Net Games Students will "LOVE" Handout

Net Games Equipment:

– Rainbow UltraSoft Paddles – Set of 6
– Rainbow High-Bounce/High-Density Uncoated-Foam Balls – 3.5″ dia, Set of 6
– Rainbow DuraCoat-Foam Versa Balls – 6.3″ dia, Set of 6
– Rainbow Vinyl Cones – 18″H, Set of 6 (would recommend 28″ vinyl cones) (Would recommend 28” cones)
– Rainbow NowNets – Cone Net, Set of 6
– ToppleTubes – Set of 24
– Rainbow Kowabunga! Beach Ball – 18″ dia, Set of 6
– ACTION! Nitro Ball

Intro Activity: Topple Tubes

  • Builders and Bulldozers: ToppleTubes are a great addition to builders and bulldozers because it levels the playing field. Rather than using cones where one team knocks the cone down and the other sets them up, both teams have to work equally as hard to flip their colored topple tube so their color is facing up.
  • Variations: Perform a variety of locomotor movements (shuffle, high knees, running, walking, skipping, ect…)
  • Counting ToppleTubes Variation: Have students count how many ToppleTubes they can flip over during a set amount of time. Repeat the exercise and encourage students to beat their scores.
  • Sports Skills Using Topple Tubes: Practice a variety of sports skills using ToppleTubes. Students can dribble a basketball or soccer ball while flipping the ToppleTubes, balance the ball on a paddle, or use a hockey stick to knock the tube over and set it back up.
  • Topple Tubes Fitness: Partner students up and have them do a variety of fitness exercises. Students can do one rep and then flip the ToppleTube over. Then their partner can do one rep and flip the TT back to their color.
  • Crows and Cranes Variation: Place one ToppleTubes in the middle between two partners. Call out a variety of body parts and students have to touch the body part. When you say tube, students race to grab the tube.

Intro to Racket Skills:

  • Perform a variety of tennis skills. Hitting the ball up, hitting it down, flip flop, balancing the ball on the ball, try to hit the ball on the side of the paddle.

  • Bumper Cars: Students try to balance the ball on the paddle, if the ball falls off the paddle, they are out of the game. The last player remaining wins. Add some extra fun by allowing students to distract each other or lightly bump into each other :). Use your best judgment if you think your students can handle this rule. If the game is taking too long and students are sitting for too long, challenge the remaining competitors by making them skip, walk fast, touch the ground, walk on their tip-toes ect…

Net Games:

Floorball: Using the Gopher Now Nets, 28” vinyl cones and a 6.3” or larger dodgeball, encourage students to work cooperatively in either singles or doubles to hit the ball back and forth under the net with their hand. How many can students get in a row? If students need to, they can trap the ball first to maintain control and then hit it back. Once students feel comfortable and are consistent with their shots, make it a competition by playing to 5 points. Shout out to Justin Cahill for originally sharing this activity on Twitter.

Floorball with Paddles: Next, add an UltraSoft paddle and have students hit the dodgeball underneath the net. Same rules apply as above. Having students hit the ball under the net helps them practice striking a ball and allows them to get comfortable using a paddle.

Pickleball: Using the Gopher Now Nets, Ultrasoft paddles, 28” vinyl cones, and 3.5” uncoated-foam balls, have students work cooperatively to rally the pickleball back and forth. Using a smaller space with the NowNets challenges students to keep control of the ball and hit with accuracy rather than hitting the ball with power.

Volleyball: Next up, grab the beachballs and practice the same activities.Using a beachball is cost-effective and slows the ball down significantly for added success. Beachballs are not as durable as volleyballs, so keep an eye on students as they use the balls. Sitting on or kicking a beachball may damage the ball. Our Kowabunga beach balls are quite a bit more durable than dollar store beachballs, but the seams may still split if used improperly.

NitroBall: This is a great lead up volleyball activity. Volleyball rules and rally scoring still apply. Games are played up to 21. This can be played with 2 or 3 players on court. In volleyball, the ball has to be passed through the air. In Nitroball, the ball can bounce once in-between each hit and is played with a tennis net. Gopher sells an official Nitroball. For elementary students, I’d recommend using an super sized ball such as Gopher’s Biggie Volleyballs. These balls have the bounce to play Nitroball, but the ball will move slower and has a soft cover that’s less intimidating for younger students. Super fun!

Group Net Games:

These net games can be performed while playing floorball, pickleball, volleyball, or Nitroball.

  • Champions of the Court:  Using all 12 courts set up, establish one side as the champions’ side. Challengers are on the other side of the net trying to take the champion’s spot. Challengers have to win two points in a row to take the champion’s spot. If the challenger loses either point, they can go to any other court to challenge another champion. If a champion is de-throned, they become a challenger and can go to another court to challenge another champion. Bonus: Once students are comfortable with this game, create a rule that every time a champion knocks out a challenger, they receive a point. Challenge students to see how many points they can get.
  • Tug of War: We didn’t do this activity during the session, but this is a fun variation to singles or doubles. Each player starts at 5-5. Players play a point against each other. Whoever wins the point, gets a point, while their opponent loses a point. Now the score is 6-4. Players battle back and forth until one player wins 10-0.
  • Team Singles: Can be played 2 v 2 or 3v3. Players have to take turns hitting the ball. For example, player 1 hits the first ball, player 2 must hit the 2nd ball, player 3 must hit the 3rd ball, then player 1 would hit the 4th ball. Both teams are rotating players throughout the point. Tons of movement and fun!