Disclaimer:
Follow any specific additional advice
from your Physiotherapist /
Occupational Therapist.
Make sure new people in your child’s
life have access to this information.
If you require this leaflet in Braille,
large print or another language,
please contact the Patient Advice
and Liaison Service (PALS) on
0151 244 3453 / 3454 or 0800 073
0578 (mobile charges will apply)
If you have any queries, please call:St Helens children
01744 646556 / 646557
Knowsley children:
0151 244 4387
www.5boroughspartnership.nhs.uk
Typed: January 2013 – Version 1
Review date: January 2014
Integrated Targeted Specialist Child
Health Services
Ball skills
What happens when ball skills are reduced?
If ball skills are reduced this will be evident in an inability to
control a ball either by throwing, catching or kicking.
What will my child have difficulty with?
unable to accurately throw/kick a ball at a target.
unable to catch / kick different sized balls consistently.
unable to maintain his / her balance whilst throwing/kicking a
ball.
What can I do to improve this?
use visual and auditory prompts.
improve hand / eye control.
improve bilateral use of hands.
progress from a large ball to a smaller one.
What is eye / hand co-ordination?
This is the ability of the eyes and the hands to work together
and is required for activities such as throwing and catching objects and washing and dressing.
What activities assist with eye/hand co-ordination?
Throwing - If right hand is used the left foot is forward for balance. The hand is draw backwards, whilst looking at target all
the time, on throwing the hand follows through towards the target. Progress to using a ball for below activities:with bean bag – throw the bean bag along the ground over
progressively long distances.
throw a bean bag high in the air.
throw a bean bag to hit the wall some distance away.
throw a bean bag to hit a big target such as a door.
throw a bean bag to drop into a target, e.g. a hoop.
Catching - For throwing and catching activities balls of different
sizes may be used, or a koosh ball or bean bag. Start with a
large ball progressing to a smaller one:sitting, roll a large ball along the floor.
roll ball, chase it and stop it.
roll ball, chase and run past it, crouch down and gather ball
in hands.
roll ball against a wall, gather rebound in hand.
bounce ball between 2 people.
throw ball between 2, increase the distance.
throw ball to wall, drop and catch. Initially if need to improve
stability stand against wall progressing to moving away. May
use bucket or container to catch ball.
throw ball to wall and catch.
What is eye / foot co-ordination?
This is the ability of the eyes and the feet to work together and is
required for activities such as kicking balls and walking over
rough surfaces.
What activities assist with eye/foot co-ordination?
football.
floor piano/footprints.
hop scotch.
twister.
jumping in/out of hoops.
walking along narrow surfaces, e.g. skipping rope.
walking along rough surfaces.