SESSION 1
Catching and Throwing
The following four areas are what coaches need to focus on when teaching children the basics of both catching and
throwing a ball. When explaining and working through the session’s drills, the tips under each heading should be
shown and demonstrated to the children.
Technical Tips
Catching – Ball above the waist.
1. Move body & feet behind the ball.
2. Thumbs together, palms facing out, fingers up.
3. Extend arms - make a target for the ball.
4. Watch centre of ball into hands.
NOTE: Fingers up to catch a ball above the waist
Catching – Ball below the waist.
1. Move body & feet behind ball.
2. Little fingers together.
3. Watch the centre of the ball into hands
NOTE: Fingers down to catch ball below waist
Teaching Tips
1.
2.
3.
4.
As per technical
SOFT HANDS
Make a “W”.
Arms out in front, elbows a little bit bent
Don’t stab at the ball - let it come to you
1. As per technical
SOFT HANDS
2. Make a “V”
3. Watch ball into glove and with top hand,
moving in after like a crocodile, stopping ball
between glove and hand
Throwing Grip
1. Hold ball in fingers-not palm.
2. 2, 3, 4 finger grip.
3. Fingers across seam.
1. Dirty Fingers from the ball - Clean Palm.
2. Whatever is the most comfortable.
3. Hold across the “C” of the ball seams.
Overarm Throwing
1. Side on, point glove at target.
2. Throwing arm at right angle behind, elbow higher
than shoulder.
3. Step forward with opposite foot to throwing arm.
4. Release ball at ‘HIGH FIVE’ position.
5. Follow through- hand down to opposite knee.
1. As per technical
2. “Draw the Bow” & make a “Cobra” snake
head.
3. Step towards the target.
4. Lead with the elbow.
5. “Shoulder to shoulder” upper body rotation
EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR SESSION
15 Flexiballs
20 Marker Cones
WARM UP
Gloves x 15 (13L/2R)
5 mins
Over & Under Relay
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Use: 3 flexiballs – no Gloves required
Divide Class into 3 teams.
Team members line up, facing in the same direction:
o Both hands on shoulders of the person in front.
o Feet shoulder width apart (“monkey stance”).
On “Go”, a Flexiball is passed alternately overhead (“W”), then between the legs (“V”), down the line.
The first team to transfer the ball down the line, correctly, wins.
Repeat Relay drill, as time permits.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Use: 1 Flexiball per two players – no Gloves required
Throwing Drills - 15 mins
3 step progression (at each step, start without balls to get the mechanics correct)
 One flexiball between two
 Wrist Snap Drill (wrist locked) – 2m separation
 Forearm Extension Drill (elbow held at shoulder height – 3m sep.
 Side-on Throwing Drill – 5m separation
Throwing in Pairs (x10 attempts) using a flexiball
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5 mts
Increase distance apart for better throwers.
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Learn to wear a Glove – 5 mins
Students share Gloves
By the conclusion of this Module, all children are to have been shown how to wear a Glove.
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GAME
- 10 mins
Leader ball using a flexiball
Demonstrate how to wear a Glove.
Show the placement of your fingers by firstly laying them across the outside of the Glove.
Stress that the Thumb goes in the Glove where the “E” is.
Instruct the students to put the Glove on the opposite hand to that they were using for throwing.
Check students for correct fitting.
When correct, ask them to pass the Glove to another student who has not used a Glove.
If there is time, have the students repeat putting on a Glove, for practice.
“Leader must wear a Glove – other Students “optional”
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Divide group into 4 teams
Use Cones to mark start position for the leader
plus front and rear lines
Overarm throws only.
2 or 3 games. New leader each game.
Leader throws ball to 1stplayer who catches ball (at the front line), runs
around the rear line Cone, back to starting position, throws ball back to
leader & sits down. This is repeated until all players are seated.
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