Tennis Fishing 🎣 🎾 🥎

🎯 Purpose: Improve balance, colour recognition, coordination, and control — with fun, fishing-themed play! 

🧠 Set-Up ⏸️ Coach scatters different colour round cones (fish) across the room ("the pond") 

🟠 At one end of the space, place matching coloured traffic cones (these are the “collection buckets”)

🥎 Each child holds a racket (fishing rod)

🎣 How to Play

🧒 Children start at one end of the room

🎾 They walk into the “pond” and use their racket to pick up one round cone (fish)

🏃 They carry it back balanced on their racket

🌈 Match the colour of the round cone and “hang it” on the matching coloured traffic cone

🔁 Repeat — one fish at a time!

🔁 Progressions

🍓 Beanbags: Add these for older or confident players — trickier to balance!

🎾 Tennis Balls: Even more challenging — kids must move slowly and with control. Hold on heart (V shape throat) of racket if kids are struggling.

🌀 Coloured tubs near cones or at the side for beanbags and balls to be “caught” inside

🪶 Feathers – Younger Tots

✅ Allow walking only — no running

🖐️ Assist them in picking up and balancing

👨‍👩‍👧 Let parents carry the racket and child places the item

☀️ Coach Tips

Use a storytelling theme: "Let’s go fishing in the sea!" or "Catch the rainbow fish!"

🗣️ Narrate with humour: "Oh no, that one's wriggly!" / "You caught a golden fish!"

💛 Praise effort, not just success

📣 Encourage children to cheer each other on as they return with their fish.