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Physical Education

Catch in Different Ways

Overview

Children practise catching from a partner using progressively more challenging variations.

Learning Objective
Children develop confident catching technique across a range of distances, heights, and throwing styles.

Resources needed

  • Balls or tied cloth balls — one per pair

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Stand 2 metres apart — throw to chest height, catch with two hands.
  2. 2 Throw higher — above the head — catch with two hands.
  3. 3 Throw low — below the knee — catch with two hands.
  4. 4 Move 1 step further apart after 5 successful catches.
  5. 5 One-handed catch: throw to dominant hand side.
  6. 6 Throw slightly to the side — catcher must move to get behind the ball.
  7. 7 Count the longest consecutive catch sequence.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Bounce pass and catch — ball must bounce once before caught.
  • Clap before catching — tests reaction and eye tracking.
  • Move slowly while throwing and catching.
More information

Teach: high, low, side, move, two hands, one hand, consecutive. Call the type of throw before releasing so the catcher can prepare.

Use a larger, softer ball or a balloon. Keep distance short and throws gentle for less confident catchers.

Are children moving their feet to get behind the ball or just reaching with their arms? Do they watch the ball all the way into their hands?

A tied sock or rolled cloth ball is soft, slow, and easy to catch. No purchased balls needed.

Children reach with one hand instead of presenting two hands as a target. Teach the ready position: arms out, hands together, fingers spread, watch the ball.

Catching in varied conditions develops adaptable hand-eye coordination that transfers to all ball sports. Variety is more beneficial than repetition of the same catch.

Activity details
Primary Medium 20 minutes 5 minutes prep Pairs, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Catching Coordination Variety