Week 1

Territorial games - Overarm throw

Equipment

Boccia balls or alternatives e.g., example, red and blue bean bags
Variety of targets e.g. hoops, skittles, marks on the floor/ground
Suitable indoor or outdoor playing area

Download the Week 1 Territorial Games - Overarm throw activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.

FMS focus: Overarm throw

Learning intention

Students are developing proficiency in the overarm throw.

Success criteria

Student:

Eyes are focused on target area throughout the throw.
Stand side-on to target area.
Steps towards target area with foot opposite throwing arm.
Throwing arm follows through, down and across the body.

When proficient in the above, student:

Throwing arm moves in a downward and backward arc.
Hips then shoulders rotate forward.

Explicit teaching of the overarm throw

Model the skill

Introduce students to the components of the overarm throw by modelling and explaining the movements needed. Say to students:

- Look at your target.
- Point to the target (with your non-throwing arm).
- Stand side-on.
- Step forward and throw.
- Follow through, down and across your body with your throwing arm.
- Swing your arm down and back as you prepare to throw.
- Step, throw and follow-through down and across your body.

Guided practice with immediate teacher feedback:

Introduce students to the overarm throw by completing the following activities as a class. The activities focus on individual components of the throw and good technique.

Make a smiley face: This activity focuses on the down and back arc of the throw that is a ‘smiley face’. Students have a braid in their throwing hand. Students stand side on to the target, reach down and then move their arm back in an arc and then throw the braid overarm.
Step over the creek: This activity focuses on stepping towards the target during the throw. Students perform the ‘smiley face’ and then step over the creek with the opposite leg to their throwing arm to throw the braid. This focuses on students stepping forward towards the target with the opposite leg to the throwing arm with their eyes focussed forward.
Grab the braid: This activity focuses on the follow through component of the throw. Students place a braid in their pocket or waistband on the opposite hip to their throwing hand for example right hip if left handed throw, left hip if right handed. They still have the other braid in their hand to perform the ‘smiley face’ and step over the creek to throw the braid. This time the focus is on grabbing the braid which they placed on their hip. The student should perform the throw and remove the second braid with their throwing hand during the follow through phase. Eyes should be focussed forward.

Skill development games

Choosing teams

In a sport education approach, affiliation is promoted by students being a member of the same team over a period of time. It is intended that students remain in these teams for the duration of each sport program for the skill development and the modified small-sided games, so that they can develop and learn together.

Place students in equal teams, 4 teams is optimal, at the beginning of the skill development session. Strategies for forming groups can be found in the Game-based learning in sport and physical activity e-learning course.
To further promote affiliation students can decide on a team name.

FMS focus activity - Interceptor

Skill focus: Overarm throw

Equipment: Any kind of light ball, markers

How to play: 2 players pass a ball to one another. An opponent between the 2 players attempts to intercept the ball. Players change roles frequently.

Divide the players into groups of 3
Each group chooses an interceptor – the other 2 are passers. The interceptor must stay on the line.
The 2 passers try to keep possession of the ball. The interceptor tries to touch or catch the ball.
Rotate roles – after an agreed number of games, one of the passers becomes the interceptor. Alternatively, every time the interceptor touches or catches the ball, a point is scored.

Interceptor - Playing for Life Activity Card

Names - Playing for Life Activity Card

FMS consolidation activity - Names

Skill focus: Catch

Equipment: Light ball.

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. Groups of 4–6 players.

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.

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.