HAND TO HAND CATCHING (Lesson Plans)

- Hold the ball above the eyes. Track the ball with the eyes down into the other hand, which is held at waste height. Once the ball has been caught, alternate hands. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination.

- Hold the ball above the eyes again. Close the eyes and complete the activity. Once the ball has been caught, alternate hands. The hand should be soft like a cushion, as the ball approaches. This activity will help to develop a ‘sense of feel’ for the ball.

BODY CIRCLES CATCHING

 - Pass the ball from one hand to another, around the waist.

- Increase speed to challenge individuals.

- Pass the ball around other body parts or change direction for variation.

- This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination and motor skills. 

OVERHEAD CATCHING

- Hold the ball above the eyes with two hands. Release the ball into the air, and watch it closely as it returns into the hands. Use the hands to cushion the ball by bending at the elbows. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination.

- This time hold both hands in the air and the ball above the eyes in one hand. Release the ball into the air from one hand to the other. Maintain control of the ball as you transfer the ball and secure each catch. Bend the elbows to help cushion the ball as the eyes are kept on the ball and hands above our eyes. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination and motor skills.

FIGURE EIGHT CATCHING

- Place feet shoulder width apart and bend knees to establish a balanced comfortable position.

 - Pass the ball through your legs in a figure eight formation.

- Increase speed to challenge individuals.

- Pass the ball around other body parts or change direction for variation.

- This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination and motor skills.

FLICK AND CATCH

- Place feet shoulder width apart and bend knees to establish a balanced comfortable position. With two hands on the ball behind your knees, flick the ball forward through your legs, catching it in two hands in front of your knees. Continue by flicking the ball back in the reverse direction. Repeat from the start, continuing back and forth. Increase speed to challenge individuals. 

- Place feet shoulder width apart and bend knees to establish a balanced comfortable position again. With one hand behind the legs and the other in front, flick the ball up toward the body alternating the hands to the opposite positions, prior to securing the catch. Continue, alternating hands for each attempt. Increase speed to challenge individuals. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination and motor skills.

FEET FLICK AND CATCH

- Place the ball on the ground, between the feet. Flick the ball in the air by releasing the ball from between the feet as a jump is performed. Catch the ball in two hands in front of the body at waist height. 

- This time place the ball on the ground, between the feet, towards the heels. Flick the ball in the air to the side of the body, by releasing the ball from between the feet as a jump is performed. Catch the ball in two hands to the side of the body at waist height. This activity will help to develop overall body coordination and motor skills.

- Place the ball on the ground, between the feet, towards the heels again. Flick the ball in the air up and over the head, by releasing the ball from between the feet as a jump is performed. Catch the ball in two hands in front of the body at waist height. This activity will help to develop overall body awareness, coordination and motor skills.

BOUNCE AND CATCH

- Hold the ball in two hands. Drop the ball to the knee and bounce it back up in the air for a return catch with two hands. Use both knees to bounce the ball into the air. This activity will help to develop overall body coordination and motor skills

- Hold the ball in two hands again. Drop the ball to the knee and bounce it back up in the air, then to the foot, for a return catch with two hands. Use both knees and feet to bounce the ball into the air. This activity will help to develop overall body coordination and motor skills. Note: There are many variations and combinations of body parts that can be included in this activity.

BODY AWARENESS CATCHING - ONE HAND

- Hold the ball in one hand and pass the ball from behind your back to release the ball over the opposite shoulder, receiving a catch in the original hand. Repeat the activity for the alternate hand. Look for the ball as it becomes visible from behind the shoulder. This activity will help to develop body and spatial awareness.

- Hold the ball in one hand and pass the ball from behind your back to release the ball over the same shoulder, receiving a catch in the original hand. Repeat the activity for the alternate hand/side of the body. Look for the ball as it becomes visible from behind the shoulder. This activity will help to develop body and spatial awareness.

BODY AWARENESS CATCHING - TWO HANDS

- Hold the ball in two hands behind the back, and release the ball over the head, receiving a catch in front of the body in two hands. Look for the ball as it becomes visible from behind the back, over the head. This activity will help to develop body and spatial awareness.

- This time hold the ball in two hands in front of the body, and release the ball over the head, receiving a catch in two hands behind the back. This activity will help to develop judgement skills.

DROP AND CATCH

- Hold the ball in front of the body with one hand. Drop the ball from a stationary position, catching the ball with the hand on top, before it falls to the ground. Repeat the activity for the alternate hand.

- Hold the ball in front of the body with one hand again. Drop the ball from a stationary position, adding a clap of the hands before catching the ball with the hand on top, as it falls toward the ground. Repeat the activity for the alternate hand.

- Now hold the ball in front of the body with one hand. Drop the ball from a stationary position, completing a circle around the ball before catching the ball with the hand on top, as it falls toward the ground. Repeat the activity for the alternate hand and attempt in both directions; clockwise and anti-clockwise. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination and reflexes.

CLAP AND CATCH

- Throw the ball into the air and receive a catch above your eyes, attempting to clap the hands in front of the body, as many times as possible between releasing and receiving the ball. The hands need to move very quickly to clap and then prepare for the catch by raising the hands above eye level. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination, reflexes and judgement skills.

- Throw the ball into the air and receive a catch above your eyes, attempting to clap the hands in front of the body and then on the side of each hip, as many times as possible between releasing and receiving the ball. The hands need to move very quickly to clap and then prepare for the catch by raising the hands above eye level. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination, reflexes and judgement skills.

- Throw the ball into the air and receive a catch above your eyes, attempting to clap the hands in front and behind the body, as many times as possible between releasing and receiving the ball. The hands need to move very quickly to clap and then prepare for the catch by raising the hands above eye level. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination, reflexes and judgement skills.

HIGH CATCH

- Throw the ball into the air and receive a catch above your eyes, attempting to spin the body in a 360 degree circle, retuning to the same position between releasing and receiving the ball. Throw the ball into the air and to take the catch with two hands.  Keep your eyes on the ball, head still, and attempt to be balanced before receiving the ball. 

- Throw the ball into the air and receive a catch above your eyes, attempting to touch the ground with both hands, retuning to the same position between releasing and receiving the ball. Throw the ball into the air and to take the catch with two hands.  Keep your eyes on the ball, head still, and attempt to be balanced before receiving the ball. 

- Throw the ball into the air and receive a catch above your eyes, attempting to sit on the ground or stand from a seated position between releasing and receiving the ball. Throw the ball into the air and to take the catch with two hands.  Keep your eyes on the ball, head still, and attempt to be balanced before receiving the ball. This activity will help to develop hand eye coordination, reflexes and judgement skills.