Manipulative Skills

Overhand Throwing

    Throwing is a basic skill that is used to propel an object away from the body.  It is used in many different sports and activities.  When throwing overhand, it is important to start with your non-throwing side of the body facing the target.  You then cock your throwing arm back so your elbow is almost above your ear.  Step toward the target with your opposite foot (opposite of your throwing arm).  Attempt the throw and follow through with your legs. Always end up facing your target for best accuracy.

Steps-

• The person should begin with their body facing perpendicular to the throwing target.  The non-throwing side of the body should be facing the target.
• The throwing arm should cock back so that the elbow is almost above the ear.
• The non-throwing leg should step forward toward the target.
• The throwing arm should follow through after the release or the ball.

Try This    Have a person stand twenty feet away. Have them throw overhand and try to throw baseballs into a tire hanging from a tree. See how accurate they are with their overhand throwing.

Underhand Throwing

  The individual should begin facing the target.  They should bring the throwing arm back behind their seat.  They should step forward with the non-throwing leg as they swing the throwing arm forward.  The ball should be released at a low point and the arm should follow through toward the head.

Steps-

• Face the wall.
• Cock throwing arm back behind their seat.
• Step with opposite foot.
• Release the ball at a low point.
• Follow through all the way toward your head.

Try This   Lay a bucket against a building.  Have a person stand fifteen feet away from the bucket and try to underhand throw ten softball balls into the bucket.

Catching

  Catching is the process of receiving and controlling an object with on or more body parts.  The most important thing to remember when an individual is trying to catch the ball is to keep you eyes on the ball.  It is also important give at the elbows when the ball makes contact with the hands.  That way the force of the impact is absorbed and control is maintained.  You must give with the ball.  Pull the ball into your body.

Steps-

• Keep eyes on the ball.
• Extend hands to catch the ball.
• Keep elbows bent.
• Give with the ball.
• Pull the ball into your body.

Skills   Have a skilled passer throw the ball to you and see how many catches you can have.

Kicking

   There are many different types of kicks: the punt, place kick, and soccer kick are just a few.  The body is first stationary and the kicking foot is flexed as the kicker prepares for the kick.  The kicking motion is carried out primarily with a straight leg.  The kicker lifts the kicking foot backward by flexing the leg at the knee.  When the kicking leg goes forward, the opposite arm moves forward.  

• keep eyes on the object at all times

• arms should be relaxed and move in opposition with the legs

• support foot is placed beside and slightly behind the object to be kicked

• knee of the kicking leg is slightly flexed

• kicking leg swings freely from the hip, first backward and then forward through an arc toward the object to be kicked

• as the kicking foot contacts the object, the knee is quickly extended and the body leans backward for balance

• foot should contact the object just below the midline of the object

• the kicking leg continues its movement forward in the direction of the flight of the object

Try these    running or walking to the object and then kicking it. Try tossing the object and then striking it before it or after it bounces to the floor.

Punting

  Punting is the process of releasing the ball from your extended hands and kicking it while it is still in the air. Usually you'll want the laces up. Punting requires some considerable coordination.  A person must concentrate on stepping forward, keeping their arms extended strait in front of them, dropping the ball (not tossing it up), extending their leg, making contact with the ball on the middle of the foot (not the toes or ankles), and following through with the leg.  Everything must be a smooth motion, and the body should remain inline. Try to kick it with your foot extended and toes down. (this will create a better spiral)

Steps-

• Extend arms and ball in front of the individual.
• Step with the non-kicking leg.
• Begin swinging the kicking leg forward.
• Release your grip on the ball and let it fall toward the ground.
• Watch the ball at all times.
• Watch the ball make contact with the shoe laces portion of your foot.
• Do not pull your head.  Keep your head down.
• Follow through.

Try This    Get a friend and stand a comfortable distance away from each other.  Punt a ball back and forth and help evaluate each other until you become comfortable with punting.

Dribbling

   Dribbling is the process of striking down a ball with the hands or fingertips.  It is used in many sports.  The most famous sport it is used in is basketball.

Steps-

• Get in a crouched position with a slight bend in the knees.
• Relax your entire body.
• Keep your head up at all times.
• Keep the ball under your fingertips
• The fingertips should be used to force the ball down. (not the entire hand)

Try This  Dribble the ball with one hand and then the other hand.  Count and see how many consecutive dribbles you can get without losing control.

Volleying

  Volleying is when you strike an object and propel it through space.  It is usually used in sports.  It is usually associated with the sport of volleyball. 

Steps-

• Make the striking surface as flat as possible. (your hand, foot, arm, head, ext...)
• The individual should explode upward as they make contact with the ball.

Striking with Rackets

  Striking with a racket is a very difficult task for many children.  The child must be able to take many individual skills and coordinate them into one larger and more complex skill.  They must be able to accurately toss the object into the air.  They must be able to follow the object with their eyes while at the same time directing the racket to a meeting spot for the object and the racket.  This can be difficult for students.  It is easier to introduce some children to striking with a racket by having them use their hands to strike the object first.

Steps-

• The individual should keep their wrist locked so that the paddle is strait when it contacts the ball or object.
• The individual should keep their eyes on the ball at all times.
• Step forward with their opposite leg that they swing with.
• Make a complete arc with the paddle.
• Follow through with the paddle.

Try This   Find a spot ten feet from the wall, in front of a circle.  Have a child try to hit the circle using a back to front swing.

Striking With Long-Handled Implements

  While striking with long-handled implements, they should be swung on a horizontal level and the child should follow each motion and follow it quickly with hip trunk and arm rotation. The wrist should unlock with contact.

Steps-

• They individual should bring arms back with both hands on the stick as they begin their swing.
• The individual should keep their eyes focused on the ball at ALL times.
• The individual should step forward with their opposite foot as they swing.
• The last step is to follow through.

Try This    Have a partner stand ten feet away from you. Have them toss you slow underhand pitches with wiffle balls as you attempt to hit them with a bat.  Count how many times you can go without missing the ball. Then see who can hit the farthest and compare upper body strength.

References: Graham, George, et, al. Children Moving A Reflective Approach To Teaching Physical Education   5^th ed. Mountain View, CA : Mayfield Publishing, 2001.

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