Using the racket and ball
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Contact [email protected] if you’d like further support, or if you’d like us to send you a free physical copy of this resource. We’d also love to hear about how your sensory tennis sessions are going!
Racket and ball activities
Aims
- Spatial awareness.
- Tracking a moving ball with the eyes.
- Using arm/wrist strength.
- Working with a partner.
Outcomes
- Skill development
- Independence
- Communication
- Social skills
Balloon tennis
- Work with a partner using a balloon.
- The partner releases a balloon into the air.
- Using either one of their hands, the participant taps the balloon trying to keep it in the air.
Make it easier:
- Partner can tap balloon up to keep it in the air for longer.
- Support with the participant’s movement where needed
Make it harder:
- Travel across the space to increase movement.
- Support with the participant’s movement where needed.
- Work with a partner to tap the balloon across a net/barrier tape.
Floor tennis
- Working with a partner, stand or sit two metres apart facing each other.
- Participant pushes a ball along the floor or tabletop with a racket towards their partner.
- Partner pushes the ball back.
- Add a challenge and see how many passes you can make!
Make it easier:
- Start at a small distance.
- Use hand or giant foam hand instead of racket.
- Support participant to push the ball.
Make it harder:
- Increase distance between participant and partner.
- Try stopping the ball under strings of racket before pushing it back.
Racket contact
- A partner stands beside participant and drops ball vertically down from shoulder height.
- Participant tries to hit the ball before it rolls away (multiple bounces allowed).
- Racket can be strapped onto hand if grip is an issue.
Make it easier:
- Place ball on top of a tall cone or empty plastic bottle and try to hit it off.
- Start with racket held back.
- Support and guide racket if needed.
Make it harder:
- Drop ball from waist height to reduce hitting time.
- Try to hit after just one bounce.
- Create a target area or aim to hit over a net.