🎈 Balloon Match
A fun indoor game developing coordination, awareness, and simple rallying skills.
⏱️ Duration:
5–15 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Today we’re going to play Balloon Match! You’ll work together with your adult as a doubles team. Your goal is to keep the balloon off your floor and try to land it on your opponent’s side. You can hit it as many times as you need — just don’t let it fall!"
Set up multiple small courts using:
Mini-nets, cones, benches, or rows of tubs and tees
Each court = 2 children and 2 parents (doubles match)
One balloon per court
🧱 Court Zones:
Add "no-go zones" (using cones) 1–2 metres on each side of the net/barrier to:
Prevent children colliding while both go for a balloon in the middle
Encourage spatial awareness and teamwork
🔁 Gameplay:
Children and adults can tap the balloon as many times as needed
Goal = get balloon over the net/barrier and land on opponent's floor
If it lands on the floor, that team scores a point
Games can go to 3 or 5 points before switching partners or opponents
End every round with a high-five or handshake
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications):
Younger children can:
Be allowed to catch and release the balloon
Move closer to the net or remove the barrier entirely
⚡️ Progressions (Older or Confident Children):
1-on-1 Matches: Child vs child, with adult umpiring
Limit touches before having to hit baloon over, three touches, two and then has to go straight over.
Swap Balloon for Inflatable Football:
Allow 2 bounces
Child can catch and throw/hit back, but must stay in position
1 Bounce Rally Game:
One bounce allowed
Use inflatable/foam balls
Encourage racket use (forehands, two-hand backhands)
✅ Coaching Focus:
Encourage controlled touches
Praise teamwork and fair play
Reinforce spatial awareness (no-go zone and partner coordination)
Highlight importance of rallying and soft hands
Objective 🎯
A fun indoor game that develops coordination, awareness, and simple rallying skills.
⏱️ Duration:
5–15 minutes
🎤 Coach Script / Setup:
"Today we’re going to play Balloon Match! You’ll work together with your adult as a doubles team. Your goal is to keep the balloon off your floor and try to land it on your opponent’s side. You can hit it as many times as you need — just don’t let it fall!"
Set up multiple small courts using:
Mini-nets, cones, benches, or rows of tubs and tees
Each court = 2 children and 2 parents (doubles match)
One balloon per court
🧱 Court Zones:
Add "no-go zones" (using cones) 1–2 metres on each side of the net/barrier to:
Prevent children colliding while both go for a balloon in the middle
Encourage spatial awareness and teamwork
🔁 Gameplay:
Children and adults can tap the balloon as many times as needed
Goal = get balloon over the net/barrier and land on opponent's floor
If it lands on the floor, that team scores a point
Games can go to 3 or 5 points before switching partners or opponents
End every round with a high-five or handshake
🪶 Feathers (Simplifications):
Younger children can:
Be allowed to catch and release the balloon
Move closer to the net or remove the barrier entirely
⚡️ Progressions (Older or Confident Children):
1-on-1 Matches: Child vs child, with adult umpiring
Limit touches before having to hit balloon over, three touches, two and then has to go straight over.
Swap Balloon for Inflatable Football:
Allow 2 bounces
Child can catch and throw/hit back, but must stay in position
1 Bounce Rally Game:
One bounce allowed
Use inflatable/foam balls
Encourage racket use (forehands, two-hand backhands)
✅ Coaching Focus:
Encourage controlled touches
Praise teamwork and fair play
Reinforce spatial awareness (no-go zone and partner coordination)
Highlight importance of rallying and soft hands