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.
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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.
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
Coach’s Towers 🏰
🪶 FEATHERS (Under 3s / Beginner Tots):
Children begin up close.
A coach or parent helps guide their racket to gently hit a ball off the tee.
The child aims to knock any part of the tower over.
Celebrate every success with a dramatic coach reaction:
“Hey! That was my tower! How dare you!” 😂
🎾 MAIN GAME (Coach’s Towers):
Kids line up on floor dots and take turns hitting forehands from the tee.
Each tries to knock down the coach’s tower across the court.
Coaches act outraged, shouting in jest:
“Nooo! Not my tower!” 🗣️
“That’s the best tower in Sussex!”After a few minutes, move dots to the other side to focus on backhands.
Encourage:
Side-on stance
Low-to-high swing path
Contact in front
🚀 PROGRESSIONS:
Remove the tee: try drop feeds or parent feeds.
Use cones as bonus targets or assign points to each tower.
Introduce "power up" balls like red foam balls for higher reward.
For older children:
Try live feeds + one shot only per go — knock it or miss it!
👻 SEASONAL ALTERNATIVES:
🎃 Halloween – Haunted Tower Edition
Each tower becomes a ghost’s haunted house 🏚️
Top them with scarves, googly eyes, or balloons as ghost heads 👻
When children knock them down, coaches wail:
“Noooo! The ghost is free!”Add “Monster Mode”: Coaches throw ghost scarves at players between turns!
🎅 Christmas – Santa’s Stack
Towers = gift stacks or chimney piles 🎁🎄
Kids help Santa knock down the stuck presents before Christmas Eve
Add jingle bells or decorate towers with wrapping paper!
🐣 Easter – Egg Tower Smash
Towers = egg crates or nesting towers
Children must “rescue the chick” by knocking down the egg towers 🐥
Add small Easter eggs or chicks on top.
💘 Valentine’s – Love Tower Toss
Towers represent love letters stacked in a post box 💌
Add heart stickers or balloons — when they’re knocked over, coaches cry:
“Not my Valentine’s mail!”
Rockets 🚀
🚀 Rockets
🎯 A progressive accuracy and power game focused on low-to-high swing, coordination, and distance hitting.
📹 Watch Demo
⏱️ Time: 5–10 mins
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Today we’re building ROCKETS! 🚀 We’re going to launch our tennis balls over the top and see how far our rockets can fly!"
Each parent/child pair builds a rocket using:
3 or 4 traffic cones stacked into a pyramid
Optionally place a football or round cone on top for extra height
About 50cm in front, place a round cone or hitting tee as the launch pad.
Place the Football on the cone (launchpad), or tennis ball on hitting tee then whack it with a backward to forward/ low-to-high swing towards rocket.
Once successful, move the launch cone another 50cm back.
Repeat until the child can no longer hit the rocket. See who can get the furthest back.
👉 Encourage them to shout “BLAST OFF!” each time 🚀
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Children):
• Just build tower and let little ones smash down with rackets
Use a larger ball (e.g., foam or football) for easier contact
• Move the cone closer (30cm away instead of 50cm)
• Allow rolling or gentle tosses over the rocket instead of hitting
• Use a beanbag on the cone to slow things down
• Let children hit or throw with two hands
⚡ Progressions (Challenge for Older or Confident Children):
• Increase the rocket height (add more cones or balls on top)
• Use drop feed instead of tee: drop the ball and hit it over
• Try hitting backhand rockets
• Introduce a distance leaderboard — who got furthest?
• Add a “Double Rocket” where they must hit over two towers side by side
🎾 Coaching Tips:
• Emphasise low-to-high swing path (like lifting the ball up) • Keep non-dominant hand out to stay balanced
• Help children adjust foot position – side-on stance • Praise for effort and creativity – encourage them to shout and celebrate their rocket launch
seasonal variations pack for the “🚀 Rockets” game — each themed version keeps the core structure but adds fun storytelling and slight tweaks to props or language.
🎄 Christmas – Santa’s Launch Station
Santa’s sleigh is stuck! Build a launch tower using stacked chimneys (cones) with a snowball (foam ball) or Christmas pudding on top. See how far the sleigh (ball) can fly over the rooftops as children move further back each time. Add a “Ho Ho Ho!” countdown before each launch.
🐣 Easter – Bunny Egg Launch
Stack pastel cones to make a bunny burrow tower. Place a chocolate egg (or round cone/ball) on top and try to launch it over an imaginary hedge or fence. Encourage kids to shout “Hop and Launch!” before each shot. See how far each bunny can get their egg.
🎃 Halloween – Witch’s Potion Launch
Stack bubbling cauldrons (black/orange cones) and place a spooky ingredient (green or purple ball) on top. Kids are little witches and wizards, launching ingredients into the sky to complete their potion. Add sound effects like “ZAP!” and let them cackle as they whack.
❤️ Valentine’s Day – Heart Rocket Delivery
Kids are launching love letters or hearts (red balls) over a “wall of shyness” (cones stacked like a barrier). Build heart towers with pink cones and send messages to their “Valentine’s Mailbox” far away. Bonus: Decorate a cone with heart stickers.
👩👧 Mother’s Day – Flower Delivery Rockets
Build a flower tower with yellow/orange cones and place a "flower" (beanbag or ball) on top. Children launch flowers towards a special “Mum’s Garden” zone. Add a flower sticker to the ball or let children say “This one’s for Mum!” before launching.
👨👦 Father’s Day – Toolbox Rocket Challenge
Use blue or grey cones to build a tower that looks like a toolbox. Kids launch a "screw" or "bolt" (ball) over a tall cone wall to “fix the roof.” Encourage children to shout “For Dad!” and see who can send their item furthest.
SCARVES 🧣 – Catch & React
Great for footwork, coordination, and reaction time.
👨👩 Parent & Child Activity used mainly in Tennis Tots
Better to use indoors or in non-windy conditions.
Start with children standing in the ready position – wide stance over a marker, racket held waist-high like a table, ready to “catch” the falling scarf.
🔸 Instructions
Phase 1 – Drop Catch
Parent drops a scarf directly above the child.
Child must adjust and catch it on their racket at waist height.
Encourage children to stay alert and make small movements to stay under the scarf.
Phase 2 – Toss & Track
Parent gently tosses the scarf into the air (forwards, backwards, sideways).
Child has to jostle underneath and track it down for a controlled catch.
Phase 3 – Turn & React
Child starts facing away.
Parent throws the scarf and shouts “TURN!” mid-air.
Child spins around, locates the scarf, and scrambles to catch it on their racket.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify)
Use catching nets instead of rackets
Let them catch with two hands first, then introduce the racket.
Reduce the distance they need to move – drop directly above the marker.
⚡ Progressions (Challenge)
For older children go quicker to phase 3 and delay the time between the throw of scarf and the call of “turn”
Have two scarves thrown – the child must decide which one to catch.
Add “fake turns” – shout "turn" but delay the throw.
Encourage children to use just their non-dominant hand to catch before moving to the racket.
Seasonal Alternatives
🎃 Halloween – “Ghost Catch!”
🕸️ Scarf = Ghost
👻 Parents say “BOO!” as they drop the scarf.
Children must catch the ghost before it “disappears into the floor.”
Add a spooky sound effect when it lands to keep the theme fun.
Encourage children to do a spooky stomp or zombie walk between catches.
For older kids: Catch with one hand while pretending to swat ghosts away with their racket.
🎄 Christmas – “Snowflake Catch!”
❄️ Scarf = Snowflake
Parent says “Snowfall!” and drops the scarf.
Kids must catch the snowflake softly without “melting” it (no squeezing).
Add a challenge: catch with non-dominant hand = “extra careful mitten catch.”
Have a “Blizzard round” where scarves are dropped from both sides quickly.
💘 Valentine’s – “Love Letter Drop”
💌 Scarf = Love Letter / Heart
Parent says “Special Delivery!”
Child catches the love letter before it hits the ground.
Add a heart sticker or message on the scarf for added fun.
Older kids: Catch and then “deliver” it to a friend by re-tossing softly.
🐣 Easter – “Catch the Chick”
🐥 Scarf = Baby chick or feather
Parent says “Catch the chick!”
Children must react quickly to catch the falling chick.
Add a hopping or bunny jump to catch it before it lands.
Could hide a small treat underneath the scarf as a reward.
🌞 Summer – “Butterfly Catch”
🦋 Scarf = Butterfly
Parent says “Butterfly in the air!”
Kids catch with soft, two-hand clap like wings.
Encourage gentle movement and big smiles like they’re in a meadow.
Add music or a breeze for immersive atmosphere.
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 🎵🎤
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). 🧼🍳🧹
Honey Monster 🐝🍯🐻
Honey Monster 🐝🍯🐻
Setup:
· Teams: 2–4 teams, each starting in a corner next to their coloured honey pot (this could be a hoop or a circle made from traffic cones).
· Hive: Scatter lots of yellow dome cones across the central playing area. Under each yellow cone, place a coloured cone (blue, red, green, etc.) to represent the honey’s flavour/colour.
· Honey Monster: A coach or designated player sits in the middle of the hive pretending to sleep.
How to Play:
1. Players are worker bees. Using their rackets, they carefully lift yellow cones to check the colour underneath.
2. If the colour matches their team’s honey pot, they collect it and place it in their pot.
3. After collecting honey, they must replace the yellow cone on top so other teams don’t know where their colour is hiding.
4. Every so often, the Honey Monster “wakes up” (coach shouts or blows whistle). Bees must run back to their pots for safety.
5. After a set time, count the number of matching honeys each team has — the most wins.
Progression:
· Stingers: Each bee wears a scarf tucked into their waistband (their “stinger”).
· Coaches (or Honey Monster) try to steal stingers.
· If caught, a bee must crawl on hands and knees one lap around the hive to get their stinger back before rejoining the game.
Variations & Challenges:
1. Monster Chases: When awake, Honey Monster can chase bees — if tagged, they lose a piece of honey.
2. Guard Bees: Add 1–2 “guard bees” from each team who try to block other teams’ access to their coloured honey.
3. Sneaky Swap: Allow players to steal honey from other teams’ pots if they reach them undetected.
4. Timed Wake-ups: Monster wakes up at regular intervals (e.g., every 30 seconds).
5. Double Honey: Hide some cones with two matching coloured cones underneath for bonus points.
Seasonal alternatives for your Honey Monster 🐝🍯🐻 game — perfect for adapting the theme to Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s, and Mother’s/Father’s Day:
🎄 Christmas – “The Gingerbread Monster” 🍬🎅🍪
Worker elves are collecting sweets and cookies from the snowy forest (yellow cones).
🎄 Flavours are peppermint, gingerbread, chocolate, etc. (represented by different cone colours).
🎅 The Gingerbread Monster sleeps in the middle of the forest but wakes randomly to chase the elves and steal their sweets!
🐣 Easter – “Easter Chick Chase” 🐥🥚
Teams are bunnies or chicks collecting Easter eggs hidden under yellow cones.
🐣 The Mother Hen or Giant Chick guards the field — if they wake up and catch a player, that player must drop their egg and return to the start.
Egg colours match each team's basket (cones or hoops).
🎃 Halloween – “The Candy Monster” 🍭👻
Teams of little witches and wizards are trick-or-treating for hidden sweets under yellow cones.
👹 The Candy Monster guards the haunted town — if players get too greedy, he wakes up and chases them back to their cauldron.
Use spooky cone decorations and Halloween-themed beanbags for extra fun.
💘 Valentine’s – “Love Bug Hunt” 💌🐞
Players are love bugs collecting hidden hearts or love notes (coloured cones) from under pink/yellow domes.
💘 A sleepy Love Monster guards the meadow and wakes up to chase any love bugs wandering too long!
👩👧👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day – “Breakfast in Bed Monster” 🛏️☕🥐
Children are little chefs gathering breakfast ingredients (coloured cones) from under “toast” domes (yellow cones).
🥱 The Sleepy Parent Monster is in bed and wakes up if they hear too much racket!
If caught, the chefs must redo the task — quiet teamwork wins!
Hitting Through the Hoops 🎯
🎯 Hitting Through the Hoops
Focus: Forehand technique, target accuracy, adaptability
Duration: 8–12 minutes (including setup and demonstration)
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Today we're going to practise hitting through hoops — just like archers aiming at a target! 🎯 We're working on our forehand swing and control."
Sit the children down and demonstrate the correct swing technique and aim.
Parents stand in front of the children holding hoops at varying heights, distances, and angles.
Children hit foam balls off tees, aiming to pass the ball cleanly through the hoop.
🧱 Equipment Needed:
Hitting tees
Foam balls
Hoops (held by parents)
Optional: cones to mark out waiting and hitting spots
🎾 Forehand Technique Focus:
Sideways on: Turn your body so your shoulder faces the target.
Strings to the ball: Make sure the racket face is pointing where you want the ball to go.
Low to High: Let the wrist drop and swing upwards for lift and spin.
Finish over the shoulder: End with your racket up and across.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Children):
Throw balls and footballs instead of hitting
Let children focus just on swing shape without worrying about aiming through the hoop.
Parents can help load balls onto tees while keeping distance.
Stand closer to the hoop for easier success.
Use balloons instead of balls for easier, slower targets.
⚡️ Progressions (Older / Confident Children):
Parents hold hoops further away or higher/lower to challenge hitting angles.
Children drop-feed themselves instead of using a tee.
Introduce a “wall rally” station — hit against the wall to maintain control.
Balloon rallies: pair up and rally balloon with forehand over a net or mini barrier.
Create a 4-station free-flow circuit with varied hoop setups and hitting challenges.
✅ Coach Tips:
Remind parents to keep one arm extended while holding hoops and stay well back from the tee.
Watch out for over-rotation — remind children to stay sideways on.
Use cues like:
“Lift the pancake” (for low-to-high swing)
“Eyes on the target”
“Finish like a rainbow over your shoulder”e ball, 2 points for hitting the target.
Hitting at Waist Height🎾
Hitting at Waist Height 🎯 – Tennis Tots Activity
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