Week 4

Net and court games - Catch

Home > Early Stage 1 > Catch

Equipment

Marker cones
Tennis balls and small coloured balls
8 volleyballs or similar

Download the Week 4 Net and Court 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

2 square bounce - Playing for Life Activity Card

FMS focus activity one - 2 square bounce

Skill focus: Catch

Equipment: One volleyball or similar per pair, court surface that allows the ball to bounce and 6 markers per court

How to play: A court is divided into 2 with a player in each half. The server serves the ball into the receiver’s half – the receiver tries to catch the ball after one bounce.

The ball must cross the line above waist height.
Play continues until one player cannot return the ball after one bounce, or the ball is thrown out of court, or the receiver drops the ball.
The serve alternates between players.
Play to a specified number of points, (e.g. 5) or a set time limit (e.g. 3 minutes).

FMS focus activity 2 - Rebound ball

Skill focus: Catch

Equipment: One volleyball or similar per 3 students

How to play: A player throws a ball at a wall and stands back for a second player to catch the ball – the activity continues this way. Play with 2 or 3.

The first player throws the ball at the wall and moves quickly to the end of the team, allowing the second player to move up and catch the ball. Continue down the line.
Allow a period for players to experiment with the best method of throwing. Stop the practice and share ideas with the whole group, recommence play.

Rebound - Playing for Life Activity Card

Modified small-sided games

It's game time!

Teams play each other in the game outlined below.

No go

Equipment: Tennis balls, targets, marker cones.

How to play: Players are divided into 2 teams separated by a ‘no‑go’ barrier. The ball is thrown across the barrier. The opposing team must catch the ball and send it back.

Set up the playing area as shown.
The ‘barrier’ between the 2 teams is the no-go area.
Divide the players into 2 teams.
The ball is thrown across the barrier above waist height.
The opposing team must catch the ball on the full or after one bounce and send it back.
Players must catch and throw in one movement.