Guided practice: Bank, river, shore

Equipment: 8 markers (to set out playing area), 4 markers (to set out the river). 

How to play: 

• All students must line up along the 'river'.

• Explain to students that the marked line to left of the 'river' is the bank and the line to the right of the 'river' is the shore.

• The teacher calls out either river, bank or shore. Students must side gallop to get to the corresponding destination as fast as possible.

FMS focus activity - Send and side gallop

Skill focus: Side gallop and overarm throw

Equipment: 8 markers (to set out playing area), 2 markers and 1 ball per pair of students. 

How to play: Students play in pairs to throw a ball at a target and side-gallop to collect the ball once thrown. 

• Place one marker at the starting point and the second ‘target marker’ at a distance that provides an appropriate level of throwing challenge. 

• Students throw the ball at their marker for their partner to chase using a side gallop and return it. 

• Students rotate thrower and collector after each turn. 

FMS consolidation activity - Target and intercept

Skill focus: Overarm throw

Equipment: Targets as shown in image, one throwing object for each pair.

How to play: One player with a bean bag attempts to throw it past an interceptor to hit or land on a target. Play in pairs or other combinations. 

• Play for a set period (e.g. 90 seconds). 

• Discourage delays in throwing. 

• Allocate more points for more distant targets. 

• Restrict the distance between a player’s and an opponent’s target (e.g. 1m in front). 

It's game time!

Teams play each other in the game outlined below.

4 square

Skill focus: Overarm throw and catch

Equipment: Indoor or outdoor playing area, variety of balls of different sizes, 10 marker cones, bibs to distinguish between teams.

How to play: 8 players are divided into 2 teams. A playing area is divided into 4 and a player from each team goes into a square. The team in possession of the ball passes it to team‑mates in any of the 4 squares, trying to avoid interception. Players remain in their square. 

• One team takes possession of the ball (receivers) and tries to make as many passes as possible between themselves. The other team (interceptors) tries to intercept the ball. 

• Players can pass in any direction – no running with the ball. 

• All players must remain in their own square. 

• If the interceptors catch the ball or knock it out of play, they take possession.