Movement skills/concepts

Kicking a ball into the air, judging speed and direction.

Set-up

• A variety of balls for kicking, hoops, cones, rope for kicking line.
• Children in groups of five–six stand behind the kicking line, with a ball each and hoops spread out in a target area in front of them.

Activity

The object of the game is to kick the ball so that it goes over the line and lands in one of the hoops in the target area. Each group gets a point for each time the ball lands in a hoop on the full. Balls must be kicked in the air. Children retrieve their ball when everyone has kicked the ball.

Keep practicing until the group gets 10 points.

Can you see …?

• striking the ball underneath its center
• the run-up, planting the non-kicking foot beside the ball
• following through with the kicking foot, leg moving upwards

You could ask …

Did anyone kick the ball away from the target area? What do you think happened?

Who got two to three kicks into the target? Why do you think your kicks were successful?

How will you retrieve the balls safely?

Variations

Vary scoring: Set a class or group total to aim for.

Have a time trial: How many points can you and/or your group score in 1 minute?