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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.

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

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

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

  4. Parents return the ball using same spin style

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

🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Kids):

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

⚡ Progressions (Challenge for Older Kids):

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  8. Try to rally with parents h

✅ Coaching Tips:

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

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