Striking an Object with Hands or Bat
As we become more skillful
Skill
Manipulative
Instructions
Striking involves making contact with a stationary or moving object with the aim of propelling that object towards a desired target or area. Striking requires good hand–eye co-ordination to track an incoming object and strike in one action. A strike could be one- or two-handed and may be made with hand(s) or an implement. Striking is involved in many major games, e.g. cricket, baseball, tennis, golf, volleyball and hockey.
- Place the ball on a striking tee
- Stand sideways-on, feet shoulder-width apart, weight on back foot
- Keep the eyes on the ball and head still
- Place the hand or bat in contact with the tee and swing backwards
- If using a bat, ‘shake hands’ with the bat to grip the handle
- Step forwards onto front foot
- Hips and shoulders rotate to the front
- Swing the bat horizontally at waist height at the ball and follow through across/ around the body
Safety
Ensure…
- children grip the bat firmly so it does not fly out of their hands on contact
- children stand well away from the batter and the intended direction of flight
- soft balls are used initially
Opportunity to develop
- Co-ordination
- Physical control
- Accuracy
Physical Development Area of Learning
- contributes to ‘Personal’ and ‘Adventurous and physical play’ skills sections
If you see
| Observation | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Hits the ball straight up into the air or straight into the floor | Feet and trunk are facing forwards. Swings the bat up or down in a ‘chopping’ action. | Place feet markings and ask the child to assume a sideways-on stance. Move the bat horizontally for the child. |
| Misses the ball | Feet are too stationary, not watching the ball, timing of backswing, position of head. | Practise transferring weight in rocking motion |
| Swing appears restricted and not fluent | Elbows are bent. Does not grip the bat correctly. | Position child so they hit the ball with their arms extended. Place a bat on the floor and ask the child to pick it up with a ‘shaking hands’ grip. |
| Limited backswing | Fails to rotate the hips and trunk. | Start with bat at top of back swing. |
Can you see?
- the child standing side-on to the ball?
- the child hitting the middle of the ball?
- the child rotating at the hips?
- the child showing a backswing?
- the child rocking backwards and then forwards?
- the child striking the ball in a horizontal pattern?
- the child striking the ball with arms straight?
- the child following through?
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Mostly No
- Strike a balloon or beach ball with the hand.
- Balance a balloon on a bat. Push the balloon up and catch the balloon on the bat.
- Hit a balloon / paper ball with a short-handled bat.
- Place a large ball on a tee or a large cone. This needs to be about waist height. Use feet markings to help with feet placement. Hit with the hand and then with a bat/implement.
- Carry a bean bag on the hand/bat. Push up the bean bag and try to touch it with the bat, or catch it.
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Yes and No
- Hit a balloon as far as possible with a rolled-up newspaper.
- Hit a large soft ball with a hand.
- Hit a soft ball with a short-handled bat towards a wall.
- Hold a large ball in one hand standing side-on; strike the ball with the other hand. Initially push the ball before striking it.
- Bounce a ball in front and hit with the hand towards a wall.
- Hit the ball up in the air with a hand or bat. Hit it three times in a row.
- Hit the bean bag through a hoop held at waist height one metre away.
-
Mostly Yes
- With a partner, hit a balloon over a rope with the hand / small bats. Keep the balloon within the area.
- Hit a soft ball with a short-handled bat against a target on the wall.
- Feed to self by gently throwing a ball into the air and then hitting the ball towards a wall.
- Hit a ball rolled sympathetically to them by a practitioner or a skilful child. Hit a ball thrown sympathetically to them by a practitioner or a skilful child.
- Hit a ball into a target area one metre away. Increase distance.
- Hit a ball using a long-handled bat/implement.
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Challenge
- Hand keepy-uppy, on a line, on a beam, on a wobble spot
- Racket/bat/stick keepyuppy, on a line, on a beam, on a wobble spot
- Return object fed to racket side to partner using racket/bat/stick
- Return object fed to nonracket side by crossing mid-line to return
- Hit object against a wall trying to achieve highest score
- Hit the ball between you and your partner
- Hit two balls alternately and simultaneously between you and your partner – vary the ways you can do this
- Move into space to hit an object, use fast feet
- Combine striking an object and fast feet in response to a range of cues, using different directions, pathways and speeds