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 🎯
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.
Space Hop 🌌🎾
Space Hop 🌌🎾
🎾 Best for small groups (3–6 kids per coach). For larger groups, split into separate “galaxies”. Similar concept to Fruit Salad.
🛰 Story Script (Set the Scene!)
"Welcome to Space Hop Mission Control! 👩🚀👨🚀
You're each standing on your very own planet (coloured dot) and preparing to blast off. You'll take turns launching tennis balls into space (groundstrokes) and watch out — meteors might strike at any moment! Keep your helmets on (cone hats), stay alert, and don’t float away in zero gravity!"
🧠 Purpose
• Develop forehand and backhand groundstrokes
• Improve footwork, alertness, and reaction time
• Add imagination and engagement through themed play
🏗 Set-Up
• Line up children sideways on dots (planets), parallel to the net
• Coach stands at one end feeding drop feeds (use forehand/backhand depending on side)
• First child in line hits repeatedly — others bounce on toes until it’s their turn
• Coach uses commands to cue changes
🔁 How It Works
• One child at the front hits as many balls as possible while others bounce on their dots
• When coach calls "Space Hop!" 🚀 → everyone moves up one planet and new child becomes hitter
• If anyone stops bouncing (or whenever coach decides) → "Meteor Strike!" ☄️ → coach rolls a ball down the line and they must jump over it
• Call "Meteor Shower!" 🌧 → all kids must dash to the fence and back to their dot without getting tagged by coach’s throws
• Say "Zero Gravity!" 🌕 → kids must spin around once on their dot and continue bouncing
• Add silly extras: wear traffic cones as space helmets 🪖 (upside down), or name the planets (Mars, Venus, Jupiter...)
🪶 Feathers (Easier Variations)
• Shorten distance of feed
• Use foam balls
• Let parents assist on dots or near the net
• Allow underarm throws instead of racquet hits
• Skip meteor elements for very young groups
⚡ Progressions (Older / Confident Players)
• Add targets to hit (like hoops or cones) with rewards, like a shield from the next meteor strike (don’t have to run)
• Score how many balls are hit in a row
• Coach switches ends for backhands
• Add a spinning serve or bounce-hit before space hop
• Have two kids hitting alternately on two sides
🏆 Finishing Ideas
• Final round = “Meteor Mayhem!” — Coach rolls lots of balls while kids dodge back to their dots
• Award space wristbands, star stickers 🌟, or medals
• Take a group photo with cones on heads = Space Crew Shot 📸🛸
Seasonal Variations
🎃 Halloween Hop
Dots = Pumpkins
Rename "Space Hop" to “Pumpkin Pop” – kids line up behind pumpkins to smash spooky balls.
“Meteor Strike” = Witch’s Curse – kids dodge flying broomsticks (rolled balls).
“Meteor Shower” = Ghost Chase – kids must run to the graveyard (fence) and back without being tagged by ghosts (coaches rolling balls).
“Zero Gravity” = Zombie Spin – kids spin like dizzy zombies before returning to position.
👻 Kids wear witch hats or masks made from round cones.
🎄 Christmas Comet
Dots = Presents or sleigh stops
Rename "Space Hop" to “Santa Serve”
“Meteor Strike” = Snowball Fight – dodge snowballs rolled by coaches.
“Meteor Shower” = Sleigh Dash – run to North Pole and back.
“Zero Gravity” = Elf Spins – spin around like dizzy elves.
🎅 Hats = Santa hats, elf ears, or round cones decorated as snow caps.
🐣 Easter Orbit
Dots = Easter Eggs
Rename "Space Hop" to “Egg Blast”
“Meteor Strike” = Bunny Hop – dodge carrots (balls) while hopping on the spot.
“Meteor Shower” = Egg Hunt Dash – run to the fence and back to “find” their egg.
“Zero Gravity” = Chick Spin – kids flap their arms and spin like little chicks.
🐰 Hats = Bunny ears or round cones with egg stickers.
💘 Valentine Volley
Dots = Love Hearts
Rename "Space Hop" to “Heart Shot”
“Meteor Strike” = Cupid’s Arrow – dodge heart-shaped balls
“Meteor Shower” = Love Sprint – run to give a “heart” (high five) to a parent and back.
“Zero Gravity” = Spin of Love – spin with arms open.
❤️ Hats = Cone helmets with hearts on top.
Texas Tennis 🎾 🐂 🤠 🌵
Objective
· Two teams, one court. The coach feeds the ball in, aiming to score by keeping it in play.
· The only rule is that the ball cannot roll on your side of the court.
Basic Rules
1. Ball Handling:
o Players cannot pick up the ball, but can pass it between teammates.
o Players are allowed to take as many touches as needed (forehands, backhands, and serves) as long as the ball stays in play and does not roll on your side.
⚠ Safety! It is up to the coaches to make sure the teams are adequately spaced, and to intervene if there is danger of swinging too close to one another
🪶 Feathers (for younger / less confident children):
o The coach should make sure to include all players, particularly by feeding the ball to weaker players first to help them build confidence and skill.
o The coach should put assistant coaches/ parents on the stronger players on each team to control the ball and tee up the younger players so they can be part of it.
o Make certain players “Setters”, stronger players can act as setters only, like in volleyball, so they can gather the ball and tee it up for other players in their team, but can’t hit over themselves. This is designed to stop one or two players dominating the play.
Variations to Challenge the Game
1. Serve Start:
o Begin each round with a serve to give players a challenge right from the start.
2. Number of Bounces:
o Change the rule to allow only a specific number of bounces (e.g., two or three bounces before the ball must be returned).
3. Backhand Only:
o Challenge players to hit only backhands during certain rounds.
4. Targeting Weaknesses:
o Rotate the ball feeds so that each player gets a chance to practice their weaker strokes.
5. Timed Rounds:
o Set a timer for each round, encouraging quick decision-making and rapid ball movement.
6. Court Size:
o Use half the court to make the game more challenging, or introduce zones where players can only pass to certain teammates.
7. Add more balls: especially with larger groups, add more balls to keep the contact time for each participant higher.
Hitting Stations 🎯
Hitting Stations 🎯
Purpose: Maximise hitting repetition and technique development through multiple live-feed stations while minimising queues and keeping children engaged.
🧠 Coaching Focus:
Promote low-to-high swing path for topspin
Contact at waist height out in front
Footwork to adjust position and balance
Eyes on the ball and recovery after each shot
🏗️ Set-Up Instructions:
Divide the space into multiple stations, all designed for hitting — ideally arranged to hit towards the middle of the space or safely away from each other.
Each station should have:
A feeder/ feeders (assistant coach, parent, or older child)
Nets or barriers for target and containment
Soft balls for most stations (mini red or foam)
Suggested Stations:
🎾 Forehand feed – with assistant or parent feeding
🔁 Backhand feed
🦞 Lenny the Lobster (ball machine)
🎯 Target hitting (e.g., aim at cones or hoops)
🌀 Spin machine or self-fed tees
✋ Throw & hit (throw then strike)
☄️ Serve station with soft balls
Position spin machines and hitting tees around the edge for children waiting or rotating.
🔁 Rotation Flow:
Children hit 5 shots per turn (e.g. 5 forehands)
Then rotate clockwise or as directed by the coach
On the second circuit, switch shot type (e.g. 5 backhands)
✅ Try to give each child two turns per station
✅ Keep queues short — 2 children max per station
🛟 Safety First:
Always hit away from others (position feeders and targets carefully)
Use soft foam balls or mini red balls for most stations
Use smaller hard balls for Lenny the Lobster only
Do not use mini red balls in Lenny – it causes belt wear
Ensure children know to only retrieve balls when play is paused, and not walk in front of Lenny, or put their hands in Lenny. Please note that if using the remote on Lenny and pausing it, the wheels keep spinning, which is dangerous. Please turn it off at the power when not using it for any length of time.
🧩 Staffing Tips:
Assign at least one coach to walk between stations, offering technical feedback
Let parents feed underarm or from bounce — ideal for lower-pressure learning
Encourage all helpers to praise effort and reinforce coaching points
🌟 Optional Add-Ons:
⏱️ Timed stations with whistle rotations (1–2 mins each)
🏆 Add fun challenges like “hit the cone” or “how many in the hoop?”
📸 Take videos of a few great shots for fun feedback at the end
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
Dead or Alive – Spooky Tennis Challenge 👻🎃 🎾
Dead or Alive – Spooky Tennis Challenge 👻🎃 🎾
⏱ 8–10 mins | 👦👧 Ages 7+ (Titans/Troopers) | Great for Halloween Theme
🧠 Objective:
To hit consistently under pressure and stay “alive” while dodging elimination. Fun, silly, and skill-based — perfect for small groups (3–6 per round).
🎭 Story Setup:
“Welcome to the Haunted Tennis Trials! The land is full of tennis ghosts and creepy curses! Only those who hit well will survive! Miss too many shots… and you’ll start to fall apart piece by piece. Will you survive… or become a ghost?!”
🛠 Setup:
Choose one shot focus: Groundstrokes or Volleys
Coach feeds 3 balls per turn (or parents if helping)
Line kids up behind baseline or mini net
Mark a “Ghost Zone” off to the side
Mark a “Revive Zone” (where revived players re-enter)
🎮 How to Play:
One child at a time steps up and is fed 3 balls
If they hit 2 or 3 balls well ➤ they are Alive ✅ → go to back of queue
If they hit 0 or 1 ball ➤ they are Dead-ish ☠️ → they lose a body part and try again!
💀 Stages of Elimination:
Lose an arm: Hit with racket hand only, non-dominant arm behind back
Lose a leg: Hop on one leg while hitting
No limbs: Sit on the floor and hit from seated
Fully dead: Lie down and try to hit a shot while lying flat 😵
Ghost!: If still unsuccessful, you become a ghost 👻 – sit in the Ghost Zone
🧚♂️ Revivers:
If a player hits all 3 shots perfectly, they earn 1 Revive Power
They can choose one ghost to bring back to life (tap them on shoulder)
That ghost returns to the back of the queue as Alive ✅
While the kids are waiting in line, spots are designated for them to stand. Kids must keep moving (bouncing on toes); otherwise, they turn into ghosts.
🪶 Feathers (Easier Version):
Allow younger players to skip stages (go from one-arm to ghost)
Let them use larger rackets or foam balls
Use tees or drop feeds instead of live feeds
Reduce number of shots (e.g. 2 shots total, only need 1 to survive)
⚡ Progressions (Harder Version):
Increase required hits to 3/3 to stay alive
Add movement before shots (e.g., crab steps to cone and back)
Add “final ghost duel”: two ghosts must rally from seated position to re-enter
🎃 Halloween Twist:
Play with spooky music in the background
Use Halloween-themed markers (pumpkins, cauldrons, skeleton cones)
Encourage kids to make spooky sounds during ghost stage 👻💀
🏆 Finishing Options:
Last child alive becomes “The Final Survivor” 🧛♂️👑