Traditionally, many physical education programs cover football and soccer in the fall. As we all know, there is a lot to cover. Why should we make our jobs more difficult than they already are? Take a closer look at these, or other activities that you teach each year. You can probably find something that is similar to many, or all of them.

Both football and soccer have what I call the "oppositional throwing motion" in common. Both activities involve skills that require the student to lead with one side of their body and throw/kick with the other side of their body. A right footed soccer player leads/steps toward their target with their front (left) foot and kicks with their back (right) foot. This is the same for punting or kicking a football off a tee. It is also the same when throwing a football. They lead with their front (left) foot and throw with their back (right hand). You can see the similarities:

1. Stand sideways to the target.

2. Step to the target with your front foot.

3. Throw/strike/kick with your back hand.

4. Follow through to the target with the throwing/striking/kicking hand/foot.

This makes everything easier for your students to understand, especially those that haven't developed a lot of skill yet. Now your kids don't have to worry about learning separate skills all of the time. They now can concentrate on applying these four parts to whatever skill you cover that is applicable. You can also introduce creation and application of force within this framework to get the students to learn how to control their movements better. This also makes it easier to flow from one activity/unit to another, by stressing these common factors in different skills.

I begin each year with my 3-4th graders by telling them that if they master these four basic parts, they will be able to do almost everything that we will cover during the year. That gets them pumped up and ready to get started! It gets my students that haven't had years of youth soccer, or football experience on a more even plane with those that have. Everyone has things to work on, even the more skilled students. This format allows that to happen for everyone.