Hoopla 🎯 – Target Throwing Challenge

🕒 2–6 minutes | Ages: 3–9 | Focus: Throwing, accuracy, hand-eye coordination, object control

🧠 Purpose

• Improve hand-eye coordination

• Develop overhead and underarm throwing techniques

• Encourage target-based focus and spatial awareness

• Reinforce color recognition and aim

🏗 Setup

• Lay out 5–8 hitting tees spaced apart across the court or hall

• Add a barrier line (e.g., mini net or row of cones) 3–6 metres away based on age group

• Children line up behind the line with a large hoop (or beanbag) each

• Place buckets or tubs at varying distances as extra targets

• Optional: Add cones that children can throw or "frisbee" into the targets

• Use beanbags, soft balls, hoops, and cones as a mix of throwing items

🌀 How to Play

1. Children take turns frisbee-throwing hoops to try and land them over the tees

2. Parents and coaches can re-cycle the hoops to keep it flowing

3. Set out plastic tubs into the throwing space and introduce other throwing objects if hoops are limited (cones, beanbags, balls)

4. Celebrate success with high fives or silly celebration dances 🎉

🪶 Feathers (Younger Kids / Beginners):

• Use closer throwing lines for younger children (2–3 metres)

• Allow rolling or dropping the hoop over the tee for success

• Use larger, lighter hoops for better grip and easier control

• Let parents assist with guiding the throwing action

• Play without a barrier if accuracy is very low

• Add a points system for each target landed (e.g. 5 points for hoops, 3 for cones, 1 for beanbags)

• Introduce different distances or small cones stacked for bonus targets

• Have children run and collect the object they hit as a relay

• Add time challenges (e.g. “How many targets can you hit in 30 seconds?”)

• Make them use non-dominant hand or throw with one foot off the ground

🎃 Seasonal Variations:

• 🎃 Halloween: Call it “Pumpkin Toss” — hoops are magic rings to trap spooky ghosts (draw faces on tees)

• 🎄 Christmas: Use green/red hoops for “Elf Ring Toss” — hitting tees are presents to wrap

• 🐣 Easter: “Bunny Hoopla” — children toss pastel hoops over “giant eggs” (decorate the tees)

• ❤️ Valentine’s: “Heart Toss” — hoops represent love rings to land on hearts

• 🌸 Spring: “Flower Ring Throw” — throw hoops onto flower pots or cones decorated as tulips 🌷

Floor is Lava! 🌋

🔥 Adventure Balance Game – 5–8 mins

🚶‍♂️ Transition from Warm-Up:

This game follows perfectly from the warm-up, as much of the setup remains in place. It's a great way to channel the children’s excitement into imaginative, skill-building movement with purpose.

🧠 Purpose:

• Develop balance, spatial awareness & coordination

• Encourage careful footwork and decision-making

• Reinforce ball/beanbag handling skills

• Provide imaginative and physical transition to main skill stations

🗣 Story Script (Coach Narration):

“Oh no — the tennis court has turned into a lava pit! 🔥 The only way across is by stepping on floating islands and bridges! Put on your safety helmets (🎩 upside-down cones!) and collect the magical treasure (beanbags) without touching the lava. Watch out — lava eruptions and fireballs might get in your way!”

🏗 Set-Up:

• Scatter tennis balls = lava

• Place hoops, dots, and throw-down lines = islands and bridges

• Add buckets or tubs = volcano checkpoints

• Kids wear helmets made of upside-down round cones or small cones on their heads

• Starting point on one end of court; destination on the other

🎮 Main Game Mechanics:

• Children start at one side, balancing beanbags, foam balls, or carrying rackets

• They move only on safe items (hoops, spots, lines) to cross the lava

• At volcano checkpoint (centre or end), they toss the beanbag into a bucket, collect another, and return

• If they fall off, they return to the start

• No jumping or running — slow, stable travel encouraged

🪶 Feathers (Easier Variants):

• No racket needed – carry item in hands

• Make islands closer together

• Let assistants or parents hold children's hands

• No “lava eruptions” until later

⚡ Progressions (Challenge Add-Ons):

1. 🔥 Rolling Fireballs: Coaches gently roll tennis balls across paths

2. 🌋 Volcano Eruption: A bucket of soft balls is thrown in the air while coaches frisbee round cones (lava rocks) for kids to dodge

3. 🎭 Tell kids to wear helmets (round or traffic) to challenge balance as they move around

4. 🎯 Checkpoint Challenge: Kids throw into the bucket to “disarm the volcano” before moving on

5. 🎒 Load Swap at checkpoints: Swap beanbags for soft balls or juggling scarves

6. 🧗 Racket Carry: Older kids balance a ball or beanbag on a racket as they cross

🎭 Seasonal Adaptations:

• 🎃 Halloween – "The Floor is Slime!": Use green cones & spooky music, roll “ghost balls” (white balloons)

• 🎅 Christmas – "Santa’s Rooftop Rescue": Hoops become chimneys, beanbags are presents

• 🐣 Easter – "Egg Escape Lava": Balance “eggs” (foam balls) in spoon or on racket

• 💘 Valentine’s Day – "Heart Rescue Mission": Beanbags are hearts; kids rescue them from lava

• 👩‍👧 Mother's Day / 👨‍👦 Father's Day – "Gift Dash": Kids carry gifts to their parents across the lava

🧠 Coach Reminders:

• Keep it safe — always check islands are spaced sensibly and not slipping

• Get into character — volcanoes, fire monsters, or rescue leaders!

• Encourage teamwork by letting kids help each other cross

🍓🍌🍏 Fruit Salad – Fun Volleying Game

Duration: 8–10 minutes
Ideal Age: 4–9 years (Tots & Titans)
Focus: Volleying technique, reaction speed, footwork, and fun movement

🎾 What is a Volley?

Explain to the children:
"A volley is when we hit the ball before it bounces, right up close to the net! It’s a short punch with the racket — not a big swing. Just like licking a lollipop 🍭 — racket up in front, and push forward with your feet."

🏗 Set-Up

• 🧍‍♂️ Line kids up 2m from the net (use floor spots or cones).

• 🟡 Place another line or row of cones 1m from the net — this is where volleys are hit.

• ✂️ Split the group depending on number of feeders (approx. 5:1 ratio).

  • For example, with 15 kids and 3 coaches/parents, make 3 groups of 5.

• 🍌🍎🍓 Name the groups after fruits (Bananas, Apples, Strawberries, etc.)

🎮 How to Play

1. 🧍‍♂️ Kids begin on the first line, facing the back fence and dancing on their toes.

2. 🍎 Coach calls a fruit: “Bananas!” – those children turn around and march quickly to the front line.

3. 💥 Coach feeds a gentle ball for them to volley back (either forehand or backhand volley).

4. 🔁 Once the volley is done, the child returns to the first line.

5. 🍉 This continues with different fruit names being called.

6. 🥗 When coach shouts “Fruit Salad!” – all children must run to the back fence and back again
   while coaches try to “tag” them with soft balls (or throw gently at their feet like dodgeball).

7. 😄 Repeat for several rounds – keep energy and laughter high!

✋ Coaching Points

• 🍭 Racket up like a lollipop in front of the face

• 🚫 No backswing – just a short punch

• 🚶‍♂️ Use small forward steps with feet – like walking through a puddle

• 🧍 Stay balanced and upright

• 🎯 Try to tap the ball with middle of the racket

🪶 Feathers (Younger/Beginner Tots)

• ✅ Allow volleys to bounce once before contact

• 👩‍👦 Have parents assist child by holding hand or guiding racket

• 🧸 Use balloons or foam balls for slower flight

• 🟢 Let them catch the ball instead of volleying if coordination is tough

• 🛑 Slow the pace — call fruits one by one with more time to reset

⚡ Progressions (Older Kids/Titans)

• 🔁 Add backhand volleys alternating with forehands/ smashes

• 🎯 Add target areas to aim for (cones/hoops)

• 🏃 Add a jump over a mini hurdle before stepping into the volley

• ⏱️ Make it timed — how many good volleys in 60 seconds

• 🥎 Coaches can increase speed/difficulty of feeds

• 🔄 After volleying, player switches groups and rotates through

🎉 Seasonal Variations

• 🎅 Christmas: Call out "Santa, Snowman, Reindeer" instead of fruits

• 🐣 Easter: “Bunnies, Chicks, Eggs”

• 🎃 Halloween: “Ghosts, Witches, Pumpkins” – “Haunted House!” instead of Fruit Salad

• 💘 Valentine’s: “Hearts, Roses, Chocolates” – “Valentine’s Day!” as the run cue

• 👩‍👦 Mother’s Day/Father’s Day: Groups named after family members – “Family Run!” for group dash

🏁 Wrap-Up

• 👏 Celebrate with big claps after each round

• 🧹 Kids help tidy up cones/balls

• 🎽 End with a final “Fruit Salad” dash and maybe a silly dance at the end!

🎾 Forehands – Tennis Tots Teaching Guide

The forehand is often the first shot a child learns in tennis. It's easier than the serve and forms the foundation for many other strokes. Developing strong, fun forehands at this stage builds confidence and enjoyment early on.

👀 Demonstrate!

Children learn by watching. Please demonstrate a forehand at every level – kids mirror what they see!

🛠️ Hitting Tees – Technique Focus

Hitting tees are essential for younger children. They keep the ball still and allow consistent contact at the right height.

• 🧒 Use for ages walking to 4 years old

• 🎂 Ages 4–5 can begin live feeding (drop feeds, coach feeds, and basic rallying)

• 🔄 Rotate children through stations to reduce waiting and increase reps

🧍‍♂️ Key Technical Points:

• 📏 Sideways-on stance

• 🌈 Low to high swing path – like brushing a rainbow

• 🎯 Contact in the middle of the strings

• 🤝 Shake-hands grip at bottom of racket

• ✋ One or two hands – let them explore!

• 🟢 Use spots on the floor for foot placement

🪶 Feathers (Beginner/Younger Tots)

• 🎯 Stationary balls on tees

• 🤝 One-to-one parent support

• ✋ Gently guide racket hand

• 🎉 Celebrate ANY contact – big reactions build confidence!

⚡ Progressions (Older/Advanced Tots)

• 🔽 Drop feeds by coach or parent

• 🌀 Try brushing for topspin with “spin machines” (foam balls on string, etc.)

• ✋ Encourage one-handed hitting if ready

• 🔄 Add a loop in backswing for rhythm

• 🎯 Focus on target hitting

• 🤝 Start cooperative rallying over mini nets

• 🎾 Confident parents/coaches feed to different zones

🧰 Equipment Checklist

• 🏷️ Tennis tees

• 🏸 Rackets (17”, 19”, 21”, 23” recommended)

• 🎾 Foam balls (thick + thin), mini red balls

• 🟡 Floor spots

• 🌀 Spin machines / suspended balls (optional)

• 🏗️ Hoops, cones, mini nets

🎤 Final Coach Note

This section is free-flowing – you’ll often have a wide range of ability levels. Some kids will still be on tees, others might be rallying or even volleying.
✅ Use the parents – coach them on how to challenge their own child.
✅ Aim to interact with every child – offer simple, specific praise or guidance.
✅ Keep it positive and high energy!

🎾 Inside the Box – Target Practice & Scoring Game

Time: 4–8 minutes
Theme: Learning how to aim at the correct area, understand how points are constructed, and learn touch and control.

📖 Story Script:

“Do you know how tennis players score points? That’s right — by hitting the ball into the box on the other side of the court! Today, we’re going to practise doing just that. Can you aim carefully and hit your target like a real tennis pro?”

🧠 Purpose:

• Learn how tennis scoring works

• Practise aim and control (both forehand and backhand)

• Reinforce “target awareness” with simple visuals

• Create a fun 1-to-1 dynamic between child and parent

🏗 Set-Up:

• Coach shows the children how to draw a line with a drop-down line, dots, (or cones if nothing else). NB if you have enough big hoops, you can use them, but you are limited by how far they can move back, as the hoops are small.

• Coach demonstrates how a tennis point is scored (ball must land in the court/box)

• Each child pairs up with a parent/assistant

• Using drop-down lines, cones, hoops, or markers, each pair creates a target box in front of the parent (3–4 racket lengths wide is fine)

• The child stands opposite and attempts to hit/throw the ball/beanbag into the box. Coach demonstrates a maximum of three variants (depending on age: see feathers and progressions) with the assistant or a player, and then sends parents away to build a box and start practising

🎯 How to Play:

1. Parent and child find a space and draw their own box (based on the coach's demonstration)

2. The child hits forehands/ backhands/ throws (coach decides based on group and age: see feathers and progressions)

3. The parent stands ready to catch the ball after one bounce

   • If the ball lands inside the box: The child takes one step back = Harder challenge

   • If it misses the box: They stay where they are, and the child tries again

🏆 How far back can the child move back before the time is up?

🪶 Feathers (Simplified for Younger Children):

• Throw beanbags into the box (underarm)

• Throw and catch, toss a football, landing in the box

• Use hitting tees to hit in the box

• Use a larger box or hoop as a target

• Let the child drop-hit instead of hitting from a feed

• Use balloons or foam balls for easier control

• Allow the child to stand closer and roll or gently tap the ball

• Parent can “trap and roll” instead of catch if easier

⚡ Progressions (Older/Mixed Ages):

• Alternate between forehands and backhands

• Try hitting the left or right corners of the box

• Add a bonus point if the ball bounces inside the box and is caught cleanly

• Use scoring: 1 point per box hit, 5 hits = level up

• Try a serve variation: underarm serve into the box, then overarm or throw the ball to start a rally

• Use a mini-red ball, and rally with the parent/ child in the box.

• Play points where the ball has to bounce into the box once and two bounces on your side, then progress to just one bounce your side, then volleys with no bounces

🌈 Seasonal Variations:

• 🎄 Christmas: Draw a present 🎁 inside the box and say “deliver the gift!”🐣 Easter: Drop cones/eggs in the target box and say, “Can you crack the Easter egg?”

• 💝 Valentine’s: Use heart-shaped targets – “hit the love zone!”

• 🎃 Halloween: “Can you scare the ghost hiding in the box?”🌸 Mother’s Day / Father’s Day: “Deliver your ball into the Mum/Dad zone for a surprise hug!”

🎱 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:

1. 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.

2. They run to that pocket and drop the beanbag inside, then sprint back to the centre to collect the next one.

3. Continue until all bags are cleared.

4. Count how many bags made it into the correct tubs.

⚡ Progressions (For Older Kids):

1. Ball Challenge – As beanbags disappear, start to add balls which are harder to balance

2. Catchers – Add two coaches holding catching nets as moving “pockets”. Children must throw soft balls to be caught on the move

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Timed Round – Set a 1–2 minute timer and challenge players to collect as many as they can before time runs out.

7. 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.

👋 Introduction – 1 to 3 Minutes

🕒 Timing: Immediately after warm-up, while assistants are setting up the first game (e.g. Tennis Fishing).

📍 Sit children down in a circle at one end of the room or court.

🎾 Summary

The Introduction sets the tone for the session and builds a positive connection between the children, the coaches, and the equipment. It’s calm and simple, allowing children to catch their breath, feel welcome, and focus ahead of the next activity.

✅ Step-by-Step Instructions: Circle Time 🧘

·      Ask all children to sit in a circle.

·      Invite children who have their own racket to collect it first and sit back down.

·      If a child doesn’t have a racket, reassure them: “We have a special racket just for you today!”

·      Introduce yourself and any assistant coaches, ask them if they can guess your names

·      Introduce Clawdia the Crab 🦀, your Tennis Tots mascot. Hold up a soft toy or point to her on your T-shirt. Next time ask them if they remember what Clawdia’s name is?

·      Say something like:“Clawdia 🦀 is going to help us learn how to play tennis today!”

·      What is this? (Hold up racket) ❓Ask the group: “What is this called?” (Let them shout out “Racket!”)

·      Introduce the parts of the racket in a fun way:

v Face – “This is where we hit the ball!”

v Heart – “This is the strong part in the middle.”

v Leg – “This part helps us hold the racket properly.”

Shake Hands Grip 🤝

Say: “Can everyone shake hands with their racket?”

Help them hold the handle like they’re shaking hands.

Reinforce that this is the best way to hold the racket.

Use positive reinforcement: “Great grip! That’s just how Clawdia does it!”

Transition to Game #1 🔄

Give a quick, simple explanation of the next game (e.g., “We’re going fishing! You’ll balance fish on your racket and bring them back!”)

Stand up slowly with them and lead them over to the game area.

🧠 Coach Tips

• Keep it calm and engaging – this is a reset moment 

• Smile and keep eye contact with children and parents 

• Reinforce good behaviour: “I love how you’re sitting nicely!” 

• Use Clawdia to keep younger children engaged 

• Empower parents to help their child with grip and holding the racket

🪶 Feathers (for Younger Children)

Have parents hold the racket for children or guide their hand

Let Clawdia “talk” (puppet voice) to explain racket parts

Keep circle small and short

🧗‍♂️ Progressions (for Older Children)

Ask: “What other sports use a racket?”

Encourage older ones to try bounce and catch while sitting

Let them name the racket parts themselves

For older children who have been many times, breeze through or miss most of the introduction

🎯 Purpose: Improve balance, colour recognition, Category: Finishing Game 2-5minutes

Equipment Needed: Colourful scarves (tails)

How to Play

Each child wears a tail (colourful scarf) tucked into their waistband, trousers, or the back of their shirt like a cape. Once everyone is ready, children run around the space while a parent or carer chases them, trying to grab the tail. Once caught, the roles swap—kids become the chasers and try to grab their parents' tails!

☀️ Coach Tips

✅ Only parents or carers should attach the scarf "tails" to children.

✅ Make sure tails are tucked in securely but not too tight.

✅ Encourage lots of running, laughter and swapping roles.

✅ Reinforce taking turns and fair play.

🪶 Feathers (Simplify)

Children can start by simply running with tails and not be chased. Parents jog slowly or walk for younger children.

🔁 Progression (Challenge)

Add multiple parents and tails.

Reduce number of tails so multiple children are chasing same children

Have one tail and catcher has to wear

🎯 Focus: Throwing accuracy, technique to develop serving, and fun competition

🧰 Set-Up

Set up a tennis net or cone barrier across the middle of the space 

Place tennis balls on top of hitting tees or cones (hitting tees work better) along the other side of the net/barrier — these are the “coconuts”

🏹 How to Play

Ask the kids “have they ever been to a summer fete?...Seen a coconut shy? “

Children stand behind a line or designated throw zone. The aim is to knock the coconuts (balls) off the tees

Correct Technique

Sideways stance; ball or beanbag behind the ear to allow elbow to bend. Encourage to use entire body to rotate up and outwards. Serving development: Explain to children and Parents how good throwing technique is important for later serving development. If you are able demonstrate first a serve and then a throw to show the similarities

Coaches or assistants recycle beanbags and move around the group, checking technique and providing praise or small corrections. Move to foam balls when run out of beanbags

🔁 Progressions

🎯 Move the throw line further back to increase difficulty

🪁 Add a challenge round — 3 throws each, how many can you hit?

🔄 Kids pair up and count each other’s hits (scorekeeping)

🪶 Feathers – Younger Children

✅ Let younger kids move closer to the net/barrier or even remove barrier entirely

☀️ Coach Tips

·       Keep the pace lively – have spare beanbags ready

·       Use visual and verbal cues: “Let’s knock those coconuts down!”

·       Clap and cheer when a child gets one – even close throws should be praised

Try to impart correct technique (sideways and behind ear) but don’t over-correct – focus on fun and effort

🎯 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.

🔥 Movement, Coordination & Focus

🧠 Purpose

To activate children’s bodies, improve balance and coordination, and get them engaged and smiling before the session begins!

📍 Set-Up

🟠 Use one colour of round cones in a large circle in the middle of the space

🎶 Optional: play fun music to get energy levels up

✅ No rackets or balls at the start — just bodies, cones, and imagination

🚶 How to Begin

🎯 Start with basic warm-up movements inside the circle:

o   ✨ Star jumps

o   🦵 One-leg balance

o   🤸 Gentle stretches

🌀 Children then move around the cone circle in different ways:

o   🚶 Walk

o   💂 March

o   🏃 Jog

o   🔙 Backwards

o   🦀 Crab walk IMPORTANT!

o   🐎 Horse gallops

🧊 Coach shouts “Freeze!” intermittently — kids stop and hold a pose or balance!

🧱 Obstacle Challenge Build-Up

Coaches begin to add progressively challenging obstacles to the circle as warm-up continues:

🔁 Movement Obstacles

• 🔶 Cone Lines – jump over two-foot lines

• 🟠 Traffic Cones – higher jumps (🧑‍🤝‍🧑 parents can assist little ones)

• 🐍 Cone Snake – place cones in curved zigzag to step over (two feet on either side)

• 🌀 Slalom – weave through a line of cones

• 🚪 Gate Game – “open and close” gate shapes with hitting tees or cones

🧗 Crawling & Balance Challenges

• 🎯 Pole Crawl – tall cones + poles to crawl under

• 🪜 Ladder Hops – hop through agility ladder

• 🚶Stepping stones (throw down dots)

• 🪵 Walk the Plank – throw-down lines like a tightrope

• 🛞 Tyre Run – jump between hoops like a boot camp

🧤 Ball + Balance Add-Ons

• 🪄 Add rackets + beanbags → balance while walking

• 🎾 Coach rolls footballs slowly as moving obstacle

• 🥏 Coach frisbees cones gently toward feet (kids dodge them!)

• 🚫 Use foam balls to fire at footballs in path — kids must avoid!

🐣 Feathers (For Younger Tots)

• 💬 Narrate movements (“Let’s march like soldiers!”)

• 🖐️ Encourage parent/assistant to hold hands for support

• 🪶 Remove difficult jumps/slaloms if too tricky

⚡ Progressions (Older Kids / Confident Throwers):

• 🎾 Balance ball instead of beanbagà transition to keepy uppys

• 🖐️ Have checkpoints (tubs) where balls need to be thrown or hit (could have hitting tees) into tubs from a distance

• Children perform turns, or move the ball around their bodies, as moving

☀️ Coach Tips

• 🗣️ Give BIG energy and be silly — kids will copy you

• 👀 Adjust pace to suit group — add obstacles gradually

• 💛 Praise effort and bravery, not perfection

• 🎭 Mix imagination (e.g. “Crawl under the dragon’s tail!”)

☀️ Transition into other games

There are a couple of games that the warm-up set-up can be kept out and you transition directly into; see individual sheets for these games

• 🌀 Sonic School

• 🔥 Floor is Lava

Seasonal variations

Halloween

🎃 Coach throws Juggling scarves (white = ghosts), Frisbee cones = flying ghoul discs 🌀Buckets or tubs = cauldrons 🪄 Optional: spooky music or sound effects

🌟 Christmas Variation: “Elf Toss & Snow Catch” 🎅❄️

Swap white ghost scarves for silver and green scarves (snowflakes & elf magic). Flat cones become chimneys or piles of presents, and buckets are now Santa’s sack. Children can “deliver snowflakes” to the chimneys or toss presents into Santa’s sack. Add fun sound cues like “HO HO HO!” (run and freeze), or “Reindeer dash!” (gallop in a circle). Encourage festive costumes and jingling bells on wrists for extra sparkle.

🐣 Easter Variation: “Bunny Toss & Egg Catch” 🐰🥚

Use pastel-coloured scarves as bouncing eggs and flat cones as nests. Buckets or tubs become Easter baskets. Children hop like bunnies while tossing or catching scarves, and when the coach calls “Chocolate egg hunt!” they must retrieve and match scarves to nest colours. Add a “Golden Egg” challenge using a gold scarf for bonus points or silly tasks.

❤️ Valentine’s Variation: “Heart Toss & Cupid Catch” 💘💌

Use red, pink, and purple scarves as love letters or hearts, and flat cones become mailboxes. Kids can float their heart scarves to each other or aim to toss them into a mailbox tub. Add matching games: “Can you deliver the pink heart to the pink mailbox?” Use phrases like “Cupid Freeze!” or “Heart Spin!” to mix up movement