Sitting - Kneeling - Standing

This activity helps isolate the different components of the overarm throw to make it easier for children to learn the technique. Make it fun and engaging by having a variety of targets and turning it into a game to hit them all.
Place enough flat markers per child (you can use chalk on pavement, shoes, water bottles etc). A suitable distance away, set up various targets of different sizes and heights. You can use soft toys, chalk drawings on a wall, boxed stacked up etc. Place 3 tennis balls behind each marker. Children start at a marker facing the targets.
Step 1:
- Children hold 1 item at eye-level or slightly above and support elbow with non-throwing hand
- Using the action of forearm only, children flick ball towards targets
- Once everyone has had 10 throws while sitting, collect balls and progress to the Kneeling stage
Step 2:
- Children kneel high and position ball in-line with shoulder
- Using whole arm, children rotate torso to generate power and throw ball towards targets
- Once children have had 10 throws progress to the Standing stage
Step 3:
- Children stand at their marker with the ball in throwing hand
- On Ready, Aim, Fire command, children point at targets with non-throwing hand and step forward and throw ball towards targets
- Ask children questions about each stage and which throws are the most powerful and why
- Stay on any stage as long as you need
- Try throwing with your non-dominant hand
As the activity progresses, it is important children are prepared to overarm throw. Use the following teaching cues to demonstrate this before commencing;
- Ready: Stand like a surfer (side-on)
- Aim: Make a muscle man (throwing arm bent up above shoulder), point non-throwing arm at target
- Fire: Step on the star (step with opposite foot onto star marker) and throw
- Let children design the targets