Striking and fielding games - Week 1
Stage 1 - Phase 2
Equipment
Marker cones
Hoops
Tennis balls
Hitting tees
Bats
Download the Striking and fielding games - Week 1 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
FMS focus: Two-hand strike
Learning intention
Students are developing proficiency in the two-hand strike.
Success criteria
Stands side-on to target area.
Eyes focused on the ball throughout the strike.
Hands next to each other, bottom hand matches the front foot.
Steps towards target area with front foot.
Hips then shoulders rotate forward.
Ball contact made on front foot with straight arms.
Follows through with bat around the body.
Explicit teaching of the two-hand strike
About the skill
The two-hand strike is a manipulative skill in which force is applied to an object using an implement, in this case a bat. It forms the foundation to more advanced games and sports-specific skills, such as: the strike in Tball, baseball and softball; the drive in cricket and hockey; the golf swing; and ground strokes in racquet sports, handball and volleyball. Because of the variability of ball tosses, performing the two-hand strike from a T-ball stand is the focus in this resource. Although these striking actions may differ slightly in performance, the same mechanical principles apply to both.
View 'The Get Skilled Get Active - two-hand strike video' to support the explicit teaching of the two-hand strike.
Model the skill:
Model the two-hand strike to students while explaining the movements needed to effectively strike:
Stand side-on.
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Position your hands so they match your feet.
Use a big swing.
Step forward and swing.
Contact the ball with straight arms.
Swing and follow through.
Guided practice with immediate teacher feedback:
Students work in groups of four spread out in a defined grass area with three markers, a batting tee, bat and three balls. One person in the group is the batter; the other three are the fielders. The students take turns to hit the three balls off a tee:
for height
for distance
between two markers set up by the fielders.
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 - Long ball
Skill focus: Two-hand strike
Equipment: Marker cones, tee, bat, balls
How to play: To hit a ball, off a hitting tee, as far as possible to a designated area.
Mark out a batting line with a batting tee.
Mark out designated areas for the ball to be hit to: marked lines, cones, fence, etc.
Commence hitting.
FMS consolidation activity - How many bean bags?
Skill focus: Skip
Equipment: Balls, marker cones, hoop
How to play: Players work in pairs. One player from each pair skips to a central point to collect one ball at a time and throw/roll the ball back to their team-mate at their base and then skip back tag the next player. The aim is to collect the most number of balls.
Teams skip to collect as many balls as possible in the allotted time, e.g. 60 seconds.
When all the balls have been removed from the centre, the coach calls ‘STOP!’
Modified small-sided games
It's game time!
Teams play each other in the game outlined below.
Over the line
Equipment: Hitting tees, bats, balls, marker cones to establish scoring line
How to play: A competitive hitting game where a team attempts to hit a ball between two markers, at the same time the defending team tries to prevent the batting team from scoring.
Place a hitting tee on the ground and then place two markers (10-25m away from the tee).
Split players into two teams, a hitting and fielding team (can be played with 3-6 players a side).
The hitter attempts to hit a ball from the tee between two markers.
Ball must touch the ground on far side of markers to score a point.
Defending team position themselves to prevent batted groundballs from passing between markers, and to prevent fly balls from landing over the line between the markers.
Hitter continues to hit until he/she fails to score.
All players bat once, then the teams swap roles.
Scoring:
Batters score a point if the ball goes over the pit and into the playing area without being caught.
Extra point – the ball crosses the pit and the ball continues to run through or past fielders.
Tally points for the innings.
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.
