All Activities
Physical Education

Throw and Catch

Overview

Children practise throwing and catching with a partner, starting close and moving further apart.

Learning Objective
Children develop throwing and catching technique using simple equipment.

Resources needed

  • Balls, rolled socks, or scrunched paper balls

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Start very close — one step apart.
  2. 2 Throw gently to partner's hands.
  3. 3 Partner catches and throws back.
  4. 4 Take one step back after five successful catches.
  5. 5 Focus on throwing aim, not power.
  6. 6 Try throwing to different heights.
  7. 7 Count how many catches in a row.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Use one hand only.
  • Catch in a container instead of hands.
  • Throw underarm and overarm and compare.
More information

Teach: throw, catch, aim, ready, too high, too low. Use gestures to show ready position for catching.

Use a larger or softer ball. Allow catching against the body rather than with hands only.

Can children aim their throw at their partner? Do they watch the ball all the way into their hands?

Scrunched newspaper or rolled socks make free throwing objects. No purchased balls needed.

Children often throw too hard. Emphasise aim over power — a gentle, accurate throw is the goal.

Throwing and catching are foundation skills for many sports. Establish correct technique early.