Home > Early Stage 1 > Catch
Equipment
Marker cones
Balls
bibs/sashes to distinguish between teams
Download the Week 3 Territorial games - Catch activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
FMS focus: Catch
Learning intention
Students are developing proficiency in the catch.
Success criteria
Student:
Eyes focused on the object throughout the catch.
Hands move to meet the object.
When proficient in the above, student:
Feet move to place the body in line with the object.
Hands and fingers relaxed and slightly cupped to catch the object.
Catches and controls the object with hands only (well-timed closure).
Elbows bend to absorb the force of the object.
Explicit teaching of the catch
Model the skill:
Model the catch to students while explaining the movements needed to effectively catch:
Say to the students:
Watch the object move into your hands.
Cup your hands.
Move to the ball.
Relax your hands.
Point your fingers up for a high ball.
Point your fingers down for a low ball.
Bend elbows to absorb the force of the object.
Guided practice with immediate teacher feedback:
Captain ball
Students work in groups of four to six.
The captain stands facing their team and when the whistle goes they pass the ball to each team member who squats down after they pass the ball back.
Once the captain has passed the ball to the last team member they move to the front of line and the last team member runs to the captain’s position.
The activity ends when each person has had a turn as the captain.
Skill development games
FMS focus activity - Names
Skill focus: Catch
Equipment: A playing area big enough for the circles of players, one medium-sized ball per group
How to play: Players in a circle throw a ball to other players in the circle. An interceptor inside the circle tries to intercept the ball. Only the interceptor can move.
Players on the circles can’t move.
The player throwing the ball calls out a name (the receiver) and passes the ball to that player.
If the ball is intercepted, the thrower changes places with the interceptor, or change after 4 throws.
FMS focus activity - Names
Skill focus: Catch
Equipment: A playing area big enough for the circles of players, one medium-sized ball per group
How to play: Players in a circle throw a ball to other players in the circle. An interceptor inside the circle tries to intercept the ball. Only the interceptor can move.
Players on the circles can’t move.
The player throwing the ball calls out a name (the receiver) and passes the ball to that player.
If the ball is intercepted, the thrower changes places with the interceptor, or change after 4 throws.
FMS consolidation activity - Alphabets
Skill focus: Sprint run and balance
Equipment: 8 markers to set out playing area
How to play:
Students run around the playing area. The teacher calls out a letter of the alphabet and students form groups of three to make the shape of that letter.
Modified small-sided games
It's game time!
Teams play each other in the game outlined below.
Keep the ball
Skill focus: Catch
Equipment: bibs or sashes, one medium sized ball, markers to set out playing area
How to play: 2 teams of 3 are distributed over the court. The team with the ball aims to make 5 passes between team‑mates without the ball being intercepted.
The team with the ball
Try to make 5 passes between team-mates – then change possession.
Travelling with the ball is limited to 2 steps.
The team without the ball:
If the defenders prevent 5 passes being made, they score one point and become the attacking team.
Note – No contact between players. Ball cannot be taken out of the hands of a player.
Reflection
2 stars and a wish
Ask students - what are 2 things you feel you did well today?
What are you going to try and improve on next week?
Students can answer reflection questions as a whole class, small group or in pairs.