Why is it important to secure the ball first before running with it? (Securing the ball first ensures that you complete the catch. Not securing first can lead to dropping the ball while you prepare to run.)
Why should the tip of the ball poke through your diamond when you try to catch? (This ensures that you have your fingers all around the ball.)
Why is it important to hold the football towards the back of the ball? (Hold the ball towards the rear so that less of your palm is on the ball allowing a small space between the ball and your hand. This helps prevent the ball being thrown straight into the ground.)
Why is it important to step towards your target when throwing the football? (Stepping into the throw gives your throw more power.)
Divide players into pairs. Give them a football and 2 cones.
Players place the cones a few yards apart and practise throwing underhand.
Include catching at low, medium and high levels.
Emphasise catching the ball first and then tucking it into the chest to secure it tightly.
They can move the cones farther apart once they feel confident.
Teaching Points
Catching a football (medium and high):
make a diamond (thumbs together, index fingers together)
diamond out away from the body
remember the 5 points of contact Catching a football (low):
make a rake (pinkies together)
remember the 5 points of contact
Increase the distance over which players throw and catch. Challenge players to catch balls that are thrown from different directions. To make the activity more challenging specify the types of catches: medium, high or low.
use a bigger ball, Shorten the distance over which players throw and catch.
Partner pass
Divide players into pairs. Give them 2 cones (or other markers) and 1 football. Partners place their cones 5 yards apart and pass the football to each other.
They begin throwing from a kneeling position with the opposite knee forward, and transition to standing positions to understand the concept of ‘opposite foot forward’.
Challenge the students to see how many successful throws they can make before the ball is dropped within a specified time.
A successful throw is a throw that arrives at their partner above their belt line
TEACHING POINTS
Gripping the football:
index finger near the back tip of the ball
middle and 3rd finger across the laces
thumb on the opposite side
ensure there is a space between the ball and the palm of your hand
Throwing:
side to target
arm up and back (ball behind head, elbow above shoulder)
step towards the target with the opposite foot
rotate hips
follow through and across
Increase the distance between the two players. Ask players to position themselves so they throw in different directions: straight, left, right.
use a different type of ball
Ultimate Flag
Mark out endzones on the field and split the class into two teams. Players cannot run with the ball, they must pass it to get it to their endzone. Defenders take possession if the ball touches the ground or they intercept a pass. A goal is scored by passing to a teammate who is in the endzone
EACHING POINTS
Throwing technique:
• side to target
• arm up and back
• step towards target with opposite foot • rotate hips
• follow through across the body
For more able groups, try the Crossbar challenge. Use the football crossbar if available, or designate another target. Split the class into two groups. Give each student 3 chances to throw the ball and hit the crossbar. If they’re successful, they move to the back of the line and go again. If they aren’t successful, they’re out for the rest of the round.