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Take a look at some techniques and strategies to improve your students' ability to handle a ball of any size and progress their participation in ball-focused sports.
When beginning to practice throwing, use a large net, bucket or target area for the child to throw to. This minimizes the room for error and builds confidence. If they are practicing throwing to you, follow the ball and move around if you need to, so that you can catch it - making yourself a larger target area.
As the child progresses you may reduce the size of the target area and move around less to refine their accuracy and aim.
Whether it is a net or yourself, start with target close to them.
As the child progresses, increase the distance between the child and their target.
Types of throws – Overhand & Underhand
Types of throws – Overhand & Underhand
Overhand: For most throwing like into a net or to someone
Hold the ball with both hands and lift your arms up
Bend your elbows and bring the ball closer to you
Straighten your elbows and push the ball out of your hand away from you
Underhand: For throwing to something close to you or low to the ground
Hold the ball with both hands in front of your legs
Bend your elbows and raise your arms up a bit and let go of the ball.
If you miss, that's okay! You get to answer an important question - where did the ball go? If it went:
behind your target - try throwing it less hard or not as high
in front of your target - try throwing it harder or higher
to the side of your target - try aiming towards the other side
to the right of your target - try aiming towards your left
to the left of your target - try aiming towards your right
When beginning to practice catching, start with a large sized ball or soft object that your child can comfortably hold. This will make it easier for them to catch as it is less likely to slip past them or through their hands.
As the child progresses, you can reduce the size of the object.
Catching
Catching
Hold your arms out straight in front of you with open hands
Do not open your arms out to the sides like you are giving a hug
As you watch the ball, move your arms a bit higher or lower to get closer to the ball
When the ball comes to you, try to grab it or scoop it up or against your body
If your child is struggling with catching balls or bean bags, try to practice tossing small scarves at them as they take longer to fall which gives the child more time to catch it
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