Fundamental Movement Skills | Underarm Roll and Overarm Throw

Apr 6, 2024

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Kas

Need a simple game that provides a fun way for your students to develop their thrown and rolling skills? Some that they will love and requires minimal resources?

Here is a staple that I use in my primary classrooms when trying to develop and explore the underarm roll and overhand throw in a fun way that encourages student engagement and participation.

What Do You Need?

  • Cones
  • Various Balls (Tennis, softballs, dodgeballs…)
  • Sufficient space

How To Play?

  1. Students stand by a designated area/ station in a small line of 2-3 students
  2. Students attempt to bowl their ball along the playing surface and attempt to hit over the stacked cones.
  3. For every cone a student who knocks over they get 1 point
  4. Students will need to re-stack the cones after each attempt
  5. Students will see who has the most points after 5 rolls each
  6. Once each students has had their 5 rolls, the team of students will re-stack the cones in a different shape and play the game again!
  7. Students can change their target game from rolling to throwing

What Is The Goal Of The Game?

  • The goal is to knock over the most cones possible by accurate rolls or throws
  • Work as a team to make differentiate your own task (Critical thinking, student centred approach, student autonomy)

Make It Easier!

  • Allow students to choose a different ball (bigger, smaller)
  • Students can stand closer to the target

Make It Harder!

  • Students will need to use an overhand throw rather than a roll
  • Create a more difficult stack
  • Stand further back  (3 big steps back each time)

What Are The Main Skills Being Utilised?

Fundamental Movement Skills:

  • Throw (Manipulative)
  • Collecting (Manipulative)
  • Roll (Locomotor)
  • Bending (Stability)

Tactical Skills:

  • Taking turns
  • Adjusting power of roll and throw
  • Accuracy and aiming
  • Cooperative play, supporting teammates
  • Following rules and structures of a game
  • Critical thinking through decision-making

Here are the five evidence-based why Target games are important for your classroom!:

  1. Enhanced Motor Skills: Target games improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor control. (Study: Journal of Sports Science & Medicine)
  2. Improved Focus and Concentration: Playing target games enhances attentional control and focus. (Research: PLOS ONE)
  3. Promotes Goal Setting and Achievement: Target games encourage goal setting, fostering motivation and self-confidence. (Study: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology)
  4. Stress Relief and Emotional Regulation: Engaging in target games reduces stress levels and improves emotional well-being. (Research: Frontiers in Psychology)
  5. Develop Sportsmanship and Social Skills: Target games teach sportsmanship, teamwork, and social interaction. (Study: International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity)

Relevant Articles:

  • Want to know why Target Games are so important? Click Here
  • Want to learn more about Small Sided Games like this one? Click Here
  • Need to communicate more effectively in sport lessons? Click Here