All of our students love using any kind of ball we can give them. Most everything we would ever require of our students to do with a ball all comes down to a few throwing and catching "basics." Without these "foundation skills," they are less likely to experience success later on and as a result are less likely to want to pursue many related activities on their own. Here are a set of cues we have used with great success with our students. I'm sure they'll work for you also.

We use anything our kids can grab onto: nerf balls (we prefer the "gator" skinned balls. They last longer and the kids are less likely to "pick" at the foam), bean bag "critters"É

Throwing (K-4):

• 1. Stand sideways.
• 2. Hold the ball in your "pencil hand" (the hand you hold a pencil in), and make that hand your "back" hand.
• 3. Step forward with your front foot.
• 4. Throw with your back hand.
• 5. Point at your target with your throwing hand after you release the ball.

Once we go over all of these points, monitoring their progress is easy. Often times a simple statement like, "I like how you are stepping with your front foot and throwing with your back hand," or "remember to stand sideways" is all that is needed.

We will also set them up in pairs to see how much they understand these ideas. One partner is the "thrower" and the other partner is the "teacher." The "thrower" gets 5 throws at a target while the "teacher" only watches. The "teacher" can't say anything until after the 5th throw. Only then can they give any feedback. It can only begin with positive feedback. They must tell the "thrower" a list of things that they did correctly. Then they may offer suggestions for improvement.

I go around to the groups and only talk to the "teachers." I ask them how their "student" is doing. They have to give me a list of things they are doing right as well as any suggestions for improvement. They are not allowed to say, "they are doing good." They have to tell me what their partner is doing that is good. This tells me right away whether they understand, or not.

Catching:

K-2:

Everything starts with the students tossing an object in the air to themselves.

• "2,000 pound ball"
  • Make a "basket."
  • Pinkies together
  • Thumbs pointing out.
  • "Ball is so heavy that when it reaches your hands, it squishes you right down." (Bend your knees)
• "Rock-a-bye-nerf-ball"
  • Same "basket" position with hands.
  • When catch ball, swing ball in side-to-side motion, while singing the tune to "Rock-a-bye-baby."
  • Substitute the words: "rock-a-bye-nerf-ballÉ"
  • Tell them that you have heard a lot about their great singing from the music teacher. Now is their chance to show off their singing!
• Octopus
  • Have your students pretend that their fingers are the tentacles of an octopus that will "swallow the ball right up!"
  • While the ball is still in the air, have them point their hands at the ball, wiggling their fingers like the tentacles of an octopus.
  • When they catch it, have them surround the ball with their "tentacles" and squeeze it so it won't get away.

All three of these ideas stress "giving" with the ball when they catch it. We will go through all three of these ideas, then let the kids decide which one they will use. We will constantly ask them which way they are catching the ball. This will keep them on task.

Catching:

Gr. 3-6

• Basket:
  • Any ball that comes to them below their shoulders is caught in a "basket."
  • Pinkies together, thumbs out.
• Diamond:
  • Any ball that comes at them above their shoulder is caught in a "diamond."
  • Thumbs together, index fingers together (forming a diamond shape).

With your older elementary students you can easily begin to apply these "foundation skills" to anything that you teach with a ball. For example:

Throwing mechanics:

1. Soccer: step with one foot, kick with the other foot.

2. Football throw: Stand sideways, step with front foot, throw with back hand, follow through by pointing.

3. Football punt: Step with one foot, kick with the other.

4. Volleyball underhand serve: Step with front foot, serve with back hand.

5. Volleyball overhead serve: Mirror throwing mechanics. Hold ball in front of your over your head. Step with front foot, strike ball with back hand (as if throwing a ball).

6. Basketball lay up: Jump off inside foot, shoot with outside hand.

7. Hockey shooting: Step into shot with front foot, push on stick with back (lower) hand.

8. Bowling release: Step with one (front) foot and release ball with other (back) hand.

9. Lacrosse throw: Stand sideways, step with front foot and throw by pushing on stick with top (back) hand.

10. Baseball throw: Stand sideways, step with front foot, and throw with back hand.

11. Baseball swing: Stand sideways step with front foot, hold bat over back shoulder to initiate swing.

12. Tennis: Stand sideways, step with front foot, swing racket with back hand.

Catching Mechanics:

1. Football: Basket catch for anything under their shoulder, diamond catch for anything over their shoulder. Here it's easy for the kids to see, because the point of the football goes right through the "diamond."

2. Volleyball set: This is done over their shoulders, so they make a "diamond" with their hands to set the ball.

3. Volleyball bump: This is done below their shoulders. Place their thumbs "away" (or thereabouts, depending on individual teaching preferences. The general idea is the same: ball below the shoulders, thumbs point away).

4. Basketball: Catching any pass follows these guidelines.

5. Baseball: Pop fly (over their shoulders) &endash; "diamond" catch (thumbs in). Ground ball (below their shoulders) &endash; "basket" catch (thumbs out).

These are some examples of how these "foundation skills" with throwing and catching are easily applied to other skills as your students move through your curriculum. It keeps everything relevant to them and makes them stay accountable to what was taught in previous years. Everything is connected. Nothing is taught by itself. It all has connections further down the road.

Please send any comments to Tom Winiecki at Mott Road Elementary School.