Movement  skills/concepts

Striking a stationary ball with a long implement (hockey stick, cricket bat, softball bat off the tee, golf club), into open space, varying distance, and direction.

Set-up

• Choice of long implement (softball bat, cricket bat, golf club, hockey stick), cones or markers, choice of small ball, and a bin.
• A diamond set out with the tee as a home base and three markers as the others. A container with three balls in it besides the tee.

Activity

The batter strikes the three balls in quick succession in front of the line, then runs around the bases until all three balls are back in the bucket. Each base passed counts as one point. Meanwhile, the fielders return the balls to the bucket as quickly as possible and call ‘Stop’ when all balls are returned.

• relaxed grip and swing
• swing through the center of the ball
• standing side on
• following through

Variations

Softball: As skill develops, batters may toss the ball up and hit it, or hit a slow- pitched ball.

Cricket/hockey: Batters may hit an underarm roll or a bowled ball.