Racquet Attack on the Beach Balls

Skill: Dodge, Run, Strike
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space)
Safety Considerations:
Remind participants to be careful when swinging their racquet and to make sure there is no one standing behind them. Also, tell participants to not stand too close behind another participant.
Equipment: 1 tennis/squash/badminton racquet per participant playing
1 beach ball and/or foam ball, or more, for every participant playing
Cones (optional)
Objective:
For participants to hit the beach balls/foam balls with their racquet towards other participants, and protect themselves with their racquet from beach balls hitting them.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Agility
Set up:
Set up at least one area that is around 15 feet by 15 feet, using cones.
5-7 participants will be in each area, along with 5-9 beach balls/foam balls.
Each participant will have a racquet.
If there are not enough racquets, balls, or space to set up more than one area. Then have the other participants do another activity while they wait their turn.
Step by Step:
1. The participants in the play area will all have a racquet and will start standing on the outside of the area.
2. The leader will place the beach balls and/or foam balls inside the area.
3. When the leader says "Go", the participants will run to the balls and start to hit them with their racquets towards other participants.
4. If a ball hits a participant, then they get the letter "O". When they spell "OUT", they are out for that round. Or participants can start with 3 points, and every time they're hit they lose a point. When they get to 0 points, they are out for that round.
5. Participants use their racquets to protect the balls from hitting them.
6. Participants cannot leave the area, unless they are getting a ball that rolled out.
7. They also can only hit the balls with their racquet; if they use their feet or hands, it will not count if it hit someone.
8. Play until there is 1 or 2 participants remaining.
9. Have new participants play the next round.
10. Remind participants to be careful when swinging their racquet and to make sure there is no one standing behind them. Also, tell participants to not stand too close behind another participant.
11. This activity is great to help participants practice hitting a ball with a racquet and encourages hand-eye coordination and agility.
Variations:
Create a bigger play area and have more participants and balls inside.
Participants can start with more points or spell a longer or different word.
Participants play in teams and they have to eliminate the other participants.
Use tennis balls instead of the bigger, softer balls.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.