Tennis Balls in Threes: Pass, Switch and Call

In groups of three, students bounce-pass tennis balls while jogging inside a cone square and switch spots after every pass. It activates the muscles, peripheral vision and communication before the main part of the lesson.

How to play

1. Each trio marks a 20 x 20 ft square with four cones; they jog inside passing a tennis ball with one bounce, alternating right and left hands (2 min).
2. Pass and switch: the passer runs to the empty corner of the square; the trio must always fill three of the four corners (2 min).
3. Call: you may only pass to someone who calls out their name and shows an open hand; add a second ball to each trio (2 min).
4. Final challenge: count how many passes in a row the trio makes in 60 seconds without a drop and compare with the first try (2 min).

Rules

• Passes are bounced and underhand, never straight at someone's face.
• Each trio stays in its square and never runs into a neighboring square to chase a ball.
• If a ball gets away, the trio stops and walks to pick it up.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: use a sound ball or one with a bell, and the passer says the receiver's name before throwing.
• Limited mobility: the student holds a fixed corner as passer while the other two rotate around them.
• Lower-limb injury: the student sits on a bench as a fixed corner and catches and passes with the hands.

Learning goals

• Activate the cardiovascular system with short runs and changes of direction.
• Improve awareness of open space and filling positions.
• Communicate verbally and with gestures before receiving.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tennis balls: 20
• cones: 40

Teacher tip

With 30 students you get ten trios, so set up the squares before the class arrives. It is a good bridge into invasion games because it introduces pass-and-move.

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