Movement skills/concepts

Bouncing a ball in a stationary position, throwing a large ball in different directions.

Set-up

• One ball and one hoop per child. A hard or grass surface.
• Groups of approximately four-six: children stand outside a circle of hoops, one at each hoop.

Activity

Each child bounces the ball continuously in their hoop. On the call of a number and ‘left’ or ‘right’, (e.g. ‘Three right’) they pass the balls around the circle, person to person, for the number of places and in the direction called. Then they continue to bounce in their own hoop.

• fingers spread and relaxed
• balanced body position

Variations

Add music: Bounce the ball to a musical rhythm, then pass it when the music stops.

Vary rules: Bounce the number of times called, then pass in the identified direction, (e.g. for ‘Three left’, bounce the ball three times and then pass to the left).