Target Games - Week 2
Stage 1 - Phase two
Equipment
Marker cones
Balls
Hitting tees
Bats
Variety of targets
Chalk
Newspaper
Download the Target Games - Week 2 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:
Students demonstrate the two-hand strike concentrating on the stance, hand positioning and swinging action. Students complete the following activities:
stand side on to a line shift their weight back and forth from front foot to back foot
swing their arms in time with moving forward. On the number ‘one’ students complete the back swing and transfer weight onto their back foot. On the word ‘and’ the students pause and on the number ‘two’ they swing forward and around the body and step forward transferring weight to the front foot
use an improvised bat (soft bat, rolled up newspaper, a single cricket stump or half a swimming noodle) and move through the action holding the base of the bat with two hands.
Independent practice with immediate teacher feedback:
Students work in pairs using a rolled up newspaper or a soft bat and scrunched up paper the size of a softball. Students stick the paper balls to a wall or other surface at about waist height spaced far enough apart so that they will not hit each other with the bats as they swing through. The first student stands with their feet shoulder width apart, performing the striking action from the previous activity. Students swing their bat trying to hit the paper ball without hitting the wall with their bat. Students could explore different ways of performing the skill such as:
facing the ball
two hands on the bat then one hand on the bat
straight arms through the whole swing or no back swing.
Each student has five turns and then swaps with their partner. The other student in the pair finds a space and skips using a skipping rope while waiting.
Skill development games
FMS focus activity - Hit the target
Skill focus: Two-hand strike
Equipment: 1 batting tee, 1 bat and 1 softcore ball per group.
How to play: Targets are set up away from a batting line. Players score points by hitting a ball, off a batting tee, at the targets. (Play in groups of 3 or 4.)
Players bat the ball off a tee at the targets.
Each player has a set number of hits (e.g. 2).
Play is stopped to re-position targets that have been knocked over.
FMS consolidation activity - Bullseye
Skill focus: Overarm throw
Equipment: Indoor or outdoor playing area, Chalk to form 3 concentric circles on the wall, throw-line 3 metres from target, one small ball or similar per player, e.g. sponge ball, softball, tennis ball, bean bags. A non-rolling ball or object is best.
How to play: Targets are set up away from a batting line. Players score points by hitting a ball at the targets. (Play in groups of 3 or 4.)
Each player throws the ball at the target area.
One throw per player before balls are retrieved.
Repeat for a given number of rounds, e.g. 5 throws for each player
Points are scored depending on where the ball hits the target area.
Modified small-sided games
It's game time!
Teams play each other in the game outlined below.
Boccia
Equipment: 4 balls per player, hitting tee, marker cones, bats
How to play: A target game requiring players to hit as many of their balls, off a tee, as close to a target ball as possible.
Play 2 v 2 or 3 v 3.
Allocate a team colour, red or blue.
Red hits first.
The red team hits the target ball (called a ‘jack’), off the tee, anywhere onto the ‘valid area’.
The side hitting the jack also hits the first coloured ball.
The opposite side then hits their first coloured ball into court, then the teams take turns for a nominated number of bowls or until everyone has had a bowl.
If the jack is thrown or knocked out of court, it is placed on the cross and play continues.
Scoring:
The side with the most balls closest to the jack scores one point for each scoring ball (i.e. each ball closer than the opposing team’s closest ball). If two or more balls are equally close, they score one point each.
The winning team – highest total number of points.
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.
