serving motion.
Note: Focus on technique, not result.
7. Directional Serving
Introduce the concept of serving diagonally from a baseline into a service box.
8. Introduce Chopper Grip
Essential for spin and control.
Introduce early in Titans and Troopers groups.
Reinforces the “on-edge” hammer motion.
9. Lengthen the Action
Start from “back scratch and reach” → progress to full arm extension.
Let the hitting arm dangle, then swing in a throwing motion with a ball toss.
10. Lengthen further: Tossing arm raises straight up, Hitting arm swings back in a smooth pendulum, Contact ball at full reach; focus on rhythm and body coordination, not power.
SERVES AND SHIELDS 🛡️
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.
Sandwich Shop 🥪
🥪 Sandwich Shop
🎯 A creative game focused on balance, control, coordination, colour matching, and fun!
⏱️ Duration: 8–12 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Introduction
“Who’s hungry? 🍞 Welcome to the Tennis Tots Sandwich Shop! Today you’re not just tennis players — you're chefs!
Your job is to make a sandwich, carry it carefully to the customer, and drop it into the right delivery bag!”
Sit the children down at one end of the hall near the “ingredients” area and demonstrate.
🧺 Game Setup
Scatter soft balls and beanbags in a long line (the “ingredients”).
Ingredients are grouped or colour-coded:
🟡 Cheese = yellow
🔴 Tomato = red
🔵 Blueberry jam = blue
🟢 Salad = green
🟣 Grapes = purple (optional)
Children use two rackets to clamp together 1–3 “ingredients” (beanbags/balls).
Set out “delivery bags” (buckets, cones, hoops, etc.) at the opposite end of the space, each colour-coded to match the sandwich fillings.
🚚 How to Play
1. Build your sandwich using two rackets to scoop and hold the filling(s).
2. Carry the sandwich across the hall to the serving area (large cones/line).
3. Drop the filling into the correctly coloured delivery bag — try to keep the sandwich together until you reach the bag!
4. Return to the start and repeat.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Under 3s / Beginners)
Use beanbags only (easier to balance and colour-code).
Allow them to carry with hands or just one racket.
Try making a burrito with a folded drop-down dot over a beanbag if the rackets are difficult to control
Set the delivery bags much closer.
Use cones on their side instead of upright bags to drop into.
Let adults/assistants help “build” the sandwich.
⚡️ Progressions (Older / Confident Children)
Introduce foam balls as sandwich fillings (harder to balance).
Encourage building sandwiches with multiple ingredients.
Add a challenge zone:
Move the bags further away so children must fling the sandwich contents (not the rackets!) by opening their rackets in a coordinated movement.
Introduce a relay format or team competition:
How many sandwiches can you deliver in 2 minutes?
Use racket hand only, or alternate hands each round.
🎾 Coaching Tips
Emphasise control: soft, steady hands on the rackets.
Demonstrate how to clamp and release evenly — both rackets open together.
Reinforce matching skills: talk through colours, food names, and what makes a “complete” sandwich.
For older players, challenge them to balance while walking heel-to-toe or on lines for added focus.
Seasonal variations for the 🥪 Sandwich Shop game — each version adds a themed twist while preserving the original structure of carrying and delivering “sandwiches” using rackets or alternatives:
🎄 Christmas – Christmas Dinner Dash
Children are delivering Christmas dinners to Santa’s elves! Replace fillings with festive items like turkey (brown ball), sprouts (green beanbag), cranberry sauce (red cone), and roasties (yellow ball). Sandwiches are still held between rackets, and delivery cones are labelled with elf names or "North Pole Mail." Kids must carry their Christmas sandwich to the matching colour cone or “chimney.”
🐣 Easter – Easter Picnic Drop-Off
Children are delivering picnic snacks to baby bunnies! Fill sandwiches with chocolate eggs (foil balls or beanbags), carrots (orange cones), or lettuce (green cones), and walk them to baskets (upturned cones or tubs). Add “bunny hops” before delivering to make it fun! Use burritos (drop-down dots with beanbags inside) for younger ones.
🎃 Halloween – Monster Meal Delivery
Children are chefs delivering spooky sandwiches to hungry monsters! Fill with monster eyeballs (white balls), slime (green beanbags), or bat wings (black cones). Carry your sandwich across the haunted hall and drop it into monster mouths (cones with faces drawn on). You can decorate the rackets with cobweb stickers too.
❤️ Valentine’s Day – Love Letter Lunches
Kids deliver “heart sandwiches” full of love to their secret admirers 💌. Fillings might be hearts (red/pink cones or beanbags), and the delivery zones are mailboxes or cones with Valentine messages. Encourage whispering a kind message before dropping their sandwich. Bonus: Let them decorate their rackets with heart stickers.
👩👧 Mother’s Day – Mum’s Breakfast in Bed
Kids build Mum a lovely breakfast sandwich with toast (yellow cones), jam (red), and tea bags (brown beanbags). Gently walk the sandwich to “Mum’s bed” (pink delivery cone) without dropping it. Use burritos as an easier alternative for younger players.
👨👦 Father’s Day – Dad’s Mega Sandwich
Kids make a supersized sandwich with strong fillings like sausages (brown balls), mustard (yellow beanbags), or tools (grey cones!) and deliver to the “Dad Zone.” Use cones with ties or moustaches drawn on. For older kids, move the delivery zones further back and challenge them to throw the filling — not the rackets!
SCARVES 🧣 – Catch & React
Great for footwork, coordination, and reaction time.
👨👩 Parent & Child Activity used mainly in Tennis Tots
Better to use indoors or in non-windy conditions.
Start with children standing in the ready position – wide stance over a marker, racket held waist-high like a table, ready to “catch” the falling scarf.
🔸 Instructions
Phase 1 – Drop Catch
Parent drops a scarf directly above the child.
Child must adjust and catch it on their racket at waist height.
Encourage children to stay alert and make small movements to stay under the scarf.
Phase 2 – Toss & Track
Parent gently tosses the scarf into the air (forwards, backwards, sideways).
Child has to jostle underneath and track it down for a controlled catch.
Phase 3 – Turn & React
Child starts facing away.
Parent throws the scarf and shouts “TURN!” mid-air.
Child spins around, locates the scarf, and scrambles to catch it on their racket.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify)
Use catching nets instead of rackets
Let them catch with two hands first, then introduce the racket.
Reduce the distance they need to move – drop directly above the marker.
⚡ Progressions (Challenge)
For older children go quicker to phase 3 and delay the time between the throw of scarf and the call of “turn”
Have two scarves thrown – the child must decide which one to catch.
Add “fake turns” – shout "turn" but delay the throw.
Encourage children to use just their non-dominant hand to catch before moving to the racket.
Seasonal Alternatives
🎃 Halloween – “Ghost Catch!”
🕸️ Scarf = Ghost
👻 Parents say “BOO!” as they drop the scarf.
Children must catch the ghost before it “disappears into the floor.”
Add a spooky sound effect when it lands to keep the theme fun.
Encourage children to do a spooky stomp or zombie walk between catches.
For older kids: Catch with one hand while pretending to swat ghosts away with their racket.
🎄 Christmas – “Snowflake Catch!”
❄️ Scarf = Snowflake
Parent says “Snowfall!” and drops the scarf.
Kids must catch the snowflake softly without “melting” it (no squeezing).
Add a challenge: catch with non-dominant hand = “extra careful mitten catch.”
Have a “Blizzard round” where scarves are dropped from both sides quickly.
💘 Valentine’s – “Love Letter Drop”
💌 Scarf = Love Letter / Heart
Parent says “Special Delivery!”
Child catches the love letter before it hits the ground.
Add a heart sticker or message on the scarf for added fun.
Older kids: Catch and then “deliver” it to a friend by re-tossing softly.
🐣 Easter – “Catch the Chick”
🐥 Scarf = Baby chick or feather
Parent says “Catch the chick!”
Children must react quickly to catch the falling chick.
Add a hopping or bunny jump to catch it before it lands.
Could hide a small treat underneath the scarf as a reward.
🌞 Summer – “Butterfly Catch”
🦋 Scarf = Butterfly
Parent says “Butterfly in the air!”
Kids catch with soft, two-hand clap like wings.
Encourage gentle movement and big smiles like they’re in a meadow.
Add music or a breeze for immersive atmosphere.
Space Hop 🌌🎾
Space Hop 🌌🎾
🎾 Best for small groups (3–6 kids per coach). For larger groups, split into separate “galaxies”. Similar concept to Fruit Salad.
🛰 Story Script (Set the Scene!)
"Welcome to Space Hop Mission Control! 👩🚀👨🚀
You're each standing on your very own planet (coloured dot) and preparing to blast off. You'll take turns launching tennis balls into space (groundstrokes) and watch out — meteors might strike at any moment! Keep your helmets on (cone hats), stay alert, and don’t float away in zero gravity!"
🧠 Purpose
• Develop forehand and backhand groundstrokes
• Improve footwork, alertness, and reaction time
• Add imagination and engagement through themed play
🏗 Set-Up
• Line up children sideways on dots (planets), parallel to the net
• Coach stands at one end feeding drop feeds (use forehand/backhand depending on side)
• First child in line hits repeatedly — others bounce on toes until it’s their turn
• Coach uses commands to cue changes
🔁 How It Works
• One child at the front hits as many balls as possible while others bounce on their dots
• When coach calls "Space Hop!" 🚀 → everyone moves up one planet and new child becomes hitter
• If anyone stops bouncing (or whenever coach decides) → "Meteor Strike!" ☄️ → coach rolls a ball down the line and they must jump over it
• Call "Meteor Shower!" 🌧 → all kids must dash to the fence and back to their dot without getting tagged by coach’s throws
• Say "Zero Gravity!" 🌕 → kids must spin around once on their dot and continue bouncing
• Add silly extras: wear traffic cones as space helmets 🪖 (upside down), or name the planets (Mars, Venus, Jupiter...)
🪶 Feathers (Easier Variations)
• Shorten distance of feed
• Use foam balls
• Let parents assist on dots or near the net
• Allow underarm throws instead of racquet hits
• Skip meteor elements for very young groups
⚡ Progressions (Older / Confident Players)
• Add targets to hit (like hoops or cones) with rewards, like a shield from the next meteor strike (don’t have to run)
• Score how many balls are hit in a row
• Coach switches ends for backhands
• Add a spinning serve or bounce-hit before space hop
• Have two kids hitting alternately on two sides
🏆 Finishing Ideas
• Final round = “Meteor Mayhem!” — Coach rolls lots of balls while kids dodge back to their dots
• Award space wristbands, star stickers 🌟, or medals
• Take a group photo with cones on heads = Space Crew Shot 📸🛸
Seasonal Variations
🎃 Halloween Hop
Dots = Pumpkins
Rename "Space Hop" to “Pumpkin Pop” – kids line up behind pumpkins to smash spooky balls.
“Meteor Strike” = Witch’s Curse – kids dodge flying broomsticks (rolled balls).
“Meteor Shower” = Ghost Chase – kids must run to the graveyard (fence) and back without being tagged by ghosts (coaches rolling balls).
“Zero Gravity” = Zombie Spin – kids spin like dizzy zombies before returning to position.
👻 Kids wear witch hats or masks made from round cones.
🎄 Christmas Comet
Dots = Presents or sleigh stops
Rename "Space Hop" to “Santa Serve”
“Meteor Strike” = Snowball Fight – dodge snowballs rolled by coaches.
“Meteor Shower” = Sleigh Dash – run to North Pole and back.
“Zero Gravity” = Elf Spins – spin around like dizzy elves.
🎅 Hats = Santa hats, elf ears, or round cones decorated as snow caps.
🐣 Easter Orbit
Dots = Easter Eggs
Rename "Space Hop" to “Egg Blast”
“Meteor Strike” = Bunny Hop – dodge carrots (balls) while hopping on the spot.
“Meteor Shower” = Egg Hunt Dash – run to the fence and back to “find” their egg.
“Zero Gravity” = Chick Spin – kids flap their arms and spin like little chicks.
🐰 Hats = Bunny ears or round cones with egg stickers.
💘 Valentine Volley
Dots = Love Hearts
Rename "Space Hop" to “Heart Shot”
“Meteor Strike” = Cupid’s Arrow – dodge heart-shaped balls
“Meteor Shower” = Love Sprint – run to give a “heart” (high five) to a parent and back.
“Zero Gravity” = Spin of Love – spin with arms open.
❤️ Hats = Cone helmets with hearts on top.
Texas Tennis 🎾 🐂 🤠 🌵
Objective
· Two teams, one court. The coach feeds the ball in, aiming to score by keeping it in play.
· The only rule is that the ball cannot roll on your side of the court.
Basic Rules
1. Ball Handling:
o Players cannot pick up the ball, but can pass it between teammates.
o Players are allowed to take as many touches as needed (forehands, backhands, and serves) as long as the ball stays in play and does not roll on your side.
⚠ Safety! It is up to the coaches to make sure the teams are adequately spaced, and to intervene if there is danger of swinging too close to one another
🪶 Feathers (for younger / less confident children):
o The coach should make sure to include all players, particularly by feeding the ball to weaker players first to help them build confidence and skill.
o The coach should put assistant coaches/ parents on the stronger players on each team to control the ball and tee up the younger players so they can be part of it.
o Make certain players “Setters”, stronger players can act as setters only, like in volleyball, so they can gather the ball and tee it up for other players in their team, but can’t hit over themselves. This is designed to stop one or two players dominating the play.
Variations to Challenge the Game
1. Serve Start:
o Begin each round with a serve to give players a challenge right from the start.
2. Number of Bounces:
o Change the rule to allow only a specific number of bounces (e.g., two or three bounces before the ball must be returned).
3. Backhand Only:
o Challenge players to hit only backhands during certain rounds.
4. Targeting Weaknesses:
o Rotate the ball feeds so that each player gets a chance to practice their weaker strokes.
5. Timed Rounds:
o Set a timer for each round, encouraging quick decision-making and rapid ball movement.
6. Court Size:
o Use half the court to make the game more challenging, or introduce zones where players can only pass to certain teammates.
7. Add more balls: especially with larger groups, add more balls to keep the contact time for each participant higher.
Spin Challenge 🌀🎯 – Learn to impart spin on the ball
Spin Challenge 🌀🎯 – Learn to impart spin on the ball
🧠 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.
Start crouched in crab position 🦀 (knees bent, low to floor)
Child places hands at the bottom of the ball and rolls it forward while brushing over the top = Topspin roll 🌀
Then try Side spin – twist the hands on the ball before releasing
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):
Add rackets – keep the ball on the floor but try to push it with topspin or sidespin
Start rolling from standing (adds balance + control)
Introduce bounce – drop the ball and brush with racket
Use spin machines, tees, or foam balls for air contact
Try slice (underspin) or even serve spin from cone setups
Parents/ coaches feeding and child trying to hit the ball with either topsplin or underspin
Speed up balls with foam/ mini-red (advanced)
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
Whac-a-Mole 🎾🐾 🟡
Whac-a-Mole 🎾🐾 – Tennis Tots Game Plan🟡
Set-Up:
Create a “field of molehills” using round cones spaced safely apart. Place a soft ball (the mole) on top of each cone TIP: IF YOU FOLLOW THIS GAME FROM HITTING ON TEES YOU CAN GET THE KIDS TO RUN AROUND AND PUT THE BALLS ON THE CONES (BUILD IT AS PART OF THE GAME)
Ensure there’s ample space between each cone so children swinging rackets don’t accidentally hit each other.
👧🧒 Phase 1 – Whack the Moles:
Children are armed with rackets and must run around the field whacking the moles (balls) off the molehills (cones).
Emphasise controlled swings and good body positioning – low to high action, knees bent, eyes on the target.
🦅 Phase 2 – Enter the Naughty Crows:
Coaches and parents act as “naughty crows,” flying around the field putting the moles back on their molehills as fast as the kids knock them off.
It becomes a fun battle: children whack, adults restore!
🔁 Phase 3 – Swap Roles:
Children become the crows and rebuild the field, placing the balls back on the cones while coaches (or other kids) now try to knock them off.
This helps improve fine motor control, speed, and teamwork.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for younger children):
Let children use their hands to knock moles off at first before introducing rackets.
Reduce the number of cones for smaller groups.
Slow down the “crows” and give children time to succeed.
Let them focus on one molehill at a time (e.g., “Try and whack the red mole!”)
⚡ Progressions (Challenge older or more advanced kids):
Require children to hit the mole off in a specific direction (e.g. toward a target zone).
Give them a time limit (e.g. “Knock off 5 moles in 30 seconds!”)
Use weaker hand (non-dominant) or backhand only.
Add obstacles they must navigate between molehills (cones, mini hurdles).
Play to music – when music stops, all freeze! (adds reaction speed)
Seasonal variation for the 🐣 Easter version of Whac-a-Mole, now featuring Easter eggs instead of bunnies:
🧠 Whac-a-Mole – Seasonal Variations (Updated)
🎄 Christmas – Whack-a-Grinch
Use green cones with balls on top to represent mischievous Grinches! Children dribble with their rackets to the Grinch wall and try to knock them down with controlled swings — careful not to wake Santa! 🎅💥
🐣 Easter – Whack-an-Easter Egg
Use pastel-coloured cones with egg-shaped balls or decorated beanbags on top. These are hidden Easter Eggs! Kids must dribble toward the Easter wall and carefully “whack” the eggs off using their racket — each one reveals a surprise! 🥚🌈
🎃 Halloween – Whack-a-Ghost
Transform cones into ghostly shapes using white cloth or stickers and place balls on top. Children sneak toward the haunted line and try to knock off the spooky ghosts with their racket. 👻🎾
💘 Valentine’s Day – Whack-a-Heart
Place pink or red cones with heart-shaped stickers and small balls on top. Kids take turns knocking down the hearts — one swing at a time — sharing giggles with their racket buddies 💘🏹
👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Whack-a-Flower Pot
Set up cones like colourful flower pots with balls as blossoms. Kids “whack” off the old petals to “help the garden grow” for Mum or Dad 🌸🪴 — perfect for Springtime creativity.
Sonic School 🌀
🌀 Sonic School
🎮 A fast-paced dribbling & balance game for Tots
Duration: 8–10 mins (including drinks break)
🎤 Coach Script / Setup
“Do you know who Sonic the Hedgehog is? 🦔 He’s a hedgehog with superpowers — but even Sonic had to train hard to get his speed, balance, and control!”
TIP: Leave equipment out from warmup and do it straight away to save putting equipment out again.
Place inflatable footballs inside a bag and reveal them dramatically when ready. Spread out a warm-up circuit using:
🟡 Bridges: (hurdles) plastic struts between cones to duck under
🔵 Doors: two traffic cones spaced apart to dribble through
🔺 Ramps: Traffic cones with struts sloping up (imagine pushing a ball up a hill)
Children are “Mini Sonics” 🌀. Their mission is to dribble their ball with their racket around the course without losing control, staying balanced and moving quickly.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for under 3s):
Let them carry the ball to start
Focus on walking around the circuit with ball in hand or under control
Parents can gently guide hands or dribble together
⚡️ Progressions (Older / Confident Children):
Solo Dribble: Must dribble the ball with racket only – no carrying
Coach Interference – become Dr Robotnik 🦹♂️, rolling balls or gently tossing foam frisbees to “knock Sonic off the path”
Time Challenge – Set a timer and see if they can finish before the music or timer ends
🧃 Conclusion
Praise them for their effort and remind them:
“Every Sonic started with small steps — your balance and control are your superpowers!” 🦔💙
Tennis Snooker 🎱
🎱 Tennis Snooker
Theme:"Snooker meets tennis in this fast-paced, colourful challenge of accuracy, speed, and fun!"
🎯 Objective:
Children race to collect coloured beanbags (or soft balls) from a triangle in the centre and place them into the correct “pocket” (a colour-matched bucket or hoop), learning colour matching, directional movement, and spatial awareness.
🧠 Learning Focus:
Agility, speed, direction change
Colour recognition and decision making
Control and aim
Early tennis footwork patterns
🏗 Setup:
🟥 In the centre: arrange small red traffic cones in a triangle (like red balls in snooker).
💼 Place a heap of beanbags in the middle of that triangle (use 12–20).
🟨🟩🟦🟥 Place 4 tubs, buckets, or hoops in each corner of the court/hall — each surrounded by coloured cones (e.g., green, yellow, purple, red) to match the beanbags.
🧒 Children line up at a central starting line (or divide into teams if space allows).
🎮 How to Play:
On “GO!”, children run into the centre, pick one beanbag at a time and place it on their racket, and look for the matching coloured pocket.
They run to that pocket and drop the beanbag inside, then sprint back to the centre to collect the next one.
Continue until all bags are cleared.
Count how many bags made it into the correct tubs.
⚡ Progressions (For Older Kids):
Ball Challenge – As beanbags disappear, start to add balls which are harder to balance
Catchers – Add two coaches holding catching nets as moving “pockets”. Children must throw soft balls to be caught on the move
Turn the tubs on their side (like tennis golf) and dribble balls - Add foam or inflatable balls into the central triangle. These must be rolled or dribbled (hockey style) to the matching tub.
Kids hit/ throw balls in pockets from a distance – dribble/ balance up to the marker (line of cones), then have to hit a shot or throw into the pockets; progress to backhands, serves, move pockets further and further away
Bonus Ball: further away. Put some buckets over the other side of the net/ much further away, and give 100 points if they manage to hit in.
Timed Round – Set a 1–2 minute timer and challenge players to collect as many as they can before time runs out.
Mistake Penalty – If a bag goes in the wrong colour tub, child must return it and try again.
🪶 Feathers (Simplified for Younger Tots):
Let children walk instead of run.
Allow parents to run alongside and guide.
Use only 2–3 colours for simpler decision-making.
Let children hold the racket in their hands rather than on racket.
Use bigger tubs/hoops to help with aiming, or ask parents to move tubs so that they easily fall in
🎄 Seasonal Variations:
🎃 Halloween – Change beanbags to “slime blobs” or “pumpkin seeds,” and buckets become cauldrons.
🎅 Christmas – Beanbags become “presents,” and tubs are chimneys or stockings.
💘 Valentine’s – Use red/pink hearts and tubs are “love letter” mailboxes.
🐣 Easter – Beanbags are “chocolate eggs,” tubs become Easter baskets.
🎨 Colour Hunt Theme – Children are “colour collectors” racing to restore rainbow colours to their correct zones.