Neetu | Fitness365

Animal Walk – Galloping Horses

Aim

Students will be able to perform the locomotor skills and will be able to call out what letter (or number) they have landed on

Equipment Required

Play Area Set-Up

Layout letter cards over a large area. Show students the area around the cards where they will be walking/running and other locomotor skills

Activity Description

Today we are going to learn how to gallop, just like a horse!
Demonstrates how to gallop: USE RELEVANT SKILL CARDS
In galloping, you step forward with one foot that is always your “lead” foot.
The toes of your back foot chase the heel of your lead foot, like skipping.
Both feet leave the ground, and you land on your back foot, followed by your lead foot.
When galloping, point both feet forward. Arms swing forward at the same time the back foot moves forward. Head up and look forward.

Practice:

Ask children to gallop in a line to the opposite side of the activity space.
Gallop alongside any children who have difficulty (model the movement).
With a partner, children spread out around activity space and practice the “step-toe-to-heel” pattern.
Invite children to gallop and work together to make shapes as they gallop (circle, figure eight, triangle, following a line on the floor
Leaders should encourage children to try galloping with opposite foot leading.

Lets Play Game: Galloping horses relay race

Divide children into 4 or 5 groups with even numbers.
Designate a start line at one end of the activity space.
For each group, the leader places a cone at the other end of the activity space to mark their turn-around point.
Groups line up behind the start line.
Each group has one skipping rope which will be used as the “reins” to lead the horse.
The first person in line is the horse, and they place the reins around their waist.
The second person in the line holds the reins as if they are guiding the horse.
In pairs (horse and guide), children gallop around the turn around point and back to the start.
When they reach the start line, they pass the reins to the next pair in their group.
The first group to have every pair complete the course wins.

Wrap-up (2 minutes)

The straight drive is played on the front foot by easing the ball back in the opposite direction to the delivery.

An overpitched delivery to the middle or off stump is the perfect opportunity to play the straight drive.
Relax your body and assume a balanced stance.
Raise your bat with a high backswing.
Step forward with your front foot landing close to the pitch of the ball and toes in line with the delivery.
Bend your front knee and lean your weight forward.
Present the bowler with the straight face of the bat continuing upward in an arc.
Work with your top hand, leading with the elbow, and lend support with your bottom hand.
If the ball is pitching in good length, you can step out to drive it forward along the ground.
If it pitches on a good length, you can play a straight drive off your back foot.
You can also roll your wrist to let the bat continue in an arc over your front shoulder.

An off-drive is a vertical stroke played on the front foot to hit the ball wide of mid-off.

The right ball to play the off drive is an over-pitched delivery falling on or outside of off stump.
Relax your body and assume a balanced stance.
Raise your bat with a high backswing towards fine leg to gain momentum for your shot.
Leading with your head and front shoulder, place your front foot forward, towards where the ball is pitching.
Swing the bat vertically with its face forward and play the shot close to your front foot.
Break the position of your wrist to let the bat continue in an arc over your front shoulder.

The back foot defense is played to block the ball rather than to score runs

It is usually played to a fast delivery that falls short of good length and rises to the stumps with a high bounce.
Relax your body and assume a balanced stance with your eyes level.
Move your back foot towards the stump and shift your front foot to meet the back foot.
Raise your front elbow and swing the bat with its face angled down so the ball pitches right in front of you.
Hold your position instead of following through and hit the ball down with a relaxed grip.

Like a shot that simply blocks the ball, the front-foot or forward defense is helpful while getting used to the pitch.

Any well-pitched delivery headed towards the stumps is a perfect opportunity to play the front foot defense.
Relax your body and assume a balanced stance with your eyes level.
Step towards the pitch of the ball with a bent front knee and transfer your weight by leaning forward.
With a short backswing or none at all, make contact directly below your eyes.
Remember that a gap between your bat and pad creates the risk of getting bowled.
Keep the bat angled down to avoid getting caught and play against the line of the delivery.
If the ball is heading outside off stump, step slightly across the crease and hit the ball with a straight face towards the ground.