A girl and a boy are on either side with their hands up in the air ready to catch a yellow ball that is in the air in between them.Skill Development: Targeting a Specific Skill

The skill of catching is a very useful one for many different games and sports. It helps build hand-eye coordination and timing skills.

When a child is first learning how to catch, there are a few tips you can share with them, to help make it easier.

Tip #1

  • Be in the “ready” position with hands up,
    grab, then pull in.

Tip #2

  • If you are catching a low ball/object below your waist, then place your hands together with your two pinky fingers touching, palms up.

Tip #3

  • If you are catching a ball/object above your waist, then place your hands together, with your two thumbs touching, palms facing out.

For younger children, or anyone first learning to catch:

  • Try using a larger, lighter ball to start, such as a beach ball, or large bouncy ball
  • You could also make catching more fun using stuffed animals or sock balls (rolled up socks)

For more those who are more experienced in their catching skills:

  • Practice with smaller balls like a tennis ball, or small bouncy ball
  • Try catching with one hand, alternating hands, or using your non-dominant hand

The challenges below are explained and can be viewed at #DPAeveryday, and at Ever After Schools.

One Person Catching Challenge:

Stand about 1 metre from the wall and throw the ball underhand against the wall and catch it with two hands for beginners, and one hand for the more experienced players. Try alternating the hands that you use to catch and throw. Throw the ball fast enough so that you can catch and then release the ball quickly against the wall. Time how many catches you can make in a minute, or without dropping the ball. When this gets too easy, try two balls and alternating hands. If you don’t have a wall available, you can also practice throwing the ball up in the air (not too high) and catching it.

Two Person Catching Challenge:

One person stands behind, the other person kneels in front. Both people are facing forward. Each person needs a small ball (a crumpled up piece of paper, a rolled up sock ball, or small stuffed toy can also work). The person in front holds a ball in one hand, both arms are bent at the elbow, and the person behind holds their ball in the opposite hand with elbows also bent. The person behind drops their ball into the hand of the person kneeling, and the person kneeling tosses their ball up to the person behind them. Continue catching and tossing the ball. See how many times you can do this without someone dropping the ball. Then switch places.