Warming up the squad...
Serving up five tried-and-tested games that turn a rainy afternoon into a mini tournament — plush athletes required, real rackets optional.
Rain stopped play? Net curtain time? Here are five games our squad plays when the court is out of action — perfect for families, clubs and anyone who takes their plush seriously.
Place your athletes in a row and award points for style: best headband, best posture, best match-face. Rotate the "coach" every five minutes so everyone gets a turn at judging.
Start a story where every sentence must include a tennis word — serve, lob, volley, deuce. Anyone who repeats a word already used hands the narrative to the next player.
Lob the cat once started a rally story that lasted an entire road trip to Eastbourne. It ended with a llama at the net. We still do not know why.
Hide a mini tennis ball (or a rolled-up sock) somewhere in the room. Players get hot/cold clues shouted by their chosen athlete — in a voice, obviously.
Build a mini course from cushions: tunnels to crawl through, a "net" to jump over, targets to hit with soft tosses. Time each other and keep a leaderboard.
Pick a classic match clip, mute the sound, and provide your own commentary — with your plush athletes as the expert pundits. Bonus points for dramatic whispering.
Which game wins in your house? Tell us in the comments below — and tag us in your Training Camp videos. We feature our favourites every month!
— Coach Ace 🐶
