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
🧤 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