Star Wars Throwing Game 🌌
🌌 Star Wars Throwing Game – “Battle of the Asteroid Belt”
🎯 Objective: Develop aim, accuracy, and decision-making through an imaginative, fast-paced throwing challenge!
🌠 Story Script Intro
“Welcome, young Jedi! 🧑🚀🛰️ The galaxy is in chaos, and your mission is to launch stars into the asteroid belt and knock the comets and planets into your opponent’s solar system! Beware – the Dark Side cheats, so stay behind your lines and throw with focus. May the Force be with you!”
🧠 Skills Focus
• Overarm and underarm throwing
• Aim and target control
• Teamwork and decision-making
• Fun, energetic movement
🏗️ Set-Up:
Space Zone: Set up two parallel lines of traffic cones across the court to create the asteroid belt (centre zone).
Inside the belt:
Scatter balloons (comets)
Perch inflatable balls or foam balls on round cones (planets)
Create a team zone at either end of the hall.
Provide each team with soft balls (“stars”) to throw.
🎮 How to Play:
1. Divide children into 2–3 teams at opposite ends of the space.
2. On the coach’s signal, children throw soft balls into the asteroid belt.
3. Aim: Knock balloons and inflatable planets over the central line into the other team’s zone.
4. Each time a balloon or ball lands in the opponent’s solar system, your team scores!
5. Coaches may recycle stars back to keep the game flowing.
6. No stepping into the asteroid belt – if a player crosses the line, the other team gets a point!
🪶 Feathers – Simplifications for Younger Children:
Use larger balls or balloons only for easier targets.
Allow rolling or underarm throws only.
Let parents or assistants help place balls back on cones.
Use a smaller space and bring the targets closer.
Remove the “no-step” rule for walking-age children.
⚡ Progressions – For Older Kids:
1. Timed Rounds: 1-minute attacks! Who can knock down the most?
2. Precision Targets: Assign points to each object (e.g. 1 for balloon, 2 for big ball, 3 for cone).
3. One-Handed Jedi Throwing: Use non-dominant hand only.
4. Bounce Hit Challenge: Players must bounce the ball off the ground before hitting targets.
5. Team Roles: Attackers throw, Defenders place targets back upright.
🎭 Seasonal Variations:
🎃 Halloween – “Pumpkin Panic”
Use orange balloons as “floating pumpkins” and black cones as haunted trees. Kids become witch apprentices blasting spooky objects into the other zone.
🐣 Easter – “Eggsplosion!”
Use pastel balloons as “Easter Eggs” and challenge kids to knock them over to uncover hidden bunnies underneath the cones.
🎅 Christmas – “Snowball Strike”
Use white balloons as “snowballs” and inflatable baubles as “Christmas planets” — can they knock Santa’s sleigh safely to the other galaxy?
💘 Valentine’s Day – “Heart Attack!”
Use pink/red balloons with paper hearts inside – each heart has a compliment or silly dare!
🏁 End Game Idea:
Do a Galactic Blitz Round – everyone throws at once, chaos ensues, laughter guaranteed. Then settle with a Jedi meditation cooldown 😌🧘♂️
Smash the Wall 🧱🎾🏰
Smash the Wall 🧱🎾🏰
🎥https://youtu.be/h38KZ5lFg28?si=LF5BfbctcfVbI4DQ
📝 Setup & Explanation
Line the children up at a safe distance from the wall.
Sit them down and explain the rules clearly before starting.
Build a “wall” out of traffic cones:
Tallest cones at the back
Quickly build tall towers by using circular cones between tall cones
Smallest at the front
🏓 How to Play
Each child dribbles their big inflatable ball along the ground with their racket towards the wall.
When they reach the wall/ hitting line, they whack their ball to knock down as many cones as possible.
They leave their ball there, collect a new one, and repeat until attention starts to wander. Coach recycles balls to start
To finish: let kids kick or whack down the wall (with or without balls).
🔁 Progressions
Create a hitting line/ move the hitting line further back so children have further to aim
Encourage children pick ball up and let bounce before hitting forehand (in air rather than floor); switch to backhands/ serves
Add a time challenge: how many cones can they knock down in 30 seconds?
Make it team-based: two teams try to knock down their half of the wall first.
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)
Let children carry the ball to the wall if dribbling is too hard.
Use smaller gaps between cones so they’re easier to hit.
Have parents or assistants help guide the ball with the child’s racket.
Let really little children just hit the cones over without using ball at all.
⚠️ Safety Notes
Remind children to keep a safe distance while others are hitting.
Tell parents to help monitor their child’s spacing.
Be careful of potential bumps from rackets or cones.
🎾 Smash the Wall – Seasonal Themes
🎄 Christmas – Smash the Christmas Chimney 🎅🎁
The wall becomes a chimney made of stacked presents (cones in red, green, gold).
🎯 Goal: Break the chimney so Santa can deliver the gifts!
Swap inflatable balls for "snowballs" (white balloons or foam balls).
Finish with a fun “snowball fight” by letting the kids knock over cones however they like.
🐣 Easter – Smash the Easter Egg Tower 🐰🥚
The wall becomes a tower of colourful Easter eggs (brightly coloured cones).
🎯 Goal: Crack the giant Easter egg wall to reveal the hidden chocolate inside!
Use egg-shaped beanbags or pastel-coloured foam balls.
Final round: kids roll giant eggs (balls) to knock down the "tower."
🎃 Halloween – Smash the Haunted House 👻🏚️
The wall is now a spooky haunted house built of ghostly cones (white + black + orange).
🎯 Goal: Break down the haunted house before the monsters escape!
Add Halloween music and decorate cones with eyes or cobwebs.
Coach can wear a witch or skeleton hat for extra effect!
💘 Valentine’s – Smash the Heart Wall 💘🏹
Make a heart-shaped wall or decorate cones with hearts/stickers.
🎯 Goal: Knock down the "Wall of Hearts" to release the trapped love messages inside!
Use pink and red balls or balloons.
Final round: shout “Love Attack!” and let all children charge and knock down the wall together.
👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Smash the Chore Tower 🧹🛠️
Each cone represents a silly "chore" (e.g., “Do the dishes,” “Make lunch,” etc.).
🎯 Goal: Help mum/dad by smashing through all the chores so they can rest!
Add a funny story intro: “Let’s clear all the jobs before Mum/Dad gets home!”
Encourage kids to yell out a chore before smashing each cone.
Sleeping Giants 😴🏰🏑
Sleeping Giants 😴🏰🏑
Story / Theme:
The giants are fast asleep in their lair, but if they wake up, they’ll try to steal your ball! Keep moving, keep control, and stay out of reach.
Equipment:
Large inflatable balls (one per child + extras)
Rackets (for adults and children)
Cones to mark the giants’ lair (circle in the middle)
How to Play:
1. Assistant coaches form a circle lying down inside the lair, pretending to be asleep — each with a racket.
2. Children move around the room dribbling large inflatable balls hockey-style with their rackets.
3. At random, the coach shouts: “Wake up, sleeping giants!”
4. The giants jump up and try to steal the children’s balls by reaching in with their rackets and tackling their ball and returning it to the lair.
5. If a child loses their ball, the child either sits out or finds another ball and continues playing.
Progressions: Role Swap: Children take turns being the sleeping giants (for those who want to).
Timed Wakes: Giants wake up every 30–40 seconds to keep children on their toes.
Double Trouble: Have two lairs so children must watch more than one area.
NOTE: Often, the children prefer being the giants themselves, so you can just play a quick game with them chasing, and then play the rest of the game with them as giants.
Variations:
Safe Zones: Create small cone “safe spots” where children can stop for 3 seconds before rejoining play.
Treasure Return: Children can try to sneak into the lair to steal back balls without being caught.
Seasonal variations for your Sleeping Giants 😴🏰🏑 game, perfect for weaving in a touch of imagination and celebration during different parts of the year:
·
· 🎄 Christmas – Sleeping Snowmen
· ☃️ The snowmen are snoozing in their snowy cave! But if they wake up, they'll roll after your snowballs (inflatable balls)!
🎅 Coaches = snowmen with red scarves and foam rackets
🧤 Optional twist: kids wear gloves/mittens to make dribbling trickier
🎁 Balls = snowballs or presents they must protect
·
· 🎃 Halloween – Haunted House of Mummies
· 🧟♂️ The spooky mummies are asleep in the haunted house... but when they wake, they lurch after your cursed pumpkins!
🎃 Balls = inflatable orange pumpkins
👻 Add cobwebs or Halloween music for theme
💀 Mummies = coaches wrapped in toilet paper or using “ghost rackets” (white foam)
·
· 🐣 Easter – Sleeping Chicks
· 🐥 The giant chicks are snoozing in their coop — but if woken, they’ll peck at your Easter eggs (balls)!
🥚 Decorate balls with pastel dots or stickers
🐰 Kids try to sneak past the coop (giant lair) without waking them
🍬 Wake-up cue: “Cock-a-doodle-doooo!”
·
· 💘 Valentine’s – Sleeping Cupids
· 💘 Cupids are resting in their heart-shaped clouds, but if disturbed, they try to snatch your love letters (balls)!
💌 Dribble the “letters” safely without being tapped by the cupids' rackets
❤️ Add pink/red cones and heart decorations to the lair
·
· 👩👧👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day – Snoozing Parents Game
· 😴 Mum and Dad are trying to nap, but noisy kids are playing with bouncy breakfast items (eggs, toast = balls).
🥱 If parents wake up, they try to “scoop” the breakfast and go back to sleep!
🥐 Make balls food-themed with stickers or call-outs like “Don’t drop the toast!”
Siege the Castle 🏰
🎯 A team game focused on hand-eye coordination, aiming, catching, and simple technique cues
⏱️ Duration:
5-7 minutes (including demonstration)
🎤 Coach Script / Game Setup:
"Alright troops! Today, you're going to defend your castle… or try to knock one down! Each team will take turns being the Attackers or the Defenders.
We’re going to play Siege the Castles! 🏰⚔️"
🧱 Game Layout:
Divide players into two teams, attackers and defenders, or you can mix up attackers and defenders on both sides
Use nets or hurdles to create a central "castle wall" between the teams.
Each team has:
A castle zone (behind their own line)
3–5 hitting tees or places to drop-feed or throw from
A supply of foam balls ("cannonballs") and catching nets or cones.
🔁 Gameplay:
Phase 1 – Attackers
Stand behind the row of the hitting tees.
Their job is to:
Hit cannonballs over the wall of the opposing castle from tees, sideways on and low to high.
Score 1 point for every successful ball hit over the wall.
Optional: Catches by attackers = 0 points for that ball.
Phase 2 – Defenders:
Stand on the opposite side of the wall.
Their job is to catch balls using:
Catching nets, or
Big traffic cones (for groups without enough nets), or
Bare hands (for older groups).
Score 1 point per catch.
After catching, place the ball in a bucket and get ready for the next.
After 3–5 minutes or a clear turn sequence, swap roles and repeat.
✅ SCORING SYSTEM (Simple):
Count how many balls the team hit over the wall.
Then count how many were caught.
Total = Points scored for that round.
Ask children their team scores before swapping – this builds ownership and team spirit.
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications for Younger Children):
Reduce wall height for more success.
Let children place balls on the tee and coach assist with swing.
Allow rolling the ball under or through a mini wall if hitting is too difficult.
Use traffic cones for easier catching targets.
⚡️Progressions (For Older or Confident Children):
Swap hitting tees for drop feeds or self-toss before hitting.
Add a “Starfish” hitting technique challenge:
Feet wide, sideways on, racket from behind ear, contact in front, low to high.
Make catching hands only — no nets or cones.
Introduce time limits or hit quotas.
Create a competition mode: best team over two rounds.
Have attackers and defenders on the same side; NB make sure the are evenly spaced
🎾 Technical Coaching Tips:
Emphasise low-to-high swing path (especially from tee).
Show sideways stance and balance with non-dominant arm raised.
For catchers:
Catch at waist height
Encourage moving feet under the ball
Reinforce two hands for younger kids or "bucket hands" shape.
Seasonal alternatives for 🏰 Siege the Castle:
🎄 Christmas – Siege Santa’s Workshop
The Elves are guarding Santa’s Workshop! The Snowball Fighters (children) launch snowballs (foam balls) over the festive wall to try and sneak in. The Elves catch with buckets or “mittens” (catching nets) to stop the snowballs. Decorate the court with red/green cones and tinsel. 🎁
🐣 Easter – Siege the Bunny Burrow
The Easter Bunny's Burrow is under attack from flying eggs (foam balls)! Defenders try to catch as many eggs as possible before they land in the burrow. Use pastel-coloured balls and call out "golden egg bonus" if a special colour gets hit or caught! 🐇🥚💐
🎃 Halloween – Siege the Haunted House
The ghouls are guarding their haunted mansion! Attackers throw “pumpkin bombs” (orange foam balls) over the spooky fence. Defenders (witches/ghosts) try to catch them in cauldrons (nets or buckets). Add cobwebs or Halloween cones for spooky effect. 🕸️👻🎃
💘 Valentine’s – Siege the Heart Castle
Heart-shaped messages (foam balls) are flying over the wall — can Cupid’s team catch them? Use red/pink balls and decorate the court with paper hearts. Players can “deliver love letters” instead of cannonballs. 💌❤️🏹
👩👧 Mother’s Day – Siege the Garden Gate
Children are flinging flower seeds (foam balls) into Mum’s magical garden! Defenders (Mums or coaches) try to catch them before they land. You can decorate the area with fake flowers or green cones to look like flower beds. 🌸🌼🌿
👨👧 Father’s Day – Siege the Tool Shed
The kids are throwing tools (balls) over the workshop wall! Dads (or coaches) catch the flying “screwdrivers and hammers” before they land in the shed. Playfully theme it around fixing things with Dad. Add boxes or buckets labelled with “tools.” 🛠️🧰👨🔧
SERVING PROGRESSIONS 🎾🎯
Serving progressions 🎾🎯
🧠 Overview
The serve is arguably the most important shot in tennis—and often the most difficult. It’s vital to introduce fundamentals early to build confidence and long-term technique.
Children learn best by imitation, so coaches should demonstrate a forehand or serve at every stage of development, even if simplified.
Good serving technique video: https://youtu.be/0tP2pmXd9Gk?si=iKxPKIPcBQAV3sDu
🧸 Throwing = Serving Foundation
Before a child can serve, they need to learn to throw.
Basic Technique: Start sideways on, with the throwing hand behind the ear.
Progression 1: Introduce hip and shoulder rotation as they throw—use the whole body, not just the arm.
Progression 2: Add targets to encourage distance and accuracy.
💡 Serving Progressions (Starting from Tots)
1. Kiss-Kiss
Children stand sideways, racket in one hand, ball in the other.
They gently "kiss" the ball onto the strings twice:
At knee height
Above the head
This teaches timing and synchronised arm movement.
2. Hammer the Sky
Encourage proper grip: chopper grip, not frying pan.
Children imagine the edge of the racket is a hammer, and they’re hammering a nail into the sky.
Reinforces serving "on edge" to promote correct spin later.
3. Balloons (Indoor Alternative)
Use balloons to slow the action down.
Pop the balloon upward with the non-dominant hand, then “hammer” it with the racket.
Great for developing hand-eye coordination and arm synchronisation.
4. Two Beanbags
Hold one beanbag in each hand.
Toss the first (non-dominant hand) straight up.
Launch the second (dominant hand) from throwing position behind the ear and try to collide them in the air.
Progress to using tennis balls.
5. Slingshot serve
Hold the ball onto the racket and pull back behind your ear.
Release the ball and throw the racket at the same time, projecting the ball
6. Back Scratch & Reach
Child stands sideways on, in “back scratch” position (racket behind their back).
Step 1: Coach holds the racket and guides the swing while tossing the ball.
Step 2: Coach tosses, child swings from back scratch position.
Step 3: Child performs ball toss + swing for a full serving motion.
Note: Focus on technique, not result.
7. Directional Serving
Introduce the concept of serving diagonally from a baseline into a service box.
8. Introduce Chopper Grip
Essential for spin and control.
Introduce early in Titans and Troopers groups.
Reinforces the “on-edge” hammer motion.
9. Lengthen the Action
Start from “back scratch and reach” → progress to full arm extension.
Let the hitting arm dangle, then swing in a throwing motion with a ball toss.
10. Lengthen further: Tossing arm raises straight up, Hitting arm swings back in a smooth pendulum, Contact ball at full reach; focus on rhythm and body coordination, not power.
SERVES AND SHIELDS 🛡️
SERVES AND SHIELDS 🛡️
Focus: Split-step, anticipation, blocking, serving and returning
Ages: Titans or Troopers
Duration: 6–10 mins
🎤 Coach Script / Setup
“Today you are defenders — you’re using your rackets as shields to block incoming balls. Can you protect yourself like a superhero or a knight?”
Space out children across the playing area.
Each child holds a racket in front of them (two hands if possible), standing in split-step position (knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart, alert).
Coaches, parents, or older children act as “servers” (or attackers).
Use foam balls and serve gently toward the children’s bodies (belly height or legs).
Children must react quickly and block the ball using the sweet spot of their racket — no swinging, just controlled blocks.
Encourage a mini jump or hop (split-step) just as the server makes contact with the ball.
🪶 Feathers (for younger / less confident children):
Let children catch the ball with their hands first to practice tracking.
Use larger softballs or balloons for slower movement.
Parents can kneel beside them and help guide racket to ball.
Have them stand closer to the server to reduce ball speed.
⚡️ Progressions (for older / confident children):
Get some of the kids to serve
Decrease the distance between servers and the blockers.
Encourage quicker split-step reactions and back to the ready position.
Add directional blocking — bring servers 360 degrees from all directions
Try team version: Line of blockers vs. 1–2 servers, then rotate.
Last man standing! Last person to get hit wins
Introduce scoring: 1 point for each successful block; swap roles after 1 minute.
IMPORTANT: IF KIDS ARE HITTING, YOU MUST USE SOFT BALLS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE FULLY SPACED OUT TO MINIMISE RISK OF IMPACT.
Sandwich Shop 🥪
🥪 Sandwich Shop
🎯 A creative game focused on balance, control, coordination, colour matching, and fun!
⏱️ Duration: 8–12 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Introduction
“Who’s hungry? 🍞 Welcome to the Tennis Tots Sandwich Shop! Today you’re not just tennis players — you're chefs!
Your job is to make a sandwich, carry it carefully to the customer, and drop it into the right delivery bag!”
Sit the children down at one end of the hall near the “ingredients” area and demonstrate.
🧺 Game Setup
Scatter soft balls and beanbags in a long line (the “ingredients”).
Ingredients are grouped or colour-coded:
🟡 Cheese = yellow
🔴 Tomato = red
🔵 Blueberry jam = blue
🟢 Salad = green
🟣 Grapes = purple (optional)
Children use two rackets to clamp together 1–3 “ingredients” (beanbags/balls).
Set out “delivery bags” (buckets, cones, hoops, etc.) at the opposite end of the space, each colour-coded to match the sandwich fillings.
🚚 How to Play
1. Build your sandwich using two rackets to scoop and hold the filling(s).
2. Carry the sandwich across the hall to the serving area (large cones/line).
3. Drop the filling into the correctly coloured delivery bag — try to keep the sandwich together until you reach the bag!
4. Return to the start and repeat.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Under 3s / Beginners)
Use beanbags only (easier to balance and colour-code).
Allow them to carry with hands or just one racket.
Try making a burrito with a folded drop-down dot over a beanbag if the rackets are difficult to control
Set the delivery bags much closer.
Use cones on their side instead of upright bags to drop into.
Let adults/assistants help “build” the sandwich.
⚡️ Progressions (Older / Confident Children)
Introduce foam balls as sandwich fillings (harder to balance).
Encourage building sandwiches with multiple ingredients.
Add a challenge zone:
Move the bags further away so children must fling the sandwich contents (not the rackets!) by opening their rackets in a coordinated movement.
Introduce a relay format or team competition:
How many sandwiches can you deliver in 2 minutes?
Use racket hand only, or alternate hands each round.
🎾 Coaching Tips
Emphasise control: soft, steady hands on the rackets.
Demonstrate how to clamp and release evenly — both rackets open together.
Reinforce matching skills: talk through colours, food names, and what makes a “complete” sandwich.
For older players, challenge them to balance while walking heel-to-toe or on lines for added focus.
Seasonal variations for the 🥪 Sandwich Shop game — each version adds a themed twist while preserving the original structure of carrying and delivering “sandwiches” using rackets or alternatives:
🎄 Christmas – Christmas Dinner Dash
Children are delivering Christmas dinners to Santa’s elves! Replace fillings with festive items like turkey (brown ball), sprouts (green beanbag), cranberry sauce (red cone), and roasties (yellow ball). Sandwiches are still held between rackets, and delivery cones are labelled with elf names or "North Pole Mail." Kids must carry their Christmas sandwich to the matching colour cone or “chimney.”
🐣 Easter – Easter Picnic Drop-Off
Children are delivering picnic snacks to baby bunnies! Fill sandwiches with chocolate eggs (foil balls or beanbags), carrots (orange cones), or lettuce (green cones), and walk them to baskets (upturned cones or tubs). Add “bunny hops” before delivering to make it fun! Use burritos (drop-down dots with beanbags inside) for younger ones.
🎃 Halloween – Monster Meal Delivery
Children are chefs delivering spooky sandwiches to hungry monsters! Fill with monster eyeballs (white balls), slime (green beanbags), or bat wings (black cones). Carry your sandwich across the haunted hall and drop it into monster mouths (cones with faces drawn on). You can decorate the rackets with cobweb stickers too.
❤️ Valentine’s Day – Love Letter Lunches
Kids deliver “heart sandwiches” full of love to their secret admirers 💌. Fillings might be hearts (red/pink cones or beanbags), and the delivery zones are mailboxes or cones with Valentine messages. Encourage whispering a kind message before dropping their sandwich. Bonus: Let them decorate their rackets with heart stickers.
👩👧 Mother’s Day – Mum’s Breakfast in Bed
Kids build Mum a lovely breakfast sandwich with toast (yellow cones), jam (red), and tea bags (brown beanbags). Gently walk the sandwich to “Mum’s bed” (pink delivery cone) without dropping it. Use burritos as an easier alternative for younger players.
👨👦 Father’s Day – Dad’s Mega Sandwich
Kids make a supersized sandwich with strong fillings like sausages (brown balls), mustard (yellow beanbags), or tools (grey cones!) and deliver to the “Dad Zone.” Use cones with ties or moustaches drawn on. For older kids, move the delivery zones further back and challenge them to throw the filling — not the rackets!
Run The Gauntlet 🎯👑🎾
Run The Gauntlet
https://youtu.be/wAqA4ptPoxw?si=j18RtjVKxpA3ftbV
🎯 Purpose:Fun game to burn energy and keep kids engaged at the end of a session.
🧠 Set-up
🏟️ Use a hall, court or open indoor space
🎯 Mark out a channel or corridor down the middle using cones, lines or throw-down markers
🎾 Scatter a pile of soft balls or foam balls to one side
🚀 How to Play
🧒 Children line up at one end of the corridor
👨👩👧👦 Parents kneel or stand along both sides of the corridor, holding soft balls
On “Go!” 👉 children run, skip or jump through the gauntlet
👨👩👦 Parents gently roll balls across the corridor, aiming to “tag” kids below the knees
⛔ If a child is hit — they freeze for 3 seconds or do a silly dance, then continue!
🔁 Progressions & Variations
🔄 Swap roles: Parents run, kids roll
👟 Coaches run while kids roll and cheer!
🏃♂️ Add movement types: hopping, crab walk, skipping
⏱️ Add a “timer” challenge — can the group beat the clock?
👶 Feathers (Adaptations for Younger Kids)
🧸 Allow kids to walk slowly at first
🙋 Use only 1–2 balls at a time to avoid chaos
🪄 Let them hold hands with a parent or assistant the first time
💡 Coach Tips
🎉 Keep the energy fun — make it dramatic! 📣 Get kids to shout out silly chants as they run (e.g. “Can’t catch me!”) 👏 Big round of applause at the end for bravery!
Royal Rumble 🥊👑🎾
Adaptations & Feathers:
For Younger Kids (ages 4–6):
Each child has 3 lives.
Give “shields” (rackets held out front) to help defend.
Allow throwing the ball back in if striking is too hard.
Use a tee to drop-feed if struggling with timing.
For Older Kids (ages 7+):
Must hit using backhands only, or serve-only challenges.
Coaches or eliminated kids can hit from a greater distance. From the ring to increase difficultly
Set time limits per round for intensity.
Bonus Feathers:
Let eliminated players earn a “life” back with a challenge (e.g., rally 5 shots with a coach).
🏆 Winning Moment:
Crown the last child “King or Queen of the Court” – give them a fun token like a toy crown or wristband.
Seasonal themed variations for your game “👑 King or Queen of the Court”, designed to keep the gameplay fresh and festive while retaining the structure and key coaching goals:
🎄 **Christmas – “Santa’s Sleigh Dodge” 🛷🎅🎁
🎯 Setup: Kids are elves in Santa’s sleigh loading zone, dodging incoming falling presents (soft balls) from mischievous snowmen (coaches outside the ring).
🎅 Out? You become a helper elf, feeding more “presents” from outside the ring.
🧝♂️ Last elf standing becomes Chief Elf and gets a jingle bell prize!
🐣 **Easter – “Egg Arena!” 🐰🥚
🎯 Setup: Players are dodging falling chocolate eggs (foam balls) launched by the Easter Bunny's helpers.
🥚 Out? They become egg-launchers!
🌟 Bonus: Catch a golden egg (yellow foam ball) to earn an extra life!
🎃 **Halloween – “Pumpkin Panic!” 🎃👻
🎯 Setup: The ring becomes a haunted graveyard!
Kids dodge haunted pumpkins (orange balls) thrown by ghosts outside the ring.
👻 If you’re “haunted,” you become a ghost too!
🧙♀️ Last survivor becomes the Pumpkin Prince/Princess and earns a spooky sticker!
💘 **Valentine’s – “Cupid’s Ring” 💘🏹
🎯 Setup: Kids are in the “Heart Arena,” dodging Cupid’s arrows (soft balls in pink/red).
💝 If hit, they become Cupid’s helpers on the outside.
🕊️ Optional twist: players inside have to hold a “love letter” (beanbag) and protect it from being knocked out of their hands!
👩👧👦 **Mother’s Day – “Breakfast Dash!” 🍳☕
🎯 Setup: Children are serving imaginary breakfast to mum – don’t spill it!
Balls = flying croissants or cups of tea thrown by “hungry family members.”
🍞 If you drop it, join the family and start lobbing more breakfast in!
👑 Last one = “Head Chef of the Court!”
👨👦👦 **Father’s Day – “Tool Shed Scramble!” 🔧🧰
🎯 Setup: Kids are dodging falling tools in dad’s messy garage (balls = hammers, spanners, etc.).
🧰 Once hit, they become helpers, tossing more tools in.
🏆 Winner becomes “Super Sidekick” and gets a pretend wrench (trophy)!
🏆 Finishing Ideas
• Play upbeat music to finish
• Let the last round be just for fun — mix up teams or combine everyone for a MEGA sandwich run!
• Award wristbands/stickers to all participants — focus on teamwork, not just winning
🎉 Seasonal Variations
🎄 Christmas Dash – "Santa's Delivery Race"
• Swap beanbags for small wrapped presents or stuffed stockings
• Use cones shaped like Christmas trees 🎄
• Story: “You’re Santa’s elves — deliver the presents without dropping them!”
• Add sleigh bell sound effects or play Christmas music
🎃 Halloween Havoc – "Pumpkin Panic Relay"
• Use orange cones and mini pumpkins (or orange balls)
• Story: “You’re racing through a spooky forest to deliver the magical pumpkins before the witch wakes up!”
• Add cobweb decorations or play spooky music 🎃👻
🥚 Easter Hop – "Egg Hunt Dash"
• Use colourful eggs (plastic or foam) balanced on rackets
• Set out “Easter nests” (hoops) for them to deliver eggs into
• Story: “The Easter Bunny needs your help hiding eggs all over the court!” 🐰
💘 Valentine's Race – "Heart to Heart"
• Replace beanbags with red foam hearts ❤️
• Players pair up for the sandwich race – “Spread the love as a team!”
• Add a “Cupid Challenge” — hit a foam arrow (cone) down the lane with the racket
🌷 Mother’s Day – "Flower Dash"
• Each child delivers a foam flower to a big cone marked “Mum”
• Use soft music and keep it gentle – “Let’s run carefully so we don’t squish the petals!” 💐
• Parents can join in and receive a “thank you flower” at the end
🛠 Father’s Day – "Tool Time Relay"
• Beanbags = “tools,” buckets = “toolboxes”
• Kids pretend they’re racing to fix something — bonus points for sound effects!
• Add a “high five Dad” station before tagging the next player 👋🔧
Relay Races🎾
Relay Races 🎽 – “The Great Tennis Dash!” 🏃♀️🏃♂️🎾💨
🎬 Story Script Intro:
“Welcome to the Great Tennis Dash! 🏁 The tennis track is open, and it’s time for the fastest, most skilful team to race to the summit! But beware — it’s not just about speed… you’ll need balance, teamwork, and racket control to complete each challenge. Are you ready? Let’s GO!”
🧠 Purpose:
• Build agility, balance, coordination
• Reinforce racket skills in motion
• Encourage teamwork and fun competition
🏗 Set-Up:
• Divide children into 2–4 teams lined up behind markers on one side of the court/hall
• Use cones to mark lanes and turning points at the far end
• Each variation uses a different piece of equipment
• Use music or a whistle to start each race
🟢 Relay Options:
🎈 1. Balloon Tapping Race (indoors)
• Each child taps a balloon up in the air using their racket while moving to the far cone and back
• Optional: If it hits the floor — freeze for 3 seconds before continuing!
• Great for light movement and concentration
🥄 2. Egg & Spoon (Beanbag Balance)
• Balance a beanbag on the racket and walk/run to the cone and back
• Emphasise slow, steady hands
• Try rally stance and soft hands
🏑 3. Hockey Dribble Race
• Use a football or foam ball and dribble with racket around a cone and back
• Players must keep the ball under control
• Use both sides of the racket for more challenge
🥪 4. Sandwich Race (Team Balance Challenge)
• Player 1 places beanbag/ball on their racket
• Player 2 sandwiches it by placing their racket on top
• They must run together holding the “sandwich” across the court and back
• Add more runners to the sandwich with each round — soon 4–5 children running together!
🪶 Feathers – Easier Variations (For Younger Tots):
• Shorten the running distance
• Allow walking only
• Let parents/assistants run alongside
• Use larger items (e.g. foam balls instead of beanbags) for easier balance
• Skip “return run” and tag next player directly
⚡ Progressions – For Older Kids:
• Add timed rounds — which team completes most laps in 2 minutes?
• Add a small jump or obstacle midway through the course
• Make them switch hands on the return run
• Silent Race – no talking allowed or you freeze for 5 seconds
🏆 Finishing Ideas
• Play upbeat music to finish
• Let the last round be just for fun — mix up teams or combine everyone for a MEGA sandwich run!
• Award wristbands/stickers to all participants — focus on teamwork, not just winning
🎉 Seasonal Variations
🎄 Christmas Dash – "Santa's Delivery Race"
• Swap beanbags for small wrapped presents or stuffed stockings
• Use cones shaped like Christmas trees 🎄
• Story: “You’re Santa’s elves — deliver the presents without dropping them!”
• Add sleigh bell sound effects or play Christmas music
🎃 Halloween Havoc – "Pumpkin Panic Relay"
• Use orange cones and mini pumpkins (or orange balls)
• Story: “You’re racing through a spooky forest to deliver the magical pumpkins before the witch wakes up!”
• Add cobweb decorations or play spooky music 🎃👻
🥚 Easter Hop – "Egg Hunt Dash"
• Use colourful eggs (plastic or foam) balanced on rackets
• Set out “Easter nests” (hoops) for them to deliver eggs into
• Story: “The Easter Bunny needs your help hiding eggs all over the court!” 🐰
💘 Valentine's Race – "Heart to Heart"
• Replace beanbags with red foam hearts ❤️
• Players pair up for the sandwich race – “Spread the love as a team!”
• Add a “Cupid Challenge” — hit a foam arrow (cone) down the lane with the racket
🌷 Mother’s Day – "Flower Dash"
• Each child delivers a foam flower to a big cone marked “Mum”
• Use soft music and keep it gentle – “Let’s run carefully so we don’t squish the petals!” 💐
• Parents can join in and receive a “thank you flower” at the end
🛠 Father’s Day – "Tool Time Relay"
• Beanbags = “tools,” buckets = “toolboxes”
• Kids pretend they’re racing to fix something — bonus points for sound effects!
• Add a “high five Dad” station before tagging the next player 👋🔧
Rounders🎾
🏏 Objective:
Score as many runs as possible by hitting the ball and running around bases before the fielders return the ball.
🔧 Equipment:
Tennis racket (used as the bat)
Soft tennis ball or sponge ball
4 bases (cones)
Fielding team and batting team (about 6–8 kids per side)
One coach or player acts as feeder (pitcher)
👥 Teams:
Divide the group into 2 teams: Batting and Fielding
Switch roles after all batters have had a turn (or after 3 outs)
📝 Basic Rules:
1. Batting:
Each batter gets one underarm feed (or two for younger players).
They must hit the ball with the racket and run to at least first base.
If they make it around all 4 bases = 1 full rounder (run)
If they make it to 2nd or 3rd base and get stuck, they stay there. Next batter continues.
2. Running:
You can run on a hit or miss (if ball is in play).
Only one runner per base.
If a batter overtakes another runner, the overtaker is out.
Batters must run in one direction (no backtracking).
3. Fielding:
Fielders try to catch the ball or collect it and return it to the feeder/pitcher.
If they return the ball to the pitcher before the batter reaches the next base, the batter is out.
Catches (on the full) = batter out.
4. Outs:
A batter is out if:
The ball is caught on the full
The ball beats them back to the base i.e. they are stumped
They run backwards or miss a base
✅ Coaching Tips:
Adjust base distances for age groups
Let younger kids have 2 or 3 hits before running
Use a sponge or foam ball for safety
Rotate roles so everyone gets a chance to bat and field
Use hitting tee’s/ coach manually hits the ball.
🎾 Rally in the Alley 🎾
🎾 Rally in the Alley 🎾
A fun and structured rally game for pairs!
Setup:
Set up as many mini-nets as possible in parallel across the tennis court.
Use court lines or drop-down markers to establish clear baselines.
Position the activity near a corner to use fences/ walls as backstops and sidestops, the idea is to limit disruption of ball flying all over the place; keeping it contained.
👯♂️ Step 1: Friends Mode
Pairs rally together to build control, teamwork, and technique.
➡️ Start by pushing a football to each other from baseline to baseline.
➡️ Focus on controlling and pushing the ball (sideways on using forwards and backwards motion) before progressing to hitting.
Progressions:
Control ➡️ Hit forehands
Control ➡️ Hit backhands
Rally freely with forehands and backhands
Challenge:
🎉 “Bingo!” – Count successful rallies.
Reach 10 hits and shout “Bingo!” then sit down, see who is first pair to sit
Repeat with 15, 20, or 30 hits, alternating forehands and backhands.
⚔️ Step 2: Enemies Mode
Now the pairs compete to win points!
🎯 Objective: Try to push or hit the ball past your partner’s baseline.
Teaching Points:
🦀 Move like a crab: stay facing opponent, recover to middle
🎾 Must Keep the ball on the ground
👌 Unlimited touches to control
🏆 Win the point if your opponent lets the ball pass their baseline.
🔁 Rotate partners regularly – winners move up, others move down
🌈 Over the Rainbow – Journey to the Emerald City (Wizard of Oz Edition)
🌈 Over the Rainbow – Journey to the Emerald City (Wizard of Oz Edition)
🎯 Movement · Racket Skills · Imagination
🧠 Focus: sideways footwork · forehands/backhands · tracking · confidence
🌪️ Story Setup
“Today we’re travelling Over the Rainbow 🌈 into the Emerald City!
To cross each colour of the rainbow, you must unlock it with your magic tennis racket.
But once you arrive in Oz… the portal home closes!
You can only return if you bring the Wizard an emerald 💚.”
🏗️ Setup
• 5 coloured cones arranged in a rainbow arc
• Net or row of cones = barrier between Kansas & Emerald City
• Foam balls = Emeralds 💚
• Catching nets or buckets for the return challenge
• Coach feeds balls from the side
🎾 Stage 1 – Unlock the Rainbow
Child starts at the red cone
Coach feeds → child hits a forehand
Shuffle to the next cone
Repeat for all 5 colours (orange → yellow → green → blue)
Once all colours are hit, the child steps across the barrier into Emerald City
🎉 They’ve completed their journey Over the Rainbow!
✨ Stage 2 – Return from the Emerald City
You now offer the kids TWO magical ways home.
The coach can choose based on group size, energy, or time.
OPTION A — The Emerald Catch Challenge (Jailbreak Style)
Perfect when you want reaction time, catching, and excitement.
Once a player enters Emerald City:
Other children still hitting rainbow shots send emeralds flying over the barrier
The player in Oz must catch ONE emerald:
✅ on the full OR
✅ with one bounceThey may use:
• a catching net
• a bucket
• or hands (harder groups)
Once they catch one emerald, they run to the Wizard and say:
✨ “There’s no place like home!” ✨
The Wizard (coach) opens the portal and they return to the start.
Why this option is great:
• It’s fast
• It’s fun
• Kids love hunting emeralds
• It keeps the whole group active because the hitters are helping too
OPTION B — Emerald Collector Mission (Perpetual Game Loop)
Perfect when you want continuous movement and longer turns.
After unlocking all 5 rainbow colours:
The player must collect 5 emeralds from around Emerald City
(or as many emeralds as they hit — your choice)Emeralds can be collected:
• From a scattered area
• From a helper
• From a bucket or cone zoneOnce they have all their emeralds, they bring them to the Wizard and say:
✨ “There’s no place like home!” ✨
Wizard opens the portal → player returns to Kansas.
Why this option is great:
• Longer activity for each child
• Ideal for large groups
• Works well when you want a non-stop circuit
• Players feel like they’re “gathering treasure”
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications)
• Use fewer colours (3 instead of 5)
• Walk instead of shuffle
• Use underarm slow feeds
• Use balloons or big foam balls
• Wizard hands the emerald directly for very young players
• Barrier can be a floor line instead of a net
⚡ Progressions (Challenges)
• Combine forehands & backhands
• Randomised colour calling
• Add targets behind cones
• Increase distance between colours
• Faster feeds
• Require catching emeralds hands only
• Catch with one bounce only
• Wizard Challenge: catch 2 emeralds before returning
🎾 Technical Coaching Tips
• “Stay sideways as you shuffle!”
• “Brush the ball — not too big a swing.”
• “Eyes on each colour before you move.”
• “Make each hit count — unlock the rainbow!”
• “Catch with soft hands, eyes behind the ball.”
🎉 Seasonal Variations (Wizard of Oz Style)
🎄 Christmas — Over the Snowbow to Santa’s Workshop
Emeralds = snowballs
Magic phrase: “Merry Christmas!”
🐣 Easter — Eggbow Adventure
Emeralds = eggs
Magic phrase: “Happy Easter!”
🎃 Halloween — Witch’s Rainbow
Emeralds = glowing pumpkin orbs
Magic phrase: “Open the portal, Witch!”
❤️ Valentine’s — Heart Rainbow
Emeralds = heart tokens
Magic phrase: “Cupid, send me home!”
Racket Soldiers 🪖
🎯 Target practice game to develop aim, coordination, and correct swing mechanics
⏱️ Duration:
5–8 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Setup
“Okay troops! Your mission today is to take down the enemy soldiers — but not with swords or water balloons… with your best tennis shots! These rackets have lined up and they're daring you to knock them down! Let’s see if you’ve got the accuracy and the power!”
🧱 Game Setup
Soldiers = Spare rackets placed upright (handle/butt on ground, strings facing forward)
Place 3–6 rackets across from each child
If short on rackets, stack traffic cones and round cones into tall unstable towers to simulate soldiers
Hitting Zone = Tees or Drop Feeds
Children take turns hitting balls low to high from a hitting tee or drop feed
Distance between hitter and soldier wall depends on age/ability
Parents can help pick up and reset soldiers between turns
🔁 Gameplay
1. Children line up at their hitting station (tee or feeder).
2. One ball at a time – aim to knock over a “soldier” (racket or cone tower).
3. Hitters use forehand technique (low to high) first.
4. When soldiers fall, parents/coaches reset them quickly.
5. After a few rounds, progress to backhand or self-feed.
🪶 Feathers (Simplify for Younger Children)
Let them throw the ball underarm to start
Reduce distance to soldiers
Use larger balls for more success
Place ball in child’s hand and guide their swing together
Let parents support hand placement and help reset soldiers
⚡ Progressions (Older or Confident Children)
Drop Feed: Children toss the ball and hit it themselves instead of from a tee
Backhand Challenge: Have children switch to backhand side and adjust footwork
Hit from movement: Add a side step or small shuffle before contact
Scoring: 1 point per soldier knocked down, track team scores for competition
Timed Challenge: Knock down all soldiers in 30 seconds
🎾 Technical Coaching Tips
Emphasise low-to-high swing
Sideways stance for both forehand and backhand
Encourage early preparation – racket back and eyes on the ball
Use “split step then hit” cue if child is rushing
Praise accuracy over power – “aim not smash!”
Seasonal variations for the "Racket Soldiers" game — keeping the same gameplay (children hitting down upright rackets or cone towers), but changing the theme and props slightly to match the season:
🎄 Christmas – Knock Down the Naughty Elves
Santa’s workshop is under siege from mischievous elves who are standing upright (rackets or cone towers). Children must use their tennis balls to knock them down before they cause more trouble! Parents can help set the elves back up quickly. Optional: place little elf hats (paper cut-outs or visuals) on the top of cones/rackets for effect. 🎅🎄🎁
🎃 Halloween – Smash the Skeletons
Skeleton soldiers (white rackets or cone towers) are guarding the haunted tennis court! Kids must smash them down using tennis balls. Spooky music and “BOO!” sounds encouraged. For added fun, use glow sticks or spooky stickers on the targets. 👻🕸️💀
🐣 Easter – Topple the Chocolate Bunnies
Giant chocolate bunnies (cone towers with round cones as ears or decorated rackets) have popped up on court! Kids must gently knock them down to collect their Easter treats. Optional: place a chocolate wrapper or Easter sticker on each “bunny” to collect after it’s hit. 🐰🍫🌸
💘 Valentine’s – Cupid’s Target Practice
Cupid has lined up heart-shaped towers (use pink/red rackets or cones with heart stickers). Children aim their balls to knock them down as practice for spreading love across the land! Add red or pink beanbags as “love letters” to deliver after each successful hit. 💘🎾💌
💐 Mother’s Day – Knock Down the Flower Pots
Beautiful flower displays (cone towers or upright rackets) are blocking the tennis garden — children must gently knock them over so the flowers can be rearranged. Use round cones in pink, purple, and yellow to resemble petals. 🪻🌼🌷
👔 Father’s Day – Tip Over the Toolboxes
The tennis court has been turned into Dad’s workshop! The upright rackets or cones are now “toolboxes” standing in the way. Knock them down with tennis balls and rebuild them quickly! Add fun stickers of tools (spanners, screwdrivers) to the towers. 🧰🔧🎾
Pots and Beanbags 🪣🎯🎾
🪣🎯 Story / Theme:
A fun accuracy challenge where kids try to land beanbags into a “pot” that keeps moving further away. 🚶♂️↩️👧
🧰 Equipment:
• 🪣 1 tub, bucket, or large pot per pair
• 🟠 Beanbags (or small foam balls)
• ⚽ Footballs (optional variation)
🎮 How to Play:
🧍♂️👧 Line children up on the baseline, with parents standing in front holding a tub.
🟠 Each child throws a beanbag aiming to land it in the tub.
✅ If they make it, the parent takes a big step back. 👣
🛑 If they miss, the parent takes a step forward. 🔁
🔄 After a few turns, swap roles — the child holds the pot and the parent throws. 👨👧👦
⏫ Progressions:
⚽ Ball Swap: Use footballs instead of beanbags — allow one bounce before catching.
🤾 Throwing Styles: Encourage side-arm or rugby-style throws for variety.
🏃 Moving Target: The catcher walks side-to-side while holding the tub. 🪣👣
Pirate Treasure 🏴☠️
📖 Story Script (Intro)
“Ahoy there, mateys! 🏴☠️ You’ve all been chosen as brave young pirates to join a treasure hunt! Deep in the middle of the sea lies a mountain of golden treasure (tennis balls)! 💰 But be quick — only the fastest, smartest pirates will collect the most treasure for their team. Ready to plunder, crew? Let’s hear your best pirate AARRRRGH! 🗣️⚓”
⚙️ Set-Up
Place a large tub or pile of tennis balls (or beanbags) in the centre of the court/hall — this is the treasure chest.
Divide children into three teams and assign an assistant coach or adult to each as their Captain.
Line teams up on opposite sides of the court or triangle around the treasure.
Mark team “bases” using cones or hoops.
🕹️ How to Play
1. On the coach’s signal, all players from each team runs to the centre and collects one tennis ball (treasure) at the same time.
2. They must return it to their team’s base before the next player goes.
3. Repeat until all the treasure is gone.
4. Teams count their treasure. The team with the most loot wins! 🎉
🔁 Progression: Reverse Treasure
Now the treasure must be returned to the chest!
One player at a time returns a ball from their base to the centre.
The first team to return all their treasure and sit down in their base wins Round 2.
🪶 Feathers – Simplifications
Allow running with two balls or more at a time if there are lots of kids.
Replace balls with beanbags for easier grip.
Let parents assist younger tots with holding and collecting.
For walking tots, allow carrying treasure in small buckets or with help.
⚡ Progressions – For Older Kids
Add obstacles between base and treasure (cones to weave, hurdles to jump).
Add a time limit — which team collects most treasure in 60 seconds?
“Sneaky Pirates” mode: once all treasure is gone, teams can steal one treasure at a time from other team bases.
Penalty Rule: stepping over lines means one ball must be returned.
🎃 Seasonal Variants
🎅 Christmas:
🎁 “Santa’s Sack” – presents instead of treasure. Elves collect them for Santa’s sleigh.
🐣 Easter:
🥚 “Easter Egg Hunt” – scatter plastic eggs (or yellow beanbags) across the court. Tots return them to their “nest”.
🎃 Halloween:
👻 “Pumpkin Snatch” – collect “pumpkins” (orange cones or balls). Watch out for the ghost (coach) trying to tag you!
❤️ Valentine’s Day:
💌 “Love Letter Dash” – collect foam hearts or envelopes and deliver to your team’s mailbox.
👩👧👦 Mother’s/Father’s Day:
💐 “Flower Run” – run to collect paper flowers and deliver them to mum/dad’s “garden patch”.
🥅 Penalties – Racket Save Challenge
🥅 Penalties – Racket Save Challenge
🏴☠️ Story Intro:
"Welcome to the Penalty Challenge! The enemy pirates are trying to fire cannonballs into your goal! Grab your racket, guard your treasure, and don’t let any balls get past you! Can you become the ultimate shot-stopper?"
🎯 Purpose:
Improve reaction time and lateral footwork
Introduce defensive movement (crab steps)
Encourage focus and fun parent/child interaction
🏗 Setup:
Each pair (parent & child) needs:
4 tall traffic cones (to build 2 mini goals – about 3 ft wide)
1 throw-down cone (start position)
1 circular cone (to rest ball on for "penalty shot")
1 inflatable ball
Place 2 goals about 8–10 ft apart
The child starts on the middle spot between goals (on the throw-down cone)
🕹 How to Play:
Parent sets the inflatable ball on a circular cone about 6 ft in front of the child.
When ready, they gently “shoot” the ball towards one of the goals.
The child uses crab side-steps and tries to block or stop the shot using their racket.
After each save attempt (or goal!), the child resets by returning to the middle cone.
Repeat shots — aim for different goals to keep it unpredictable!
🛠 Progressions:
Player Swap: Let the child have a turn doing the shooting while the parent defends (switch roles).
Racket Strike Return: Instead of blocking, the child must hit the ball back using a forward or backward swing.
Serve Defence: Use a balloon instead of a ball for a “slow motion” challenge — try to catch and volley it away mid-air.
🪶 Feathers (for younger players):
Reduce the width between the goals.
Allow children to use both hands on the racket.
Let the ball roll slower — parent can roll rather than strike.
Coach or parent stands behind the child to help guide racket movement.
🌈 Seasonal Variations:
🎃 Pumpkin Penalties: Use orange balloons as pumpkin cannonballs.
❄️ Snowball Saves: Use white foam balls as "snowballs" from Frost Giants.
💖 Cupid’s Arrows: Parents pretend to "fire" heart arrows toward goals with dramatic flair.
🐣 Egg Saves (Easter): Use pastel balloons and shout “Save the egg!”
👻 Ghost Balls: Pretend the ball is a spooky ghost trying to sneak past the child!
Parachute Game 🎈
Parachute Game 🎈
Focus: Teamwork, sensory play, motor coordination, and fun group interaction.
Equipment: Large parachute, soft balls (foam or light), optional music
🎯 Main Activities:
🌀 1. Turning the Wheel
Everyone holds the parachute and steps backwards until it’s taut.
Begin slowly walking in a circle — like turning a big wheel.
Freeze! Change direction and go the other way.
Encourage teamwork: "We can only turn it if we work together!"
🌊 2. Wave Maker
Start with long, slow waves — lift the parachute high, then gently lower.
Feel the breeze! Great for cooling off on hot days.
Switch to fast, choppy waves — hold it at waist height and shake using your forearms.
Try the game with music to change rhythm (e.g., slow to fast).
🍿 3. Popcorn Time!
Lower the parachute to the floor but keep holding.
Coach adds soft balls (“popcorn seeds”) to the centre.
Everyone starts making small, fast waves to bounce the balls — like popcorn popping.
Once all balls are bouncing:
👉 “The popcorn’s cooked — time to launch it out of the pan!”
👉 Shake harder to pop the balls off!(Tip: keep extra balls handy in case they bounce off too quickly.)
Progression: Popcorn catchers, have some kids around the outside to catch the popcorn as it pops out of the Parachute: use catching nets/ tups
- Catch on rackets
- Older: hit balls back before balls roll.
- Two teams: COOKS (trying to shake balls off) and CLEANERS, trying to catch the balls when they spill and throw them back on the parachute; optional: can hit the ball back.
- Optional Time Trial: time which the team gets rid of all the popcorn first; declare a winner
⛺ 4. Parachute Tent (Bubble Dome)
Start with big waves, then on the next high lift, shout “Under the tent!”
Everyone walks forward, pulling the chute behind them and sits down on the outside edge (underside) of the parachute
Inside the bubble:
👉 Whisper high fives to coaches and friends 👋
👉 Ask a simple question like “What animal lives in a tent?” or “Can you see the stars?”
🧲 5. 1-2-3... Let Go!
End by gathering around. Coach counts “1… 2… 3…” and everyone lets go.
Coach pulls the parachute in for a big dramatic finish (kids love the whoosh).
🪶 Feathers – Simplifications for Younger Tots
Let parents hold the chute while children watch and slowly join in.
Use fewer balls for popcorn to reduce chaos.
Allow little ones just to feel the breeze if they don’t want to move.
Keep instructions very visual and animated — e.g., mime popcorn, animals, waves.
Sit under the tent for a moment can be a great time to sing a short rhyme or song 🎵.
🎮 Variations & Add-Ons:
🎨 Colour Games: Ask “Everyone holding blue – lift it up!”
🍂 Seasonal Popcorn:
Autumn = “Leaf shower” 🍁
Winter = “Snowflake bounce” ❄️
Spring = “Baby bunnies jumping” 🐰
Summer = “Beach balls on the waves” 🏖️
🎵 Musical Parachute: Play a track — move slow for verse, fast for chorus
👀 Object Search: Hide small soft toys under parachute — "Who can find the teddy?"
👧🧒 Older Tots / Tennis Titans 🎾• 🏃♂️🌈 Movement Challenges:
When you call a child’s name, they must run under the parachute and out again before it falls ⏱️ — everyone lifts the parachute up like a wave 🌊 and cheers 🎉 the runner underneath!
• 🌍 Around the World:
Everyone lifts the parachute high ⬆️ and calls someone's name 📣. That child must run around the outside of the circle 🌀 and return to their spot before:
A️⃣ the parachute falls 💥
B️⃣ they beat a count of 5 or 10 🔢
• 🏁 Around the World Race:
Throw the parachute up into the air 🪂 and call out two children’s names 👧👦 — they race around the outside and try to switch places before it lands. Optional: declare the winner 🥇!
- 🔢 Call out three children
- 🔢 Call out four children
⚠️ Safety Tip:
🚫 Never let two children run underneath the parachute at the same time — they could collide head-on 🤕!
Parachute Darts🎯
🎯 Parachute Darts
A calm, focused game great for winding down or building throwing accuracy.
📝 Setup:
Spread the parachute flat on the ground — this is your giant dartboard.
Mark a throwing line (“oche”) a few metres back using a mini net, cones, or chalk.
Use coloured beanbags (ideally matching the colours of the parachute segments).
🎲 How to Play:
Children take turns standing behind the oche.
They throw beanbags, aiming to land them on a matching colour on the parachute.
→ Red beanbag = aim for red section, etc.Coach or assistant collects and returns beanbags between rounds.
Optional: Score 1 point for a hit, 2 for a perfect match!
🏹 Variations:
Timed Round: Who can land the most matches in 60 seconds?
Team Play: Take turns and add up total team scores.
Colour Call: Coach shouts a colour — child must quickly pick the correct beanbag and throw.
Target Zones: Mark a bullseye zone in the middle for bonus points 🎯
🪶 Feathers (Younger Children):
Let them walk up and place beanbags to learn colour matching.
Throw from closer up.
Use larger beanbags or soft balls for easier aiming.
PACMAN 🎮
PACMAN 🎮 – Balance & Court Awareness Game
Duration: 5–10 mins
Age group: 3–10 yrs (adapt as needed)
📝 Setup & Description:
This fun game helps children develop balance, footwork, and spatial awareness using the tennis court lines.
Each child starts with a beanbag balanced on their racket.
They must walk only along the court lines — baseline, service lines, tramlines, etc.
The goal is to keep the beanbag balanced while continuously moving, staying on the lines, and not bumping into others.
If they meet another player head-on, they must turn around or swap paths.
Introduce the coach as “Professor RacketHands” — walk behind children banging two rackets like cymbals. The professor must also stay on the lines.
If the Professor catches up or the child drops the beanbag, they’re “out” or return to the start.
🪶 Feathers (Simplified):
Children can stop briefly to rebalance the beanbag.
Coach walks slower as Professor RacketHands; NB some of the children wont like it so judge the age etc
Allow children to walk without racket — simply carry beanbag and follow lines.
Instead of elimination, if caught, just “restart.”
⚡️ Progressions (Advanced):
Use balls instead of beanbags for more balance challenge.
Introduce friendly sabotage: players can try to gently knock off others’ beanbags if they meet.
Make it a last one standing challenge — if you drop it or get tagged, you're out.
Add more professors (assistant coaches or parents) to increase pressure.
Try fast-walk or tiptoe only rounds.
🟡 Pac-Man – Seasonal Variations
(Original Game Concept: Kids dribble their balls through a maze while avoiding “Ghosts” played by coaches or parents)
🎃 Halloween – Pumpkin-Pac
Children are mini pumpkins trying to escape spooky ghosts (coaches in costume or with masks). Decorate the maze with cobwebs or mini skeleton cones. They must escape while collecting “pumpkin seeds” (beanbags). 👻🎃
🐣 Easter – Eggy-Pac
Children are Easter eggs being chased by sneaky foxes or rabbits. The maze is filled with pastel-coloured cones, and the eggs have to dribble their ball (the yolk!) to safety — collecting “chocolate drops” (mini cones) along the way. 🐰🥚🍫
🎄 Christmas – Santa-Pac
Players are Santa’s elves delivering presents through the North Pole maze. Coaches are Grinches trying to catch them. Kids collect “gift tags” (small cones/beanbags) while navigating snowy obstacles (white cones). 🎅❄️🎁
💘 Valentine’s – Heart-Pac
Children are hearts running through a maze of love! They dribble their balls through rosy red and pink cones while avoiding Cupid’s arrows (gentle coach interference). Every time they make it across, they drop a heart token in the love jar. 💘🏹
👩 Mother’s Day / 👨 Father’s Day – Flower-Pac
Children are flowers in bloom trying to avoid rain clouds (coaches). The aim is to collect sunlight tokens (yellow beanbags) while dribbling around watering can cones and back to their parent’s flowerpot. 🌼☀️