The Floor is Lava! 🌋

🔥 Adventure Balance Game – 5–8 mins

🚶‍♂️ Transition from Warm-Up:

This game follows perfectly from the warm-up, as much of the setup remains in place. It's a great way to channel the children’s excitement into imaginative, skill-building movement with purpose.

🧠 Purpose:

• Develop balance, spatial awareness & coordination

• Encourage careful footwork and decision-making

• Reinforce ball/beanbag handling skills

• Provide imaginative and physical transition to main skill stations

🗣 Story Script (Coach Narration)

• “Oh no — the tennis court has turned into a lava pit! 🔥 The only way across is by stepping on floating islands and bridges! Put on your safety helmets (🎩 upside-down cones!) and collect the magical treasure (beanbags) without touching the lava. Watch out — lava eruptions and fireballs might get in your way!”

  🏗 Set-Up:

  • Scatter tennis balls = lava

  • Place hoops, dots, and throw-down lines = islands and bridges

  • Add buckets or tubs = volcano checkpoints

  • Kids wear helmets made of upside-down round cones or small cones on their heads

  • Starting point on one end of court; destination on the other

  🎮 Main Game Mechanics:

  • Children start at one side, balancing beanbags, foam balls, or carrying rackets

  • They move only on safe items (hoops, spots, lines) to cross the lava

  • At volcano checkpoint (centre or end), they toss the beanbag into a bucket, collect another, and return

  • If they fall off, they return to the start

  • No jumping or running — slow, stable travel encouraged

  🪶 Feathers (Easier Variants):

  • No racket needed – carry item in hands

  • Make islands closer together

  • Let assistants or parents hold children's hands

  • No “lava eruptions” until later

  ⚡ Progressions (Challenge Add-Ons):

  1. 🔥 Rolling Fireballs: Coaches gently roll tennis balls across paths

  2. 🌋 Volcano Eruption: A bucket of soft balls is thrown in the air while coaches frisbee round cones (lava rocks) for kids to dodge

  3. 🎭 Tell kids to wear helmets (round or traffic) to challenge balance as they move around

  4. 🎯 Checkpoint Challenge: Kids throw into the bucket to “disarm the volcano” before moving on

  5. 🎒 Load Swap at checkpoints: Swap beanbags for soft balls or juggling scarves

  6. 🧗 Racket Carry: Older kids balance a ball or beanbag on a racket as they cross

  🎭 Seasonal Adaptations:

  • 🎃 Halloween – "The Floor is Slime!": Use green cones & spooky music, roll “ghost balls” (white balloons)

  • 🎅 Christmas – "Santa’s Rooftop Rescue": Hoops become chimneys, beanbags are presents

  • 🐣 Easter – "Egg Escape Lava": Balance “eggs” (foam balls) in spoon or on racket

  • 💘 Valentine’s Day – "Heart Rescue Mission": Beanbags are hearts; kids rescue them from lava

  • 👩‍👧 Mother's Day / 👨‍👦 Father's Day – "Gift Dash": Kids carry gifts to their parents across the lava

  🧠 Coach Reminders:

  • Keep it safe — always check islands are spaced sensibly and not slipping

  • Get into character — volcanoes, fire monsters, or rescue leaders!

  • Encourage teamwork by letting kids help each other cross