Overarm Throw
Stages of Development
Teaching and Learning
Most children will not instinctively know how to throw overarm efficiently. Throwing should be introduced towards the end of Kindergarten/Pre-school or in Foundation year. Children are not expected to have a fully developed overarm throw until Year 4.
Teaching cues
- 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
Teaching strategies
- Focus on skill criteria number looking at the target, standing side-on and stepping forward with their opposite foot
- Start without a ball and introduce the the teaching cues to help children visualise action
- Focus on distance over accuracy, place targets further away or have a net or other obstacle to throw over helps challenge children to develop force in their throw
- Encouraging children to throw over a net or piece of rope tied between two trees can also help
- Use small balls and beanbags that are easy for small hands to grip
- Use soft dome cones or star markers for children as a visual cue to step on to when throwing
- Help children identify their preferred arm if they are using both
- Place a chalk mark or other visual marker on foot which should be stepping forward
- Play games such as Ready, Aim, Fire and Catch the Magical Creatures
- Work on the hip rotation and follow-through at this stage
- Start practicing without a ball and then place challenging targets to encourage hip rotation and follow through
- Play games such as Hoop Elimination and Bombard
- Try throwing on the run
- Introduce accuracy challenges - Hit the Stumps
- Teach children how to do a crow hop before a throw to increase distance
- Experiment with different throwing implements – nerf Rockets, foam javelins etc.
- Try games that employ some strategy - Golden Child, Race the Ball
Skill criteria
- Eyes focused on target
- Stands side-on to target
- Weight on the rear foot
- Stepping forward on opposite foot to throwing arm
- Hips then shoulders rotate forward
- Follow through with throwing arm towards target
- The ball should be gripped with fingers like rabbit ears
Common errors
- Standing front on to the target
- Stepping with the foot on the same side as the throwing arm
- No weight transfer
- No follow-through
