Hitting at Waist Height🎾
Hitting at Waist Height 🎯
Time: 5 minutes
Equipment: Tees / Rackets / Balls / Targets (cones, tubs, etc.)
🧸 Activity Instructions
Set up hitting tees across the space and place targets (like cones or tubs) in the centre. Each child begins by placing a ball on a tee and practices hitting it low to high with their racket.
🟢 Key teaching points:
Start in a ready position
Turn sideways to the ball
Swing from low to high
Encourage control and follow-through
🪶 Feathers (simplify for younger children):
Use balloons or beanbags on the tees to slow things down
Use shorter rackets for more control
Allow children to use their hands to guide the swing at first
Coach or parent can gently help move their arms through the swing
⚡ Progressions (for older or more advanced children):
Drop Feeds by Parents
Parents gently drop the ball in front of the child at waist height.
Encourage kids to move into position and strike the ball from low to high.
Height Variations
Parents begin mixing up their throws:
High – child must adjust and wait for ball to drop to waist height.
Low – child must bend knees and stay under the ball.
Short – child steps in and reaches forward.
Wide – child moves laterally with small steps.
Backhand Practice
Switch to backhand side and apply the same throw variations
Emphasise footwork and early preparation
Introduce Scoring
Add a scoring system: 1 point for hitting the ball, 2 points for hitting the target.
Grand Tour!🎾
Grand Tour!🎾
A fun multi-skill tennis circuit that combines hitting, throwing, drop-feeding, and putting – encouraging children to explore different techniques and body movements while working toward a common target.
⏱️ Duration:
10–15 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Introduction
"Okay travellers! ✈️ Today you're going on a trip Around the World! 🌍
You’ll need your luggage – that’s your racket and a little bucket of balls – and you’ll travel from country to country (station to station), trying to land your balls in the centre of the world. That’s our target zone!"
🧭 Setup & Station Descriptions
Lay out a large circle (or oval) around a central target zone with 2–3 upturned buckets.
Create 5–7 stations around the edge of the circle. Examples include:
Hitting Tee Station – Hit forehands off a tee toward the target buckets.
Throwing Station – Gently underarm or overarm throw into the buckets.
Drop-Feed Station – A parent or partner gently drops a ball for the child to hit.
Self Drop Station – Children drop the ball themselves and hit.
Putting Station – Use a tennis racket to gently roll the ball into sideways traffic cones or tubs.
Give each child a mini bucket or tub (their suitcase) with 3–5 balls inside.
Children move clockwise around the world trying each station.
🔁 Gameplay Instructions
Start at a station with their luggage (plastic tub)
Complete the activity at the station (1–2 balls max).
Collect missed balls near the station and carry on (leave balls that reach the middle).
Travel with racket and luggage to the next station.
End by picking up cones and tees with the children to reinforce responsibility.
🎯 Technical Coaching Tips
Tee stations: Focus on low to high swing and sideways stance.
Throwing stations: Teach underarm technique, balance, and follow-through.
Drop feed stations: Cue “watch the bounce, then swing”.
Putting station: Use forward-and-backward push like a golf putt, not a slap.
Highlight how the height of the hit affects whether the ball drops into the bucket.
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for Younger Children)
Use larger buckets in the middle.
Allow children to sit down and roll balls underarm instead of hitting.
Use balloons or large foam balls for throwing.
Let them use their hands to drop balls directly into buckets if needed.
Assign an adult helper at each station to give clear instructions.
⚡ Progressions (For Older or Advanced Children)
Reduce the size of the buckets or switch to cones on their side.
Enforce topspin hitting on tee and drop-feed stations.
Add a challenge: hit 2 out of 3 balls into the bucket before moving on.
Encourage use of backhand at one or more stations.
Add a timer per station to build urgency and pace.
Four Goals 🥅 (Dribbling Challenge)
Four Goals 🥅 (Dribbling Challenge)
Objective:
Develop racket control, footwork, spatial awareness, and directional movement by dribbling a ball into four different goal areas.
🎯 Set Up
Use four hurdles or tall cones to create four mini-goals — one in each corner of the space.
Each child starts with a football-sized inflatable ball (or foam ball).
Children must dribble their ball with their racket into each goal, visiting all four corners to complete the challenge.
👨🏫 Coach Instructions
Emphasise wide stance, soft hands, and "backwards and forwards" tapping when dribbling the ball, and using good footwork to keep the ball in range of the racket.
Players can go in any order, but must eventually score in all four goals.
Allow them to self-navigate between the goals or follow a set order if needed.
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)
Use bigger, slower balls (inflatable beach balls or soft foam balls).
Let the children use their hands or feet instead of rackets.
Play with a partner — one child controls, the other helps direct.
Set up just two goals first and build up to four.
Allow stopping and starting between each goal (don’t worry about flow).
⚡ Progressions (Extensions)
Time each run: “How fast can you get to all four goals?”
Add traffic cones as obstacles to dribble around.
Introduce a defender (coach or parent moving slowly) in the middle of the court — players must avoid them.
Introduce a goalkeeper (coach or parent moving slowly) in each goal (still letting goals past but playing along)
Add reverse challenge — after scoring in all 4, they must do it again in reverse.
Use weaker hand or backhand side to control the ball.
Encourage passing to a partner at the end of each goal and continuing in relay style.
FLOWER SHOP & FRISBEES 🌸🎁
FLOWER SHOP & FRISBEES 🌸🎁
Time: 10–15 mins total (includes interlude + throw progression)
Ages: 2.5 – 7 years
Focus: Matching, travelling with ball control, object manipulation, and target throwing.
🧠 SETUP
Flower Beds: Spread round cones randomly across the middle of the hall/space (like flowers in a meadow).
Vases: Place tall cones (mostly orange—add matching small cones or rubber tubs on top for colour coding) along one side of the hall.
Buckets (Throwing Targets): Add buckets behind the tall cones for the Frisbee & Throws progression.
🪶 FEATHERS (Under 3s)
Kids sit in a circle while you introduce the story.
Ask: “Do you know what Valentine’s/ mothers Day is?” or “Have you ever given flowers to someone?”
Explain: “We’re making beautiful bouquets and delivering them to special vases!”
Children carry an upside-down racket (handle in air) like a bouquet
Walk over to the flower bed.
Carefully balance a round cone (flower) on the handle of racket to make a bouquet
Walk back and match it to a tall cone of the same colour.
Keep repeating until the flowers are all picked.
💡 Encourage motor skills, balance, and colour recognition.
🎈 PROGRESSIONS (Over 3s)
Travelling with Ball:
Use a soft football or balloon to travel with to add a coordination challenge.
To the flower bed: Dribble with a racket or like a hockey stick.
Returning: Dribble with feet, trying to keep ball under control.
Add Challenge:
Hold the racket tray in one hand while dribbling with the other (encourage switching).
Add time-based challenges or fun sounds for colour-matching correctly.
🎯 ADD ON | FRISBEES
After finishing their flower deliveries, children “spin round” and prepare for a frisbee challenge:
🧸 Frisbee Cones
Children “frisbee” toss their flower cones into buckets placed behind the tall cones.
Encourage matching colours again.
“Can you get your red flower into the red bucket?”
Technique, sideways on and flick out the back of hand
Fireworks! 🎆
Fireworks!
Objective:
The goal of the Fireworks game is for children to catch foam balls ("fireworks") sent into the air by the coach. The kids must catch the "fireworks" using either catching nets or buckets, with the challenge being to catch them as cleanly as possible at waist height, ideally without a bounce.
Setup
Space:
This game can be played in a large open space, like a tennis court, indoor hall, or any spacious area. Ideally, you'll want to use foam balls that are safe to catch.Equipment:
o Foam balls (representing fireworks).
o Catching nets or buckets (one per child).
o Tennis rackets (optional for kids who want to try hitting with rackets).
Participants:
You’ll need a group of kids, ideally around 6-10, though it can work with larger groups. Divide the space into two sides, one for the coach (who will send up the fireworks) and one for the kids who will catch them.
How to Play
Gather the Kids:
Start by gathering the kids on one side of the space. Equip each child with either a catching net or bucket. Explain that their job is to catch the fireworks (the foam balls) that will be launched into the air.Explain the Fireworks:
The coach (you) will be sending the fireworks up into the air. These “fireworks” will come in various forms:Different heights: Some balls will be tossed higher in the air than others.
Multiple balls at once: Occasionally, more than one ball will be launched at a time, increasing the challenge.
Spin: To make it more fun and challenging, you can spin the balls, so they move unpredictably through the air.
Catching the Fireworks:
The kids will attempt to catch the fireworks. The rules are simple:They must try to catch them at waist height, which will encourage good body positioning and focus on agility.
Ideally, the child will catch the ball without a bounce. If the ball bounces before they catch it, they still get a point or continue, but it’s a little more challenging when they try to catch it without a bounce.
Variations:
Advanced Adaptation: For older or more experienced players, you can use mini red balls that travel higher and faster in air but are more dangerous if they are hit
Advanced Adaptation: For older or more experienced players, you can make the game more challenging by requiring them to catch the balls using only one hand, or perhaps even toss them in the air first before catching them.
Team Play: If there are enough kids, you can have them work in teams, where each team tries to catch as many fireworks as possible within a certain time limit.
Game Mode: Turn it into a point-based game. Each time a child successfully catches a firework, they score a point. The team or child with the most points at the end wins.
Safety Considerations:
Ensure that there’s enough space for the children to move around freely.
Foam balls are soft and safe, but be cautious of any hard surfaces where the ball might bounce unpredictably.
If using nets or buckets, make sure they are the appropriate size for the children's age group.
Seasonal theme variations for the 🎆 Fireworks Catching Game, perfect for adding fun and excitement throughout the year while keeping the core structure the same:
🎄 **Christmas – “Catch the Snowflakes” ❄️🎅
The coach becomes Father Christmas, launching soft “snowflakes” (white foam balls) into the sky.
Children try to catch them in stockings (buckets or nets).
❄️ Add drama by saying “Blizzard coming!” and tossing multiple snowflakes at once.
Bonus: Use red/white balls as “candy canes” for special point rounds!
🐣 **Easter – “Egg Drop!” 🐰🥚
Coach is the Easter Bunny tossing colourful Easter eggs (foam balls) into the sky.
Kids catch them in their baskets (buckets) to fill up their chocolate stash!
🥚 Use pastel-coloured balls and yell “Golden Egg!” for a surprise bonus throw.
🎃 **Halloween – “Witch’s Brew” 🧙♀️🎃
Coach is a witch launching magic ingredients into her cauldron!
Kids must catch the ingredients (foam balls) in cauldrons (buckets) to complete the spooky spell.
💀 Use glow-in-the-dark or orange/green foam balls for eerie effect.
💘 **Valentine’s – “Heart Catch” 💖💌
The coach throws hearts or love letters (pink/red foam balls) into the air.
Kids try to catch them in mailbags (buckets).
💘 Add “Cupid's Catch” where only one hand can be used, or spin the ball like a flying kiss!
👨👩👧👦 **Mother’s/Father’s Day – “Breakfast Catch!” 🍳☕
Pretend you're launching parts of a breakfast-in-bed tray!
Foam balls = croissants, toast, or cups of tea, and kids have to catch them in serving trays.
☕ Can play a version where parents throw and kids catch to “serve them breakfast.”Fireworks!
Objective:
The goal of the Fireworks game is for children to catch foam balls ("fireworks") sent into the air by the coach. The kids must catch the "fireworks" using either catching nets or buckets, with the challenge being to catch them as cleanly as possible at waist height, ideally without a bounce.
Setup
Space:
This game can be played in a large open space, like a tennis court, indoor hall, or any spacious area. Ideally, you'll want to use foam balls that are safe to catch.Equipment:
o Foam balls (representing fireworks).
o Catching nets or buckets (one per child).
o Tennis rackets (optional for kids who want to try hitting with rackets).
Participants:
You’ll need a group of kids, ideally around 6-10, though it can work with larger groups. Divide the space into two sides, one for the coach (who will send up the fireworks) and one for the kids who will catch them.
How to Play
Gather the Kids:
Start by gathering the kids on one side of the space. Equip each child with either a catching net or bucket. Explain that their job is to catch the fireworks (the foam balls) that will be launched into the air.Explain the Fireworks:
The coach (you) will be sending the fireworks up into the air. These “fireworks” will come in various forms:Different heights: Some balls will be tossed higher in the air than others.
Multiple balls at once: Occasionally, more than one ball will be launched at a time, increasing the challenge.
Spin: To make it more fun and challenging, you can spin the balls, so they move unpredictably through the air.
Catching the Fireworks:
The kids will attempt to catch the fireworks. The rules are simple:They must try to catch them at waist height, which will encourage good body positioning and focus on agility.
Ideally, the child will catch the ball without a bounce. If the ball bounces before they catch it, they still get a point or continue, but it’s a little more challenging when they try to catch it without a bounce.
Variations:
Advanced Adaptation: For older or more experienced players, you can use mini red balls that travel higher and faster in air but are more dangerous if they are hit
Advanced Adaptation: For older or more experienced players, you can make the game more challenging by requiring them to catch the balls using only one hand, or perhaps even toss them in the air first before catching them.
Team Play: If there are enough kids, you can have them work in teams, where each team tries to catch as many fireworks as possible within a certain time limit.
Game Mode: Turn it into a point-based game. Each time a child successfully catches a firework, they score a point. The team or child with the most points at the end wins.
Safety Considerations:
Ensure that there’s enough space for the children to move around freely.
Foam balls are soft and safe, but be cautious of any hard surfaces where the ball might bounce unpredictably.
If using nets or buckets, make sure they are the appropriate size for the children's age group.
Seasonal theme variations for the 🎆 Fireworks Catching Game, perfect for adding fun and excitement throughout the year while keeping the core structure the same:
🎄 **Christmas – “Catch the Snowflakes” ❄️🎅
The coach becomes Father Christmas, launching soft “snowflakes” (white foam balls) into the sky.
Children try to catch them in stockings (buckets or nets).
❄️ Add drama by saying “Blizzard coming!” and tossing multiple snowflakes at once.
Bonus: Use red/white balls as “candy canes” for special point rounds!
🐣 **Easter – “Egg Drop!” 🐰🥚
Coach is the Easter Bunny tossing colourful Easter eggs (foam balls) into the sky.
Kids catch them in their baskets (buckets) to fill up their chocolate stash!
🥚 Use pastel-coloured balls and yell “Golden Egg!” for a surprise bonus throw.
🎃 **Halloween – “Witch’s Brew” 🧙♀️🎃
Coach is a witch launching magic ingredients into her cauldron!
Kids must catch the ingredients (foam balls) in cauldrons (buckets) to complete the spooky spell.
💀 Use glow-in-the-dark or orange/green foam balls for eerie effect.
💘 **Valentine’s – “Heart Catch” 💖💌
The coach throws hearts or love letters (pink/red foam balls) into the air.
Kids try to catch them in mailbags (buckets).
💘 Add “Cupid's Catch” where only one hand can be used, or spin the ball like a flying kiss!
👨👩👧👦 **Mother’s/Father’s Day – “Breakfast Catch!” 🍳☕
Pretend you're launching parts of a breakfast-in-bed tray!
Foam balls = croissants, toast, or cups of tea, and kids have to catch them in serving trays.
☕ Can play a version where parents throw and kids catch to “serve them breakfast.”
Chicken, Hero, or Twin
Chicken, Hero, or Twin
Equipment
· Scarves or “tails”
· Beanbags (one per player)
· Rackets (foam or lightweight)
· Footballs (size 1 or soft balls)
· Cones for start/finish lines
Setup
· Mark a start line and finish line.
· 1–2 defenders in the middle zone — if you have an assistant coach, they start as the defender.
· All other players are attackers.
How to Play:
1. Coach calls “Chicken, Hero, or Twin”:
o Chicken – Everyone moves from start to finish.
o Hero – One named player goes alone.
o Twin – Two named players move together.
2. Defenders try to snatch attackers’ tails (no touching players).
3. If a tail is taken, the attacker joins the defenders for the rest of the round. Keep going until only one player remains — they’re the champion.
Progression Stages
1. Stage 1 – No Rackets
o Just tails and running/moving across the space.
o Focus on evasion and awareness.
2. Stage 2 – Add Rackets + Beanbags Balanced on Strings
o Players must balance a beanbag on the racket head while avoiding defenders.
3. Stage 3 – Dribble Footballs Hockey Style with Rackets
o Players push or tap the footballs along the ground while avoiding defenders.
Variations
· Add cones in the middle to weave around.
· Make defenders “freeze” for 2 seconds after a failed snatch.
Build and Demolish 🏰
🎯 Objective: Develop ball control, teamwork, imagination, and accurate throwing in two fun phases: building and knocking down a castle.
🧱 Phase 1: Build the Castle
🧒 Children = Wheelbarrows
👩👧👦 Coaches/Parents = Builders
Set up a pile of traffic cones at one end of the space (the “construction site”).
Children start at the other end with a football each.
They dribble/tap their footballs carefully toward the cone pile.
At the pile, they stop their ball and collect 1–2 cones by hand.
They dribble back, delivering the cones to the adults.
Adults build the castle by stacking tall cones with round cones between, adding poles for height if available.
Continue until time runs out or the castle is tall and mighty!
💥 Phase 2: Demolish the Castle
Create a moat line using cones — this is the safe throwing zone.
Children line up with their balls ready to throw (or roll/kick for younger ones).
One by one, they try to knock down the castle using an overarm throw or preferred technique.
If time runs out or the castle is still standing — everyone is unleashed to run and kick the rest down for fun!
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)
Bring moat line closer
Let younger children carry the ball rather than dribble, or don’t even carry a ball at all just collect the cones
They can roll the ball underarm instead of throwing.
Use beanbags instead of balls for smaller children to throw.
Allow closer throwing distance based on age/ability.
Adults can assist with ball control or placing cones gently.
⚡ Progressions
Move the moat line further back
Use a relay format: teams take turns one at a time for added structure.
Add targets on the castle: special cones worth more points when knocked off.
Introduce limited cones: teams must decide how to build smarter with fewer materials.
Time each phase: e.g., 3 minutes to build, 2 minutes to demolish.
Use different throwing techniques: underarm, overarm, one-handed, bounce before hit.
🎄 Seasonal Variations
Christmas – Elf Builders: Build Santa’s Workshop out of cones, then knock it down with “snowballs” (white balls or beanbags). Add tinsel or paper chimneys for fun.
Easter – Bunny Burrows: Kids hop with beanbags (Easter eggs) to help build bunny homes. Then use colourful eggs (balls) to knock down the carrot castle.
Halloween – Haunted Tower: Kids are mini monsters helping build a haunted castle. Use soft “pumpkin balls” to destroy it! Add spooky music for atmosphere.
Valentine’s – Love Castle: Stack “hearts” (heart-shaped cutouts or pink cones) into a tower of love. Knock it down with “love arrows” (foam balls or beanbags).
Mother’s Day / Father’s Day – Thank You Tower: Build a tower to say thank you to mums/dads. Children can place decorated cones, then demolish together in celebration.
Ten-pin Tennis 🎾 🤾♂️🎳💥
Ten-pin Tennis 🎾 🤾♂️🎳💥
Set-up
· Create a traffic grid using cones: two horizontal lines of cones at either end of the space and two vertical lines in between, forming three alleys. Note put a line of round cones at the end of the alley to stop and hit from.
· Place all the spare rackets (butt end up) at the far end of each alley to act as skittles.
o Tip: You can swap rackets for tees or upright foam targets for variety.
How to Play:
1. Coaches demonstrate with an inflatable ball.
2. Player starts at the baseline and dribbles the ball hockey-style with their racket, keeping inside one alley.
3. When they reach the end, they bowl:
o Pick up the ball.
o Drop it, let it bounce once, and hit it towards the skittles.
o Aim to knock down as many as possible.
Note, younger Tots may want to hit it along the ground or carry the ball and roll/ throw the ball at the skittles.
4. After bowling, the player runs back to collect another ball and repeats in the same or a different alley, or carry their ball back to the start of the alley.
5. Alternate between forehands and backhands each turn.
Coaching Tips
· Emphasise control over speed when dribbling.
· Show correct grip for both forehand and backhand bowling shots.
· Encourage aiming for specific skittles rather than just the whole group.
Variations & Challenges
1. One Alley Each: Allocate one alley per team and see which team can clear all skittles first.
2. Timed Challenge: Players have 60 seconds to knock down as many skittles as possible.
3. Mixed Bowling Styles: Forehand only, backhand only, or alternate after every attempt.
4. Obstacle Alley: Add mini hurdles, cones, or zig-zag gates to dribble around before bowling.
5. Target Bonus: Place a bigger target or hoop behind the skittles—hit it for bonus points.
6. Moving Skittles: Have another player slowly walk a foam skittle across the alley for extra challenge.
7. Reverse Run: After bowling, players have to dribble the ball backwards to the start.
Spin Challenge 🌀🎯
Spin Challenge 🌀🎯
🧠 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
Bug Bashers 🐞
Bug Bashers 🐞
Story Setup:
The trolls have knocked down the forest and stolen the fruit! Some trees have survived, but they need the stolen fruits to survive.
Your job: sneak through the broken forest, collect the fallen fruit, and return it to the remaining trees without waking the trolls.
Equipment:
· Broken trees: Traffic cones tipped on their side, scattered to make a “forest” maze.
· Fruit: Round dome cones in various colours, placed beyond the forest.
· Healthy trees: Tall, upright traffic cones at the far end, one per fruit colour.
How to Play:
1. Start: Children begin at one side of the broken forest.
2. Through the Forest:
o Players weave through the “trees” without knocking them over.
3. Collecting Fruit:
o At the far side, they find the fallen fruit (round cones).
o They can push from behind with their racket or drag from the front, but cannot use hands.
4. Return Journey:
o Carefully guide the fruit back through the forest.
5. Delivery:
o Match the fruit colour to the correct “healthy tree” (tall cone) and place it there.
Progressions:
1. Troll Guards: Coaches or players act as trolls who try to steal fruit from anyone carrying it.
2. Touch Penalty: If a player touches a tree, they must return to the start.
3. Timed Rescue: Teams have 2 minutes to collect as much fruit as possible.
4. Double Fruit: Allow players to try and carry two fruits at once (more risk, more reward).
5. Reverse Run: Trolls can only steal fruit inside the forest — encourage careful dodging.
Variations:
· Relay Mode: One player at a time per team collects fruit.
· Silent Forest: No speaking allowed — if a player talks, the trolls wake up!
· Trap Trees: Some fallen trees are “unstable” — if touched, player must freeze for 5 seconds before moving again.
Seasonal alternatives
Its always fun to adapt the game to the season, some ideas are below but you can always try a valentines addition, mothers/father’s day use your imagination.
🎄 Christmas Alternative – "Santa's Forest Rescue"
The Christmas trees have lost their baubles! Sneak through the snowy forest to collect fallen baubles (round cones) and hang them on the upright Christmas trees (tall cones). Watch out for mischievous elves trying to tangle you in tinsel! 🎁🎄🧝♂️
🐣 Easter Alternative – "Egg Hunt in the Woods"
The Easter Bunny has hidden eggs (round cones) deep in the forest. Carefully navigate the broken trees and retrieve the eggs without waking the snoozing foxes 🦊. Deliver the eggs to matching colour baskets at the edge of the forest. 🐰🥚🌼
🎃 Halloween Alternative – "Haunted Forest"
Spooky pumpkins (orange cones) have rolled into the haunted woods! Players must sneak past ghost trees and return the pumpkins to their spooky shrines before the witches catch them. No touching the haunted trees or the ghosts may wake! 👻🎃🕸️
Broken Forest🌲🎾🍎👹
Broken Forest 🌲🎾🍎👹
Story Setup:
The trolls have knocked down the forest and stolen the fruit! Some trees have survived, but they need the stolen fruits to survive.
Your job: sneak through the broken forest, collect the fallen fruit, and return it to the remaining trees without waking the trolls.
Equipment:
· Broken trees: Traffic cones tipped on their side, scattered to make a “forest” maze.
· Fruit: Round dome cones in various colours, placed beyond the forest.
· Healthy trees: Tall, upright traffic cones at the far end, one per fruit colour.
How to Play:
1. Start: Children begin at one side of the broken forest.
2. Through the Forest:
o Players weave through the “trees” without knocking them over.
3. Collecting Fruit:
o At the far side, they find the fallen fruit (round cones).
o They can push from behind with their racket or drag from the front, but cannot use hands.
4. Return Journey:
o Carefully guide the fruit back through the forest.
5. Delivery:
o Match the fruit colour to the correct “healthy tree” (tall cone) and place it there.
Progressions:
1. Troll Guards: Coaches or players act as trolls who try to steal fruit from anyone carrying it.
2. Touch Penalty: If a player touches a tree, they must return to the start.
3. Timed Rescue: Teams have 2 minutes to collect as much fruit as possible.
4. Double Fruit: Allow players to try and carry two fruits at once (more risk, more reward).
5. Reverse Run: Trolls can only steal fruit inside the forest — encourage careful dodging.
Variations:
· Relay Mode: One player at a time per team collects fruit.
· Silent Forest: No speaking allowed — if a player talks, the trolls wake up!
· Trap Trees: Some fallen trees are “unstable” — if touched, player must freeze for 5 seconds before moving again.
Seasonal alternatives
Its always fun to adapt the game to the season, some ideas are below but you can always try a valentines addition, mothers/father’s day use your imagination.
🎄 Christmas Alternative – "Santa's Forest Rescue"
The Christmas trees have lost their baubles! Sneak through the snowy forest to collect fallen baubles (round cones) and hang them on the upright Christmas trees (tall cones). Watch out for mischievous elves trying to tangle you in tinsel! 🎁🎄🧝♂️
🐣 Easter Alternative – "Egg Hunt in the Woods"
The Easter Bunny has hidden eggs (round cones) deep in the forest. Carefully navigate the broken trees and retrieve the eggs without waking the snoozing foxes 🦊. Deliver the eggs to matching colour baskets at the edge of the forest. 🐰🥚🌼
🎃 Halloween Alternative – "Haunted Forest"
Spooky pumpkins (orange cones) have rolled into the haunted woods! Players must sneak past ghost trees and return the pumpkins to their spooky shrines before the witches catch them. No touching the haunted trees or the ghosts may wake! 👻🎃🕸️
Cone Hands 🎾 🤚🔴🔵
🎾 🤚🔴🔵 Cone Hands
Theme: Reactions • Colours • Two-handed coordination
🗣️ Story/Script Intro
“Did you know tennis players use both hands — for balance, control, and power? Today you’ll need sharp eyes, fast feet, and your special cone hands to win the challenge!”
🧠 Purpose
• Improve colour recognition
• Develop two-handed awareness
• Encourage quick reactions
• Build fun parent-child interactions
🏗 Setup
• Every child has 2 mini traffic cones –different colours; have another set for parents so you need lots of the same colour cones e.g. blue and red
• Coaches and parents have extra coloured cones to hold up or use as “hats”
• Spread out around a tennis court, sports hall, or open space
🟢 Coach-Led Colour Calls
Children space out in the playing area with a cone in each hand
Get the children to wear the cone hands with one colour on each hand, thumb on the outside and two fingers inside, get the children to play the cones like cymbals.
Coach calls out a cone colour (e.g., “BLUE!”)
Players must lift that colour cone high in the air with the correct hand
👀 Mix it up:
• Call out “both!” to lift both cones
• Call “switch!” and have them swap cones between hands
• Add jump or spin before lifting the cone
👨👩👧 Progression 1 – Parent Hi-Five Challenge Good for small Tots
Pair: each child with their parent
Parent: holds up a coloured cone (like a signal)
Child: runs to the parent and hi-fives their cone with the matching cone in hand
Progress: to parents tricking child with calling one colour but holding up the other, swapping cones over
🔵 Progression 2 – Cone Hat Smash! Good for small Tots
Parents place an inflatable football on the ground
Add a cone hat (colourful cone placed upside down on top of the ball)
Children run forward and knock off the cone hat using the matching coloured cone from their hand
Reset and repeat with new colours
🔴 Progression 3 – Rolling Reaction Smash
Parents roll a football toward the child
As they roll, they call out a cone colour (e.g., “Red!”)
The child must use the matching cone to “whack” or block the rolling ball
Progress to trick calling; feed the ball out to left-hand colour but call right, so that the child has to scamper around and use the called hand
Progress to child turning away: child turns away and parent leaves it later and later to call, they need to turn and tap the ball back using the correct colour quickly.
🔴 Progression 5 – Cone hands rally (older Tots or Titans)
Progress from rolling, parents parent now bounce football toward the child and calls colour, child lets it bounce and hits back with correct colour.
Progress to rallying with parents (both wearing cone hands)
🪶 Feathers (Easier Variations)
• Use just one cone (simplify decisions)
• Use stationary balls instead of rolling
• Allow walking between stations instead of running
• Parent stands close to reduce travel distance
• Have children shout the cone colour before moving
⚡️ Progressions (Advanced Play)
Add a further progression for older children: Parent bounces ball to child and calls out a colour
• Add 2–3 colour calls in a sequence (“Red, Blue, Switch!”)
• Use small foam balls instead of inflatable balls
• Have kids spin before cone contact
• Race format: Which pair finishes all colour calls first?
· Switch to two rackets and call left and right instead of colours
🌸 Seasonal Variations
🎄 Christmas – “Santa’s Helpers”
• Red = Santa hat 🎅
• Green = Elf cone 🧝
• Knock off “presents” (cones on foam balls) into Santa’s sleigh
🎃 Halloween – “Pumpkin Smash”
• Orange cones = pumpkins 🎃
• Add ghost/witch sound effects when running to smash cones
• Call it the "Haunted Hat Whack!"
🌼 Easter – “Bunny Bounce”
• Use pink and yellow cones as Easter eggs
• Children must “hop” to each cone hat to knock it off with their matching egg-cone
❤️ Valentine’s Day – “Cupid’s Cone Catch”
• Pink and red cones
• “Catch” the love heart cone and match with a parent hug/high-five
🧺 Finishing Touch
Let children help collect cones and balls at the end — encourage sorting them into the right tubs or colours. Reward effort, teamwork, and listening.
Down the Line 🧤 – Catch & Return Game
🧤 Down the Line – Catch & Return Game
⏱ Duration: 5–8 minutes
🎯 Skills: Catching, hand-eye coordination, reaction time
🗣️ Story Script Intro (Optional)
“Today we’re helping the tennis team warm up with a game called Down the Line! Imagine you're part of a super-fast relay team. The coach is throwing you important tennis messages (the ball!), and you have to catch them safely at your belly, then pass them back so the message continues! Let’s see who can catch every message without dropping it!”
🧠 Purpose
Reinforces hand-eye coordination
Teaches positioning and reaction speed
Develops catching and returning skills in a fun, rhythmic format
🏗 Set-Up
Children stand in a straight line, evenly spaced out
Coach stands at one end, holding a football or large foam ball
Clear space around each child to allow movement
Use cones to mark spots if needed
👟 How to Play
1. Coach starts at one end of the line.
2. Throws the ball underarm to the first child — child catches at waist height (no scooping off floor!)
3. The child throws it back, then holds their arms out again.
4. Coach moves to the next child in line and repeats.
5. When the coach reaches the end of the line, they turn around and repeat back the other way.
6. Finish when each child has had multiple turns. Give a big cheer at the end!
🔁 Progressions
1. Two-Team Race: Line up two teams side by side with two coaches — which team can finish the line and back first without dropping?
2. Size Challenge: Switch the ball to a smaller ball (tennis ball or beanbag) as they get better.
3. Throw & Move: After catching and throwing, the child must sidestep to a cone and back before next go.
4. Bounce Catch: Coach bounces the ball once before the catch.
5. Catch & Pass: Add a second ball — player must catch one and immediately pass to the next child in line (domino-style).
🪶 Feathers (Simplified Options)
Use larger balls (foam balls or balloons) for younger kids
Allow children to sit down for more control
Have coach step closer if kids are struggling
Use hands only, then progress to rackets for returning
Allow one bounce before catch if reaction is too hard
🎄 Seasonal Variations
🎃 Halloween: Coach is the wizard passing spooky potion bubbles down the line
🎅 Christmas: Pass Santa’s magic baubles carefully down the line — don’t drop the Christmas cheer!
🐣 Easter: Pass the golden Easter egg down the line from chick to chick
💝 Valentine’s: Share the heart-shaped balloon from one friend to the next
🎆 Bonfire Night: Catch and return the glowing firework ball before it bursts!
🏖️ Summer Sports Day: Each team is a country passing their Olympic torch down the line
🎈 Balloon Match
A fun indoor game developing coordination, awareness, and simple rallying skills.
⏱️ Duration:
5–15 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Today we’re going to play Balloon Match! You’ll work together with your adult as a doubles team. Your goal is to keep the balloon off your floor and try to land it on your opponent’s side. You can hit it as many times as you need — just don’t let it fall!"
Set up multiple small courts using:
Mini-nets, cones, benches, or rows of tubs and tees
Each court = 2 children and 2 parents (doubles match)
One balloon per court
🧱 Court Zones:
Add "no-go zones" (using cones) 1–2 metres on each side of the net/barrier to:
Prevent children colliding while both go for a balloon in the middle
Encourage spatial awareness and teamwork
🔁 Gameplay:
Children and adults can tap the balloon as many times as needed
Goal = get balloon over the net/barrier and land on opponent's floor
If it lands on the floor, that team scores a point
Games can go to 3 or 5 points before switching partners or opponents
End every round with a high-five or handshake
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications):
Younger children can:
Be allowed to catch and release the balloon
Move closer to the net or remove the barrier entirely
⚡️ Progressions (Older or Confident Children):
1-on-1 Matches: Child vs child, with adult umpiring
Limit touches before having to hit baloon over, three touches, two and then has to go straight over.
Swap Balloon for Inflatable Football:
Allow 2 bounces
Child can catch and throw/hit back, but must stay in position
1 Bounce Rally Game:
One bounce allowed
Use inflatable/foam balls
Encourage racket use (forehands, two-hand backhands)
✅ Coaching Focus:
Encourage controlled touches
Praise teamwork and fair play
Reinforce spatial awareness (no-go zone and partner coordination)
Highlight importance of rallying and soft hands
Balloon Keepy-Uppy 🧺🎈
🎯 Objective
Keep the balloon in the air using any part of the body or racket. Don’t let it touch the ground – or it gets very upset! 😢
Note: some young children may not like balloons, please use your judgement; if a child is not happy with balloons please give them something else to do, scarf, ball, etc…
👟 Setup
NB doesn’t work with any wind at all so it's better inside
Children sat in a circle or group
Balloons hidden inside a bag (e.g. drawstring sack)
1–2 balloons blown up in advance
🗣️ Coach Introduction Script
"I've brought something very special in this bag... can anyone guess what it is?"
(Play the guessing game for a minute)
"It's a balloon! But not just any balloon... these are full of air, and they absolutely love floating in the sky 🌤️. But if they touch the ground or stop moving... they get very upset!"
(Make funny sad/crying sounds)
"We have to keep them happy by keeping them in the air! You can use your hands, feet, head, shoulders… even rackets – just don’t let them drop!"
🎈 How to Play
Coach releases a balloon into the air.
Players must keep it in the air using any body part or a racket.
If the balloon touches the ground or is held too long – coach makes a silly “crying” noise and resets the game.
Optional: Add more balloons for chaos & teamwork!
IMPORTANT: IF THE SPACE IS TOO SMALL PLEASE DO NOT USE RACKETS TO AVOID INJURY!
🪶 Feather Levels (Differentiation)
🪶 One Feather – Starter
Only one balloon in play
Use hands only
Coach helps redirect the balloon
🪶🪶 Two Feathers – Developing
Add more balloons
Encourage racket use
Players must stay in their own space
🪶🪶🪶 Three Feathers – Confident
Keep balloon aloft for 10+ hits
Count aloud each hit
Use only rackets or only non-dominant hand
Introduce small challenges (e.g. spin before hitting, or tap it to a partner)
🔁 Progressions & Variations
🧢 Team Rally: Count how many touches as a team before balloon drops
🏃♂️ Movement Balloon: Must travel from one cone to another while keeping balloon up
🎯 Target Zones: Tap the balloon over a line or into a hoop
⛔ No Hands Round: Only use feet, knees, or rackets
🧦 Balloon Chase: Everyone has a balloon to chase and keep up
Attack the Fort 🎯– Serving & Strategy Game
Great for summer camps
Objective
Build, defend, and attack a makeshift fort using teamwork and serving accuracy.
Setup
· One team constructs a “fort” in the centre of the court using tennis nets (coaches help for speed), cones, and a large parachute for shelter. They have a set time limit (e.g. 3–5 minutes) to complete their build.
· During this time, the opposing team spreads out around the court collecting “ammunition” (soft balls, foam balls, etc.).
How to play
1. Once time is up, the attacking team lines up around a marked firing radius (created using cones).
2. Players take turns serving balls into the fort, aiming to get them past the fort’s defences and through the structure to the players inside.
3. Defenders must stay seated inside the fort and cannot block shots.
4. Count and score how many balls make it through.
5. Teams then swap roles – attackers become builders and vice versa.
Skills Developed
· Teamwork and problem-solving (building phase)
· Serving accuracy and power control (attacking phase)
· Spatial awareness and tactical creativity
Coaching Tips
· Encourage creativity in building – test different ways to prop up the parachute.
· Challenge kids to improve accuracy with progressive serving distances.
· Optionally reward best fort design and most accurate attacker!
Backhands 🎯 🎾 – Tennis Tots/Titans Teaching Guide
Backhands 🎾
🎯 🎾 Backhands – Tennis Tots/Titans Teaching Guide
The backhand is usually the second shot children will learn, and sometimes is best taught as forehand from the other side, i.e. same principles: Sideways on to the ball, low to high, finish over the opposite shoulder. The hitting hand should go above the non-hitting (often they get this the wrong way around)
Demonstrate: Children will learn from watching the coaches, so please demonstrate a backhand at every level. Please see the video for good forehand and backhand technique: https://youtu.be/oOsmGn2_piE?si=tdTf6v6pINvWlD8q
🧸 One hand or two?
Two... At Tots or Titans age, we would encourage two hands on the racket for a backhand with the hitting hand on the bottom. If a child is keen to hit with one hand then this should be encouraged to at least try, but it will take a lot longer to learn. Good 1 had backhand technique video: https://youtu.be/L3ZzViOphWc?si=zjpKB7ztGLg2m0LM
Backhand progressions starting in Tots
· Hitting on tees. Even if the tots have advanced past hitting on tees on forehand, it may be useful to return to tees for backhand, to have a stationary target.
· Technique is to simply drop the racket head (wrist) below the ball, and lift over the shoulder after contact. Make sure racket race is not too open on takeback, and swing doesn’t get too big, dominant hand above non-dominant on grip
· Drop feeding; usually parent-led; players can drop feed themselves, but it can be a bit awkward with the second hand on the racket
· Spin machines: great for getting feel of brushing up the ball
· Left-handed forehands: If it isn’t too confusing, you can introduce some left-handed forehands to encourage the dominance of the left hand
· Slow the balls down as much as possible to give the child time to perform the correct technique; use footballs, big foam, mini-red.
· Once the child has started hitting backhand mix between forehand and backhand fees to get the feel of grip changes and body rotations.
· Start to work on accuracy, aiming both cross-court and down the line.
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!” 🦔💙