Pots and Beanbags 🪣🎯🎾
🪣🎯 Story / Theme:
A fun accuracy challenge where kids try to land beanbags into a “pot” that keeps moving further away. 🚶♂️↩️👧
🧰 Equipment:
• 🪣 1 tub, bucket, or large pot per pair
• 🟠 Beanbags (or small foam balls)
• ⚽ Footballs (optional variation)
🎮 How to Play:
🧍♂️👧 Line children up on the baseline, with parents standing in front holding a tub.
🟠 Each child throws a beanbag aiming to land it in the tub.
✅ If they make it, the parent takes a big step back. 👣
🛑 If they miss, the parent takes a step forward. 🔁
🔄 After a few turns, swap roles — the child holds the pot and the parent throws. 👨👧👦
⏫ Progressions:
⚽ Ball Swap: Use footballs instead of beanbags — allow one bounce before catching.
🤾 Throwing Styles: Encourage side-arm or rugby-style throws for variety.
🏃 Moving Target: The catcher walks side-to-side while holding the tub. 🪣👣
Pirate Treasure 🏴☠️
📖 Story Script (Intro)
“Ahoy there, mateys! 🏴☠️ You’ve all been chosen as brave young pirates to join a treasure hunt! Deep in the middle of the sea lies a mountain of golden treasure (tennis balls)! 💰 But be quick — only the fastest, smartest pirates will collect the most treasure for their team. Ready to plunder, crew? Let’s hear your best pirate AARRRRGH! 🗣️⚓”
⚙️ Set-Up
Place a large tub or pile of tennis balls (or beanbags) in the centre of the court/hall — this is the treasure chest.
Divide children into three teams and assign an assistant coach or adult to each as their Captain.
Line teams up on opposite sides of the court or triangle around the treasure.
Mark team “bases” using cones or hoops.
🕹️ How to Play
1. On the coach’s signal, all players from each team runs to the centre and collects one tennis ball (treasure) at the same time.
2. They must return it to their team’s base before the next player goes.
3. Repeat until all the treasure is gone.
4. Teams count their treasure. The team with the most loot wins! 🎉
🔁 Progression: Reverse Treasure
Now the treasure must be returned to the chest!
One player at a time returns a ball from their base to the centre.
The first team to return all their treasure and sit down in their base wins Round 2.
🪶 Feathers – Simplifications
Allow running with two balls or more at a time if there are lots of kids.
Replace balls with beanbags for easier grip.
Let parents assist younger tots with holding and collecting.
For walking tots, allow carrying treasure in small buckets or with help.
⚡ Progressions – For Older Kids
Add obstacles between base and treasure (cones to weave, hurdles to jump).
Add a time limit — which team collects most treasure in 60 seconds?
“Sneaky Pirates” mode: once all treasure is gone, teams can steal one treasure at a time from other team bases.
Penalty Rule: stepping over lines means one ball must be returned.
🎃 Seasonal Variants
🎅 Christmas:
🎁 “Santa’s Sack” – presents instead of treasure. Elves collect them for Santa’s sleigh.
🐣 Easter:
🥚 “Easter Egg Hunt” – scatter plastic eggs (or yellow beanbags) across the court. Tots return them to their “nest”.
🎃 Halloween:
👻 “Pumpkin Snatch” – collect “pumpkins” (orange cones or balls). Watch out for the ghost (coach) trying to tag you!
❤️ Valentine’s Day:
💌 “Love Letter Dash” – collect foam hearts or envelopes and deliver to your team’s mailbox.
👩👧👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day:
💐 “Flower Run” – run to collect paper flowers and deliver them to mum/dad’s “garden patch”.
🥅 Penalties – Racket Save Challenge
🥅 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:
Parent sets the inflatable ball on a circular cone about 6 ft in front of the child.
When ready, they gently “shoot” the ball towards one of the goals.
The child uses crab side-steps and tries to block or stop the shot using their racket.
After each save attempt (or goal!), the child resets by returning to the middle cone.
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 Game 🎈
Parachute Game 🎈
Focus: Teamwork, sensory play, motor coordination, and fun group interaction.
Equipment: Large parachute, soft balls (foam or light), optional music
🎯 Main Activities:
🌀 1. Turning the Wheel
Everyone holds the parachute and steps backwards until it’s taut.
Begin slowly walking in a circle — like turning a big wheel.
Freeze! Change direction and go the other way.
Encourage teamwork: "We can only turn it if we work together!"
🌊 2. Wave Maker
Start with long, slow waves — lift the parachute high, then gently lower.
Feel the breeze! Great for cooling off on hot days.
Switch to fast, choppy waves — hold it at waist height and shake using your forearms.
Try the game with music to change rhythm (e.g., slow to fast).
🍿 3. Popcorn Time!
Lower the parachute to the floor but keep holding.
Coach adds soft balls (“popcorn seeds”) to the centre.
Everyone starts making small, fast waves to bounce the balls — like popcorn popping.
Once all balls are bouncing:
👉 “The popcorn’s cooked — time to launch it out of the pan!”
👉 Shake harder to pop the balls off!(Tip: keep extra balls handy in case they bounce off too quickly.)
Progression: Popcorn catchers, have some kids around the outside to catch the popcorn as it pops out of the Parachute: use catching nets/ tups
- Catch on rackets
- Older: hit balls back before balls roll.
- Two teams: COOKS (trying to shake balls off) and CLEANERS, trying to catch the balls when they spill and throw them back on the parachute; optional: can hit the ball back.
- Optional Time Trial: time which the team gets rid of all the popcorn first; declare a winner
⛺ 4. Parachute Tent (Bubble Dome)
Start with big waves, then on the next high lift, shout “Under the tent!”
Everyone walks forward, pulling the chute behind them and sits down on the outside edge (underside) of the parachute
Inside the bubble:
👉 Whisper high fives to coaches and friends 👋
👉 Ask a simple question like “What animal lives in a tent?” or “Can you see the stars?”
🧲 5. 1-2-3... Let Go!
End by gathering around. Coach counts “1… 2… 3…” and everyone lets go.
Coach pulls the parachute in for a big dramatic finish (kids love the whoosh).
🪶 Feathers – Simplifications for Younger Tots
Let parents hold the chute while children watch and slowly join in.
Use fewer balls for popcorn to reduce chaos.
Allow little ones just to feel the breeze if they don’t want to move.
Keep instructions very visual and animated — e.g., mime popcorn, animals, waves.
Sit under the tent for a moment can be a great time to sing a short rhyme or song 🎵.
🎮 Variations & Add-Ons:
🎨 Colour Games: Ask “Everyone holding blue – lift it up!”
🍂 Seasonal Popcorn:
Autumn = “Leaf shower” 🍁
Winter = “Snowflake bounce” ❄️
Spring = “Baby bunnies jumping” 🐰
Summer = “Beach balls on the waves” 🏖️
🎵 Musical Parachute: Play a track — move slow for verse, fast for chorus
👀 Object Search: Hide small soft toys under parachute — "Who can find the teddy?"
👧🧒 Older Tots / Tennis Titans 🎾• 🏃♂️🌈 Movement Challenges:
When you call a child’s name, they must run under the parachute and out again before it falls ⏱️ — everyone lifts the parachute up like a wave 🌊 and cheers 🎉 the runner underneath!
• 🌍 Around the World:
Everyone lifts the parachute high ⬆️ and calls someone's name 📣. That child must run around the outside of the circle 🌀 and return to their spot before:
A️⃣ the parachute falls 💥
B️⃣ they beat a count of 5 or 10 🔢
• 🏁 Around the World Race:
Throw the parachute up into the air 🪂 and call out two children’s names 👧👦 — they race around the outside and try to switch places before it lands. Optional: declare the winner 🥇!
- 🔢 Call out three children
- 🔢 Call out four children
⚠️ Safety Tip:
🚫 Never let two children run underneath the parachute at the same time — they could collide head-on 🤕!
Parachute Darts🎯
🎯 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:
Children take turns standing behind the oche.
They throw beanbags, aiming to land them on a matching colour on the parachute.
→ Red beanbag = aim for red section, etc.Coach or assistant collects and returns beanbags between rounds.
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.
PACMAN 🎮
PACMAN 🎮 – Balance & Court Awareness Game
Duration: 5–10 mins
Age group: 3–10 yrs (adapt as needed)
📝 Setup & Description:
This fun game helps children develop balance, footwork, and spatial awareness using the tennis court lines.
Each child starts with a beanbag balanced on their racket.
They must walk only along the court lines — baseline, service lines, tramlines, etc.
The goal is to keep the beanbag balanced while continuously moving, staying on the lines, and not bumping into others.
If they meet another player head-on, they must turn around or swap paths.
Introduce the coach as “Professor RacketHands” — walk behind children banging two rackets like cymbals. The professor must also stay on the lines.
If the Professor catches up or the child drops the beanbag, they’re “out” or return to the start.
🪶 Feathers (Simplified):
Children can stop briefly to rebalance the beanbag.
Coach walks slower as Professor RacketHands; NB some of the children wont like it so judge the age etc
Allow children to walk without racket — simply carry beanbag and follow lines.
Instead of elimination, if caught, just “restart.”
⚡️ Progressions (Advanced):
Use balls instead of beanbags for more balance challenge.
Introduce friendly sabotage: players can try to gently knock off others’ beanbags if they meet.
Make it a last one standing challenge — if you drop it or get tagged, you're out.
Add more professors (assistant coaches or parents) to increase pressure.
Try fast-walk or tiptoe only rounds.
🟡 Pac-Man – Seasonal Variations
(Original Game Concept: Kids dribble their balls through a maze while avoiding “Ghosts” played by coaches or parents)
🎃 Halloween – Pumpkin-Pac
Children are mini pumpkins trying to escape spooky ghosts (coaches in costume or with masks). Decorate the maze with cobwebs or mini skeleton cones. They must escape while collecting “pumpkin seeds” (beanbags). 👻🎃
🐣 Easter – Eggy-Pac
Children are Easter eggs being chased by sneaky foxes or rabbits. The maze is filled with pastel-coloured cones, and the eggs have to dribble their ball (the yolk!) to safety — collecting “chocolate drops” (mini cones) along the way. 🐰🥚🍫
🎄 Christmas – Santa-Pac
Players are Santa’s elves delivering presents through the North Pole maze. Coaches are Grinches trying to catch them. Kids collect “gift tags” (small cones/beanbags) while navigating snowy obstacles (white cones). 🎅❄️🎁
💘 Valentine’s – Heart-Pac
Children are hearts running through a maze of love! They dribble their balls through rosy red and pink cones while avoiding Cupid’s arrows (gentle coach interference). Every time they make it across, they drop a heart token in the love jar. 💘🏹
👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Flower-Pac
Children are flowers in bloom trying to avoid rain clouds (coaches). The aim is to collect sunlight tokens (yellow beanbags) while dribbling around watering can cones and back to their parent’s flowerpot. 🌼☀️
Moon Mice 🌕🐭🧀
Moon Mice 🌕🐭🧀
🌕🚀 Story / Theme
The brave space explorers 🧑🚀 must travel through a meteor field ☄️ to the moon 🌕, collect cheese 🧀, and bring it safely back to Earth 🌍 — but the mischievous moon mice 🐭 are waiting to steal it!
🧰 Equipment
• 🟠 Traffic cones tipped on their side (meteors)
• 🟡 Yellow round cones (moon surface)
• 🧀 Soft balls hidden under yellow cones (cheese)
• 🟢 Green cones or hoop to mark Earth
• 🪣 Tub/bucket to collect the cheese
• 🧸 Balls on strings or beanbags (simplified option)
• 🪖 Optional: Round cones as “helmets”
• ⚽ Optional: Large inflatable ball (for kick/dribble challenge)
🎮 How to Play
☄️ Scatter traffic cones to create a meteor field.
🌕 Create the moon at one end using yellow round cones, each hiding a cheese ball.
🌍 At the opposite end, mark Earth with a circle of green cones and place a bucket inside.
🧑🚀 Players navigate the meteor field, avoiding cones to reach the moon.
🧀 They lift one cheese at a time and balance it on their racket.
🐭 On the return journey, moon mice (coaches/parents) try to steal cheese if it drops!
🌍 Children deliver the cheese to Earth by placing it in the tub.
🔁 Repeat until all the cheese is collected.
🐣 Feathers
• 🫘 Use beanbags instead of balls to make balancing easier for younger children.
🧠 Progressions
🪖 Helmet Challenge: Balance a round cone on the head while carrying cheese.
🧺 Multi-Collection: Collect more than one cheese at a time.
⚽ Dribble Challenge: Carry cheese while kicking or dribbling an inflatable ball.
🌀 Variations
• 🏃♂️ Team Race: Two teams collect from the same moon — the team with the most cheese wins!
• ❓ Hidden Cheese: Only some yellow cones contain cheese — adds surprise!
• 🕵️ Sneaky Mode: Players can sneak into the moon mice’s lair and try to steal back lost cheese without being caught!
Seasonal
Moles vs Squirrels 🐿️🎾
Story / Theme:
The moles are busy hiding tennis balls under the ground, while the squirrels want to stash them safely on top of the cones. Can your team complete their mission before the other side?
Equipment:
· 2 buckets or baskets (1 at each end of the space)
· Plenty of tennis balls
· Round dome cones (any colours) scattered through the centre area
How to Play:
1. Split the group into two teams – Moles and Squirrels.
2. Place a bucket of tennis balls for each team at opposite ends of the hall or court.
3. Scatter round cones throughout the centre to make the “field.”
4. Moles: hide balls under cones.
5. Squirrels: place balls on top of cones.
6. At the start, players may only place balls on empty cones.
7. When all balls are placed (or after a set time), the coach calls “Steal!” – teams can now take balls placed by the other side and move them to their position.
Progressions:
1. Role Swap: At any point, the coach can call “Swap!” and Moles become Squirrels, Squirrels become Moles.
2. Timed Rounds: Limit each round to 1–2 minutes for quick, high-energy play.
3. Extra Obstacles: Add cones or markers that players must run around before placing a ball.
Variations:
· Competitive: Count how many cones are “won” by each team at the end to declare a winner.
· Colour Match: Assign each team a cone colour they must use (e.g., Moles = blue cones only).
· Relay Version: Only one player per team can be in the field at a time — tag teammates to swap.
.
Seasonal alternatives for Moles vs Squirrels 🐿️🎾 — one for each key celebration:
🎄 Christmas – “Elves vs Snowmen” ☃️🎁
The Elves are busy hiding presents under snow mounds (dome cones), while the Snowmen want to stack them neatly on top for Santa to collect.
🎅 Use festive-coloured balls (red, green, gold) and call “SNOWSTORM!” to trigger the Steal phase where teams can switch up the other’s presents!
🐣 Easter – “Chicks vs Bunnies” 🐰🥚
🐣 Chicks want to bury their eggs under the grass (under cones), while Bunnies want to hide them in bushes (on top of cones).
🌸 At “EGG HUNT!” the sides can sneak the other team’s eggs back to their side.
Use pastel-coloured cones and eggs for full effect!
🎃 Halloween – “Witches vs Goblins” 🧙♀️🎃
Witches hide spells and potions under cauldrons (cones), while Goblins try to place their pumpkin stash on top.
🕸️ When the coach shouts “TRICK OR TREAT!” the teams can sabotage each other’s stash.
💘 Valentine’s – “Hearts vs Hugs” 💞💌
One team hides valentines under envelopes (cones), while the other stacks chocolates or flowers on top.
💌 Playfully chaotic — when “LOVE STORM!” is called, teams rush to move each other’s tokens before the timer ends.
Mission Impossible🎾🎯
Overview
A fast-paced, fun-packed team game that combines agility, dodging, teamwork, and throwing accuracy. Kids take on the role of stealthy “agents” trying to complete their mission without getting “caught” (hit by a soft ball).
Set up 🎯
• Divide into 3 teams:
o 🟥 Team A – Throwers (left side)
o 🟦 Team B – Throwers (right side)
o 🟩 Team C – Runners (start at one end and attempt the mission)
• 📍 Place beanbags at the far end of the playing area.
• 🚫 Throwing zones are marked with cones — throwers must stay behind these when throwing.
• 🧱 Set up obstacles (cones, mini nets, boxes, etc.) across the playing surface for runners to use as cover.
🧰 Equipment Needed
• 🎾 Soft balls (e.g. foam tennis balls)
• 🪣 Rubber tubs for throwing/collecting
• 🟨 Beanbags (for runners to collect)
• 🟠 Cones/markers (to mark throw zones and runner paths)
• 🧱 Optional: mini nets, benches, or ball tubs as cover
🏃♂️ How to Play
Team C (Runners) tries to collect as many 🟨 beanbags as possible, moving across the zone (right to left).
They 🕵️♀️ dodge, dash, or hide behind obstacles to avoid being hit.
If a runner is hit, they must 🚶 return to the start and try again.
Once they reach the beanbags, they become 🛡️ immune on their return (must use the outside route).
Teams A & B (Throwers) try to hit runners with soft balls and inflatable footballs:
o 🎯 Must throw from behind the line.
o 🔁 Can retrieve loose balls, but must get back behind cones before throwing again.
IMPORTANT: COACHES NEED TO ADJUDICATE TO ENSURE FAIRNESS, CALL OUT WHEN CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HIT AND NEED TO RETURN TO THE START. REWARD HONESTY BY GIVING EXTRA LIVES TO CHILDREN WHO RETURN TO THE START WHEN HIT.
📜 Rules Recap
• ❌ Only runners may be on the central surface.
• 🛡️ Runners are safe when returning via the outside after grabbing a beanbag.
• 🚫 Throwers must not block runners.
• 🔄 Rotate every 5 mins or after a full round.
• 🏆 Track beanbags collected — team with most wins!
🧠 Variations
• ⏱️ Add a time limit for runners.
• 🕵️♂️ Add a “spy” runner who gets 2 lives.
• 🛡️ Younger kids can use rackets as shields (remove if misused!).
🎓 Coach Tips
• 🎭 Encourage creative movement — crawling, diving, sneaking, etc.
• 📣 Cheer on brave or sneaky moves.
• ✅ Safety first: soft throws only, below the waist.
Million Ball Match 🎾
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:
On the whistle, players throw or hit softballs over the net to the other team’s side.
They can use rackets (forehands/backhands/ serves), throw with their hands, or roll.
Coaches/parents help monitor and encourage from the outside.
After a set time (e.g. 2–3 minutes), blow the whistle to stop.
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
Jewel Thief 💎
Jewel Thief 💎
🎯 Objective:
To practice teamwork, coordination, catching, colour-matching, and eventually racket control through a fun, competitive "jewel heist" relay game.
🧠 Setup
Jewels: Use round flat cones of different colours. Each team has 4–5 upside-down cones representing "jewels" stored in cases.
Cases: Place the cones at the feet of one player at each end of the activity space.
Teams: Players work in pairs or threes. Space them apart depending on age and skill level. A barrier/net can be used between them if available.
Projectiles:
Foam or mini-red balls.
🕵️ How to Play (Main Game)
One player begins with all the jewels (flat cones).
On the coach’s call (“Go!”), they steal the first jewel and throw it to their teammate.
The teammate catches the jewel and places it into the matching case (by colour).
Repeat this process for all jewels.
Once all jewels are transferred and set, the players switch roles and throw them back to the original player.
First pair to have all jewels returned and correctly placed sits down to signal completion.
Coach or helper can verify correct colour matching.
🧸 Feathers Adaptation (Under 4s)
Use catching nets/ buckets to catch
Parent Involvement: Parents or coaches can kneel in the centre, helping guide them to the right colour or offering encouragement.
⚙️ Progressions
🎾 Throwing/Catching
Begin with gentle underarm throws and progress to overarm as skills improve.
Use nets or buckets for catching instead of hands for variety.
Upgrade from overarm throws.
🏸 Racket Control
Catch and return on the racket strings – players try to trap the ball instead of catching with hands.
Challenge: trap on the backhand side or one hand only.
Can use hitting tee’s for those who were struggling
🚀 Advanced Progressions
Slingshot serve or forehand rally to send the jewels back.
Use serves/ backhands (make sure
Competitive:
First to collect and return all wins.
Add a third round to repeat forward and back again.
Add a central “helper” (coach/parent) who acts as a gem inspector or black market fence, transferring jewels between players to add layers of teamwork.
👻 Seasonal Variations
🎃 Halloween – “Spooky Jewel Heist”
Jewels are haunted! Use glow-in-the-dark cones or cover them with tissue/ghost stickers.
Coaches wave scarves or throw flying discs (ghosts!) trying to distract players.
Add a “Haunted Tower” in the middle that must not be knocked over during throws!
🎄 Christmas – “Elf Express”
Jewels become Christmas baubles or presents.
Players wear Santa hats or elf ears.
Add sleigh bells to players’ shoes or rackets for festive noise.
The transfer is helping Santa pack the sleigh with colour-matched presents.
🐣 Easter – “Bunny Jewel Drop”
Jewels are Easter eggs!
Add mini bunny ears to rackets or use plastic egg cases.
Players hop instead of run; introduce “burrows” (hoops) they must jump in before throwing.
Use pastel-coloured beanbags/balls and ask them to find the correct “nest.”
🎾 Rally Progressions
Rally Progressions – Teaching Guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr68ma64o6w
These exercises typically make up the middle portion of a session and can be combined with other rotations such as hitting off tees or coach-fed hitting.
One of the key challenges for young children in Tennis Tots and Tennis Titans is being able to hold a consistent rally over the net. Most children in this age group will find this extremely difficult, even when working with a coach. It’s essential, therefore, to build this skill gradually by simplifying the challenge and slowing things down using props, clear structure, and parental involvement.
Also see the separate game: “Rally in the Alley” for another alternate rally-based exercise.
🛠️ Set-Up – Mini Nets Using Adjustable Hurdles
Use your adjustable hurdles as mini nets. We usually:
Start with the highest rung, allowing children to rally both under and over the bar
Position players either side (coach/parent one side, child on the other)
🌱 FEATHERS (Simplified Variations)
For Tots and less confident Titans:
⚽ Football Pushes Under the Hurdle: Great starting point. Encourage children to roll or push an inflatable ball under the bar using hands or feet.
🎈 Balloon Rally Over the Hurdle (Indoors Only): Balloons slow the pace significantly and make rallying achievable, even for walking-age tots.
🪄 Bounce & Catch: Use an inflatable ball or soft foam ball. Player catches after bounce, then gently rolls or throws back under/over.
🎯 Target Rally with Parents: Focus on cooperation. Place a marker or cone to aim for instead of over a net.
⚡ PROGRESSIONS
🔁 Intermediate Rally Building:
👐 Start with throw & catch over the hurdle using inflatable or foam ball
🔁 Add rhythm: “Throw – bounce – catch – throw – bounce – catch”
🧺 Rally 3+ times before dropping the ball
🔄 Encourage turn-taking: child hits, parent returns, repeat
🏸 Racket Introductions:
👟 Begin with parent and child rallying under the hurdle
🧱 Allow child to control first: catch or volley to settle ball before sending it back
🎾 Start with tee-hits or drop-feeds transitioning into light rallies
↔️ Try back-and-forth rallies using inflatable or foam balls
🧲 Use two drop-down markers to define boundaries/footwork zones
🚀 Progressions for Older or Confident Children:
🎾 Swap from inflatable ball to mini red foam ball
🥎 Begin over the hurdle using low-to-high swing after bounce
↪️ Add serve to start the rally
🔄 Alternate between forehand and backhand
🎽 Create a points-based challenge: e.g. “3 rallies = 1 point”
Encourage children to use topspin and correct hitting technique, accelerating racket paths up the ball.
💡 Coaching Tips:
Demonstrate each variation with energy and exaggeration
Use parents to model correct feeding, rhythm and encouragement
Use cues like “bounce, catch,” or “swing up, let it fly”
Keep sessions positive, even when rallies fail – the process is the progress!
Adjust the net height, ball type, and distance depending on the group’s age and confidence
Further progressions for Titans and Troopers : https://youtu.be/qS5E904i5D4?si=Ivzk553d-9BZFDzF
Pumpkin Patch 🍂👻🎃
👟 HOW TO PLAY
Children use their rackets to carefully lift the pumpkin (beanbag/ball) off its patch (under the cone).
They must balance the pumpkin on the racket while walking over to drop it into the matching colour collecting tub.
Coaches and assistants throw scarves (ghosts) and frisbee-style cones (ghouls) gently toward children to try and knock pumpkins off rackets or make them dodge.
Children must restart the collection journey if their pumpkin falls before reaching the tub.
Keep rotating – once all pumpkins are collected, reset the patch and start again!
💡 Progressions
Add time challenges – who can collect the most pumpkins in 60 seconds?
Add foot dribbling as a return challenge (e.g., dribble a ball back after delivery).
Use smaller rackets or wobblier balls for advanced balance control.
🪶 Feathers (Younger Players – Under 3s)
Use beanbags instead of balls
Children use upside-down rackets or hands to carefully pick up a "pumpkin" (cone on top of a beanbag or ball).
They walk slowly over to a collecting bucket to match the colour.
Coaches gently wave or toss scarves as friendly "ghosts" – but not too close to startle them.
Focus on: Colour recognition, matching, safe travel, and object manipulation.
🚀 Progressions (Older Players – 3+ years)
Children balance the pumpkin (cone + beanbag) on a racket while navigating through a “haunted” path.
Coaches throw scarves or soft cones across the space as obstacles ("ghouls") trying to knock pumpkins off.
Add a rule that if your pumpkin is knocked off, you must go back and start again!
Optional: Add throwing challenge at the end – throw the "pumpkin" (beanbag) into the matching coloured tub.
🌸 Seasonal Variations:
🎅 Christmas – “Elf Harvest”
The cones become Christmas puddings or presents, and the balls/beanbags are toys or decorations.
Coaches are Grinches or naughty elves trying to make deliveries more difficult by tossing scarves or “snowballs.”
Buckets become Santa’s sleighs or chimneys for toy delivery.
🐣 Easter – “Egg Garden”
Beanbags = Easter eggs, cones = nests.
Children balance “eggs” to take to the baskets or bunny dens at the far end.
Coaches toss scarves as swooping birds or frisbee “rolling logs” to dodge.
💘 Valentine’s Day – “Love Bug Hunt”
Beanbags = love bugs, cones = flower pots, buckets = Valentine mailboxes.
Scarves become flying love notes or petals blowing in the wind that distract or knock items off rackets.
Learning the Lines
Story / Theme:
A fast-paced, interactive way for kids to learn and remember the names of tennis court lines — with a fun story twist to make it stick.
Equipment:
Tennis court (full or mini)
Coach to lead the calls and story
How to Play – Learning the Lines:
Gather all players in the middle of the court.
Walk as a group to each line and explain its name, shortening each to a single word:
Baseline → “BASE”
Net → “NET”
Centre line → “CENTRE”
Tramline → “TRAM”
Service line → “SERVICE”
Alley (space between tramlines) → “ALLEY”
Encourage players to shout the word back to you at each stop.
How to Play – Call & Run:
Stand in the middle of the court.
Call out one of the one-word abbreviations.
All players run to that line as fast as they can.
Mix up the order to keep them on their toes.
Story Game Variation:
Tell a silly story, highlighting any of the line names you’ve taught.
When players hear a line name, they must run to that line immediately.
Example story:
“I had to get my suitcase out of the BASEment, then call a taxi SERVICE.
But my phone had no NETwork, so I walked through an ALLEY.
When I landed, I took a TRAM to the town CENTRE…”
Progressions:
Add a competition element — last player to reach the correct line is out for that round.
Add in fake calls to test listening skills.
Use more complex stories with faster line name changes.
Variations:
Team Play: Divide players into two teams. Whichever team gets all members to the line first scores a point.
Reverse Calls: Coach stands on the wrong line to confuse players — they must listen, not watch.
King of the Ring 👑🥊
King of the Ring 👑🥊
🎾 A fun tennis-themed elimination game with a boxing-ring twist!
🧠 Purpose:
Develop quick reactions and footwork
Improve hand-eye coordination
Encourage strategic dodging and racket control
Add fun competition to end the session
🎤 Story Script Intro:
"Welcome to the ultimate tennis showdown! 🎤
Today, you’ll step into the ring as a young champion — but only one will be crowned King or Queen of the Ring! 💥
To survive, you’ll need ninja-fast reflexes, crab-like movement, and a warrior’s focus. Step up, champs — the ring awaits!" 🦀🥊👑
🏟️ Setup:
Create a square ring using cones or mini tennis nets (or use a service box area)
Place all players inside the ring (no rackets at first)
Coaches/assistants line the outside with a supply of foam balls, tennis balls, or soft balls
Designate a safe "eliminated zone" outside the ring
👟 How to Play:
Start the match: All kids stand in the ring.
Dodge time: Coaches gently toss, roll, or drop-feed soft balls into the ring, aiming to tag players (below waist height).
Elimination:
If a player is hit → they are out and move outside the ring.
Once outside, they grab a racket and join the coach’s team, helping to eliminate others by drop-feeding, tapping, or rolling balls into the ring.
Last player standing = the King/Queen of the Ring! 🎉
🪶 Feathers (Easier for Younger Players):
Each child starts with 3 lives before they’re out
Use rackets as shields to block balls
Let them catch the ball instead of dodge
Encourage parents to join in and protect the kids
Use only foam balls for super soft impact
⚡ Progressions (For Older Kids):
Must dodge AND keep moving sideways like a crab
Add racket hits from outside (drop-feed volleys or bounce feeds)
Challenge rounds:
Round 1: Dodge only
Round 2: Racket shields only
Round 3: Bounce + hit back if you’re inside
Add a time limit for each round (e.g., 1 minute max)
🎄 Seasonal Variations:
Halloween: "Haunted Ring" – dodge ghost balls or pumpkins 👻🎃
Christmas: "Snowball Ring" – white balls only, “freeze” when hit ❄️
Easter: "Egg Drop Ring" – dodge bouncing eggs 🥚
Valentine’s: "Heart Hit" – soft pink balls shaped like hearts 💘
Summer Beach Ring: Use beachballs and dodging becomes slow-mo 🏖️
Mum/Dad Challenge: Coaches become parents, and kids try to survive parent volleys 💪👨👩👧
🏆 Finishing Touches:
Crown the winner with a paper crown or wristband
Everyone gets a cheer and optional “comeback match”
Add music to pump up the drama 🎵🎤
King of the Court
🎯 Objective:
Stay on the “king” side of the court by winning quick points against challengers.
🔧 Setup:
Use half or full court depending on numbers/space.
One side is the “King’s” side (or Queen’s side!) – this is where the reigning player stands.
Other players line up on the challenger side.
🕹️ How to Play:
1. Coach feeds a ball to the challenger.
2. Challenger hits the ball into play against the king/queen.
3. If the challenger wins, they become the new king and move to the king’s side.
4. If the king/queen wins, they stay and the next challenger steps in.
5. Play 1-point rallies – no second chances or lets.
6. Keep a running total of who holds the court the longest or most wins.
🏆 Optional Scoring:
1 point for each successful defence (king holds position).
1 point for each successful takeover (challenger becomes king).
Great for tournaments: play 3-minute rounds or to 10 points.
🐣 Easier Variants for Younger Children:
Let younger players bounce the ball before hitting.
Allow multiple hits before returning over the net (e.g. trap and hit).
Use larger balls (e.g. red sponge balls or even a foam football).
Let players serve instead of feeding for extra engagement.
Use mini-court with throw-and-catch rules before rallying.
Jailbreak Version 2 (without catches)
Jailbreak version 2 (without catches)
https://youtu.be/2Q_S_7QZooM?si=tJctFXXTmGiuOGoQ
📍 A fun net-based game focused on control, pressure, and team play
⏱ Duration: 8–10 mins
🧒 Age: 5–12 (adaptable with Feathers & Progressions)
🧱 Set-Up
· Use one side of the tennis court (or small space split by mini net).
· Split the playing side into three distinct zones using cones or lines:
o 🎯 Hitting Zone – where players take their turn
o 🕐 Queuing Zone – safe waiting space out of hitting line
o 🚧 Jail Zone – an area off to the side (can be marked with cones)
· Coach is on the opposite side of the net, feeding balls to each hitter.
🎮 How to Play
1. Each child takes their turn in the Hitting Zone.
2. They are fed 3 shots by the coach (e.g., 2 groundstrokes, 1 volley).
3. The goal is to land at least 2 out of 3 shotsin the court (adjust for age).
4. ✅ If they succeed, they are safe and rejoin the queue.
5. ❌ If they fail, they go to the Jail Zone and wait.
🦸 Jailbreak Rule
· If a player in the queue gets all 3 shots in (or meets your criteria), the coach shouts “JAILBREAK!” 🔓
· Everyone in the jail is freed and runs back to the queue.
· But there’s a twist: as they run, the coach tries to gently hit them with foam balls (or softies).
· Anyone hit must go back to jail for one more round.
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for younger or new players)
· Use hitting tee’s
· Only one shot required instead of three.
· Don’t enforce the “in” rule too strictly — count good effort or technique.
· Instead of hitting over the net, roll or bounce the ball for them to strike.
· Skip the jailbreak throwback stage — just let them run back freely.
⚡️ Progressions (Older/more advanced kids)
· Make players change grip for each shot (forehand, backhand, volley).
· Add a target zone (e.g., hit into a hoop or behind a marker).
· Jailbreak only triggered if player hits all 3 shots into specific targets.
· Add a timed challenge: how many jailbreaks in 5 minutes?
· Jailbreak return: coach uses real tennis balls and must hit legs (controlled, fun “dodgeball” element).
💬 Coaching Tips
· Keep the energy high — use drama!
“Oh no! We’ve lost another one to the jail!”
“Can anyone save them? This is our last hope!”
· Use a “shield” racket when kids are being “chased” by coach balls — optional defensive layer.
Jailbreak Version 1
Jailbreak version 1 (with catches)
https://youtu.be/1mw1pGBGohA?si=XuD0DlCau3g53TY7
🧱 Basic Rules:
1. Players line up on one side of the net (the Free Zone).
2. The coach feeds balls (or players use hitting tees), and players take turns trying to hit the ball over the net.
3. If the ball goes over, the player goes to the back of the line.
4. If the ball misses or hits the net, the player runs to the other side – Jail.
5. In Jail, players try to catch incoming balls. If they catch a ball cleanly, they swap with the player who hit it, and that player now goes to Jail.
🧰 Equipment Needed:
· Tennis balls (red/orange foam balls ideal for younger kids)
· Rackets
· Markers/cones for queues
· Hitting tees (optional – to assist with consistent contact)
· Catching nets (optional – for younger players or added challenge)
🔁 Optional Adaptations & Advanced Rules:
🔹 Catching Nets
· In Jail, players can use small handheld nets or pop-up scoopers to catch balls.
· Hitting tee’s for lower ability
· Great for younger players or themed versions of the game (e.g. “Crab Jailbreak”).
🔹 One Hand, One Bounce (for Jail players)
· Players in jail must catch with one hand only, and they can let the ball bounce once before catching.
· Encourages agility and anticipation.
🔹 Hitter “Lives”
· Each player starts with 3 lives.
· Lose a life if you:
o Miss your shot,
o Hit out or into the net,
o Get caught by someone in Jail.
· Lose all 3 = automatic trip to Jail!
· This encourages accuracy and awareness of Jail players.
🔹 Double Jail
· Use both ends of the court for Jail zones.
· Great for larger groups – players hit from the middle zone and Jail surrounds both ends.
🔹 Timed Rounds
· Set a timer (e.g. 3–5 mins) and try to get as many jailbreaks as possible.
· Can play team vs team and count successful swaps.
🔹 Challenge Catch
· Add a bonus rule: if a Jail player catches a volley (no bounce), they free two players or earn a “power-up” (e.g. skip a turn in Jail next round).
💡 Coaching Tips:
· Keep things fun and fast-moving.
· Adjust difficulty based on ability – use foam balls, lower nets, or slower feeds if needed.
· Encourage players to cheer for jailbreaks and stay involved even in Jail.
Ice Creams 🍦
🍦 Ice Creams
⏱️ Time: 5–7 mins
👶 Best for: Under 3’s (but adaptable for older children)
📍 Position in Session: (after warm-up or skills)
🎯 Purpose
A fun movement-based game to develop motor coordination, balance, imagination, and object handling skills. Especially useful for engaging younger Tots while reinforcing basic object placement and sequencing.
🎮 How to Play
Circle time intro: Sit the children down and ask:
“Who likes ice cream? 🍦” (Big enthusiastic YES!)
Explain that they will be building their own magical ice creams — with each item representing a new layer.
🛠️ Setup (by assistants)
Scatter the following stations around the room:
Cone = Traffic cone
Fillings = Beanbags
Marshmallows = Tennis balls
Ice Cream scoop = Large football
Toppings = Round cones
Sauce = Colourful scarves
Flake = Drop-down line
👟 Activity Flow
Children start by picking up a cone.
Then they travel around the room, collecting each “ingredient” one at a time and carefully stacking them on the cone.
Once the whole "ice cream" is built, they walk over and drop it into a sack/bucket held by a coach or parent.
Repeat as many times as attention span allows!
End the game with a clean-up mission: encourage children to sort items into matching tubs (e.g., all beanbags here, all cones there).
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for Little Ones)
Let them collect just 2–3 items at a time.
Allow parents to help with balance or carry extra pieces.
Let children place items inside the cone rather than stacking on top.
🔁 Progressions (for Older Tots 3.5–5+)
Balance Challenge- Tongs: They must carry the ice cream between two rackets (tongs) while walking!
Add obstacle paths between stations (slalom cones, low hurdles, etc.).
Introduce a relay version in teams with each child adding a new layer before the next person goes.
Time-based challenge: “How many full ice creams can you make in 2 minutes?”
🧠 Coaching Tips
Sit them down to start the explanation clearly.
Ask fun questions to involve them (“What’s your favourite flavour?”).
Big celebration every time they complete an ice cream!
If kids get frustrated balancing: simplify, reset and praise.
Seasonal variation breakdown for your 🍦 Ice Creams game (assuming the format is similar to “Sandwich Shop” with children building cones and delivering them):
·
· 🍦 Ice Creams – Seasonal Variations
· 🎄 Christmas – Build a Christmas Pudding
Children stack red (berries), brown (pudding), and white (icing) beanbags or round cones between rackets to make a Christmas dessert. They then deliver them to Santa’s dessert table (cones or tubs) without dropping the “pudding”! 🎅🍰
· Alternative for Christmas: Christmas stockings
· 🐣 Easter – Easter Sundae Station
Kids create an Easter-themed sundae using pastel-coloured balls and beanbags (think yellow for lemon curd, pink for strawberry, green for mint). They carry the sundaes on rackets or plates to the bunny café. 🐰🍨
· 🎃 Halloween – Monster Cone Factory
The cones are filled with “slime” (green beanbags), “eyeballs” (round white cones), and “bat wings” (black cones). Kids stack their monster cones and deliver them to the haunted dessert stand while avoiding spooky obstacles! 🦇🧁
· 💘 Valentine’s Day – Love Sundaes
Children build pink and red ice creams using matching coloured cones and soft balls, sandwiched between rackets or lids. Once made, they deliver them to heart-shaped tubs or to a pretend Valentine’s picnic blanket. 💖🍧
· 👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Special Treat Delivery
Kids make a special ice cream cone for Mum or Dad using their favourite “flavours” (let kids pick their colours). Carefully balance and deliver to the family lounge (delivery zone). Add a note or pretend flower for extra fun! 💐🍦
Hungry Hoovers 🧹
🧹 Hungry Hoovers
Theme: Coordination • Motor Skills • Imagination
Duration: 5 minutes (approx)
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Who’s hungry? Not for snacks — but for tennis balls! 🟡🍽
You are the Hungry Hoovers! Your traffic cone is your Hoover nozzle, and your small tub is your dust bag.
Your mission is to clean up all the balls from the court as fast as you can!"
Tip: leave all balls out from the last exercise and play this game to tiday up!
🔧 Equipment Needed:
Traffic cones = Hoover Nozzles
Small tubs (1 per child) = Dust bags
Large tubs (2–3 max) = Main waste collection tubs
Foam or soft tennis balls spread across the area
🔁 Gameplay:
Each child holds:
A cone (nozzle) in one hand
A dust bag (small tub) in the other hand
Children stamp the cone over the balls to pick them up (they can assist with the other hand if needed).
Once the cone is full, they tip the ball(s) into their dust bag.
When their dust bag is full, they run and empty it into the main collection tub (white bucket) and return to the game.
Game continues until all balls are cleaned up!
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Tots):
Let children use both hands freely to pick up and transfer balls.
Fewer balls to avoid overwhelm.
Let parents assist with holding dust bag or helping pick up balls.
Allow walking only (no running).
Use bigger balls to make hoovering easier.
⚡️ Progressions (Older / Confident Children):
❌ No hands allowed! Must use a racket in one hand and a cone in the other.
Racket scoop challenge: scoop balls into dust bag using the racket only.
Add obstacles or zones where only one child can be in at a time (like kitchen tiles).
Add a timer – how fast can they clean the court?
Use smaller or flatter balls that are trickier to pick up.
🎯 Skill Focus:
Fine and gross motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Object manipulation
Imaginative play and theme engagement
Teamwork if done in teams or relay style
seasonal variations for Hungry Hoovers 🧹🍬 — keeping the core mechanics (collecting balls with cones and depositing into tubs) but adding themed storytelling and items:
🧽 Hungry Hoovers – Seasonal Variations
🎄 Christmas – Elf Workshop Clean-Up
Santa’s elves have dropped all the Christmas baubles and decorations! Kids become magical hoovers collecting them. Use red, green, gold balls as “baubles” and “sweep” them up with cones into their dustbags. Tidy the workshop before Santa gets back! 🎅🎁
🐣 Easter – Bunny Burrow Sweep-Up
The Easter Bunny’s helpers have made a mess! Beanbags are colourful Easter eggs, and kids use cones to collect them and sort them back into the bunny baskets. Maybe add a few hidden “chocolate eggs” (special coloured cones)! 🐰🥚
🎃 Halloween – Witch’s Broom Blitz
The witches left slime blobs (green balls), spiders (black cones), and eyeballs (round cones) everywhere. Kids must use “magic vacuums” (cones) to hoover them into their cauldrons (dust tubs). Play spooky music for atmosphere! 🧙♀️🕷️
💘 Valentine’s Day – Love Heart Clean-Up
After a Valentine’s party, love hearts and chocolates (red and pink beanbags or balls) are scattered across the floor. Kids sweep them up gently and place them into gift baskets. 💌🍫
👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Kitchen Tidy-Up
After making breakfast for Mum or Dad, the kitchen’s a mess! Kids must hoover up pretend crumbs, toast crusts, and eggs (balls/beanbags), placing them in the bin (main tub). 🧼🍳🧹