Quick kick-abouts
You shouldn't feel obliged to organise ball games on a grand scale all the time. If you have a store of equipment which is easy and quick to set up and put away again then you can fit ball practice into the routine whenever the children ask for it. Younger children will appreciate the Worlds Apart Pop-Up Goal which can be erected in seconds and is very compact and easy to store away. This goal has a unique 'flexi-frame' design which pops back into shape every time it's used and would be useful for target practice, five-a-side games and hockey. The goal comes in a 'back pack' style storage bag and is supplied with a set of four pegs, priced 14.99 from Mail Order Express.
Telephone 08700 129090.
The Pop A Crazy Ball game, which is a new addition to the Great Little Trading Company's range, provides several ball games including 'pitch and catch', a knock-out target ball game and basketball bowling: you have to throw the ball through the net and knock down the inflatable skittles on its return. The set takes seconds to erect and comes with a carry bag and two play balls, as well as the skittles, net and mat and is suitable for children up to about ten, priced 39.99.
Telephone 08702 414080.
The Galt catalogue boasts a large range of equipment for ball games, including junior goals, short tennis sets and soft footballs. The Pop-Up Sports Centre is the newcomer in this range and contains three games to play, but the children will probably be able to invent more. The Power Zone, which is billed as 'a fast action pitch and catch game'; Target, which involves throwing the balls provided through numbered target holes; and Soccer Shoot Out which is self-explanatory given that the pod contains a 'goal hole'. The Sports Centre comes with eight balls which can be stored inside the pod, which measures 125 x 80 x 78 cm, priced 16.95.
Telephone 08702 424477
No competition
Children who are pushed into competing at games can develop a lifelong aversion to sport of all kinds and, while you may know that the ball games you organise are just 'friendlies', it may not feel that way to children who lack confidence in their ball skills. The way to overcome these hurdles is to provide plenty of ball game activity of the completely non-competitive kind and this will help children to quietly gain in self-confidence. Most importantly, you should allow the children to join in group games when they demonstrate a desire to do so and ensure that when they play they are as evenly matched in skill, size and temperament with other players as possible.
The Balancing Ball Maze from Letterbox consists of a double-sided wooden board with two different, grooved, mazes. The object of this game is to balance on the board and guide the ball through the maze with the movements of your feet and body. As well as developing agility and balancing skills this game is a great aid to concentration and encourages children to focus on their own bodies and what they can do. The board, which measures 60 cm across, has an integral carrying handle and comes with two balls, priced 27.99.
Letterbox also stocks an All England Comeback Tennis Trainer which would be useful for children who want to join in games with others but could do with acquiring some basic knowledge on how to hold a racquet and co-ordinate eyes with hand. Obviously, the tennis trainer would also be useful for children who wish to practise their skills and for those who simply need to calm down and hit something. The trainer has a sturdy frame with poles and guy ropes, which needs to be erected on grass. As the ball is on elastic the children hitting it need to be old enough to be able to try to avoid hitting themselves with it!
Telephone 0870 600 7878
On a slightly smaller, but no less useful, scale Dantoy stocks a range of Twist Ball games which provide good 'pre-tennis' skills through encouraging children to make 'back' and 'fore' hand shots at the ball. Each Twist Ball set comes with two short-handled bats which are easier to grasp and manage than ordinary tennis racquets, although the set can be used by older children with standard racquets for tennis practice. There are three Twist Ball sets in the range: Standard, Super and De Luxe. The Super and De Luxe sets have bats with handles that are bound in easy-to-grip fabric and the de luxe also has a special plastic case covering for the spring mechanism at the top of the twist ball pole to ensure it is long lasting. All the sets contain 22 mm painted steel tubes which are 1.45 m high with an extra 30 cm spike to push into the ground, the length of the elastic the ball is attached to is 91 cm. The Standard set is priced 14.99; the Super, 17.99 and the De Luxe, 19.99. All available from Mail Order Express.
Telephone 0870 129090
You shouldn't attempt to correct a child's grip because she will initially play best in the way she feels most comfortable, but if a child is having trouble holding a bat or racquet or keeps swapping about you should suggest she tries to 'shake hands' with her racquet. Never tell a left-handed child to change hands with a racquet because she will be able to make her own adjustments using her left hand.
The latest addition to Step by Step's extensive physical play range is the Pro Stack Marker Set which includes ten markers to be used in an infinite number of ways. The markers can be erected indoors if the weather is dull and you can set up several separate practice areas where children can hit or kick a ball over the pole, enjoy a game of mini hurdles or learn to head a ball at different heights. The set comes with a storage holdall and is priced 99.95.
Telephone 0845 300 1089
Let's play ball
Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports and attracts all ages thanks to its high profile image on TV. Secondary, and even some primary schools, now have dedicated outdoor basketball pitches and you are bound to be popular if you can provide some practice equipment for this game.
Little Tikes stocks a selection of basketball sets to cater for different ages. The Easy Score Electronic Basketball set adjusts to six heights from 75 to 120 cm and includes six electronic sounds and phrases. The set requires three AAA batteries and is priced 34.99. The Easy Store Basketball set is designed to be portable; it has wheels on the base for easy movement and a foldaway rim and the whole unit folds down to a compact size for storage purposes. The set also adjusts to five heights from 150 to 210 cm and is priced 49.99. The newest addition to the range is the Electronic Shot Basketball. This set has an electronic scoreboard that plays three games: an easy score game, H.O.R.S.E. and 30-second countdown shot clock. The set adjusts to two metres, the basketball is included and four C batteries are required for use, priced Pounds 69.99.
Telephone 0800 521 558
For more experienced players Hope Education stocks a range which includes different sized balls, sports bibs and several basketball units. A portable basketball unit which is EBA (English Basketball Association) approved, has a solid steel ring, a 112 x 73 cm backboard and an adjustable height to 10 feet. The base needs to be filled with 190 kg of dry sand when the unit is in position; it can be folded down and has two wheels to facilitate easy storage. Priced 225.
Telephone 08702 414400
Developing ball skills
Many children, especially those with special needs, can experience difficulty in developing ball skills, but everyone deserves a proper opportunity to experience the feelings of success and self-esteem that are generated in this way.
Davies Sports stocks a huge range of Spordas balls which are designed to facilitate success with basic ball skills. The Tail ball is a lightweight foam ball which is easy to throw and has a colourful tail to assist with catching, priced 2.42. The Spider ball has tentacles which help with catching and which slow the ball down before it rolls too far away from the child. The ball is made from solid rubber, is 6 cm in diameter and is priced 5.10. The Knead-a-Ball is made from soft, flexible material so that it won't upset children if it is misthrown and it won't bounce away during play. The ball measures 6.4 cm in diameter but can be squeezed to the size of a prune without damage, priced 2.11. The SloMo Bump ball is made from a foam-like material which makes it soft, durable and very easy to catch. The SloMo is easily inflated to any size between 18 and 25.5 cm and comes in a set of six different colours, priced 19.05. E-Z Balls have an inverted tile design to aid grip and are made from a soft foam-like substance which gives a high bounce. These balls can be re-inflated with a standard pump and come as a set of six different colours, measuring 10 cm in diameter, priced 7.16. The Poco Ball, which is new to the range, has a brightly coloured detachable tail to make it easier to track with the eye. The ball is made of vinyl and measures 7 cm in diameter, priced 2.85. The SuccessBalls are especially useful for special needs children because they are filled with foam pellets which make them particularly easy to catch and hold on to. Also the outer covering of these balls consists of mesh panels which trap air and slow them down, making them easier to track when in motion. Each set contains six balls in bright colours and they come in 10, 15 and 22 cm, priced from 9.25 per set.
Beach balls also form part of this range, but Spordas SuperDuty balls are made from double thickness vinyl with specially bonded colour panels to ensure they last longer. A set of six 41 cm balls is priced 3.97. Lastly if you are intending to encourage volleyball, the Spordas Sarratt VB Trainer may come in useful. This is a large, very light training ball, designed to introduce children to the sport without the difficulties of a hard, heavy ball. Available in two sizes, 50 and 56 cm diameter, priced 2.75 and 3.75. All available from Davies Sports.
Telephone 0870 6000 195
In the net
The TP Sport range includes a large variety of nets from tennis practice nets to garden games like short tennis, children's volleyball and badminton. There are also three sizes of goal net - Giant Goal measures 305 cm in the goalmouth with a depth of 145 cm and a height of 193 cm, priced 59.95; Super Goal measures 213 cm in the goalmouth, 91 cm in depth and 152 cm in height, priced 29.95; and Goal measures 183 cm in the goalmouth, 58 cm depth and 122 cm height, priced 19.95. All the goals carry a Lifetime Guarantee against rust and have rot resistant nylon nets and ground stakes for extra stability and safety. A useful extra which fits the Super Goal is a Trainer; this consists of a heavy duty plastic screen with three different sized goal holes to encourage accuracy in shooting, priced 17.50.
Telephone 01299 872800
Games to go
For ball games you can take with you on outings or bring out quickly for last-minute activities you could try a new set from Orchard Toys. Games in the garden includes four differently coloured plastic hoops, four beanbags, six plastic skittles, a wipe-clean scoreboard and washable pen, plus an illustrated leaflet with ideas for games to play. The set comes in a transparent plastic drawstring bag, priced 15.
Telephone 0115 9373547
Dantoy also has a range of sensibly priced items that wouldn't take up much room on excursions. Children often find frisbees easier to catch and manipulate than a ball and Dantoy's come in luminous colours, in two sizes: 23 and 25 cm, priced 1.49 and 1.99 each. Racket game sets include two brightly coloured bats and a ball, priced 2.99.
Telephone 0870 129090
