5 Fun Hand-Eye Coordination Games for Primary PE

5 Fun Hand-Eye Coordination Games for Primary PE

Hand-eye coordination is a key physical skill that helps children perform everyday tasks as well as sports-based activities. It’s all about how well the eyes and hands work together to guide movement. Developing strong hand-eye coordination supports fine motor skills, gross motor skills, reaction time, agility, and overall spatial awareness, which are all vital for a child’s physical development.

It’s easy to improve hand-eye coordination through fun, active games that keep children moving and engaged. Here are 5 simple hand-eye coordination games you can try in your next PE lesson or active break:

1. Handle the balloon

 What you need: Balloons

Give each child an inflated balloon and go through the following challenges, encouraging them to use both hands on each challenge:

• Pass it around their waist, clockwise and anticlockwise.
• Pass it through and around their legs, creating a figure 8.
• Balance it on the palm of both outstretched hands.
• Balance it on the back of both outstretched hands.
• Hit it up to head height and catch it again
• Hit it up to head height and catch it again whilst sitting on the floor, legs outstretched.
• Hit the balloon high in the air, watch and move to catch it.
• Hit the balloon high in the air, watch and move to hit it up again.
• Find a partner and swap balloons

2. Balloon Rally

 What you need: Balloons, a net/bench

 Children can self-feed the balloon over the bench to their partner and they must count how many times they can keep their balloon going over the bench without touching the floor. Make sure groups are encouraging each other when trying to get the best score.

 3. Ball Bouncing Buddies

What you need: A range of balls that bounce

Each child has a ball and moves freely around a designated area. Children listen out for 1 of the following 3 commands and complete them as quickly as possible:

• "Bounce & Catch" - Bounce the ball once and catch it.
• "Swap!" - Bounce your ball to another player while they do the same with theirs.
• "Dribble 5" - Bounce the ball one-handed 5 times (or bounce and catch 5 times if needed), then move on.

4. Stump the Cone

What you need: Tennis balls/beanbags, cones

In pairs, one child will underarm throw the ball to their partner. After catching the ball, the partner must quickly get to a cone, stump it with the ball, and then pass it back to the feeder. Give children areas to play in to challenge each other and throw the ball over different distances and directions before moving to stump the cone.

5. Hitting with an object

What you need: Balloons, baton/tennis racquet, cones

Each child needs an object with which to hit their balloon. Play through the two challenges below with children having a balloon between each pair.

• In pairs, hit a balloon back and forth to each other using their baton/racquet.
• Set out a rectangle on the floor using cones; two children play opposite each other, lying on the floor and trying to push the ball towards their partner. Encourage to use a push as if in snooker.

Why Hand-Eye Coordination Matters in PE

Hand-eye coordination is a vital skill that supports children’s success both in and out of PE lessons. It underpins everyday tasks—ranging from fine motor skills like handwriting and using scissors to gross motor skills like catching, throwing, and moving confidently in space. Developing coordination through PE builds strong physical foundations that support wider academic learning and life skills.

Recognised in both stages of the primary PE national curriculum and highlighted in the Early Learning Goals (EYFS), coordination is a core focus for early development. By embedding hand-eye coordination activities into PE lessons, schools can help pupils grow not only in physical ability but also in confidence, focus, and readiness for broader learning.

Looking for More PE Inspiration?

For more free activities and resources to help develop hand-eye coordination, check out our free resources. These include videos of different hand-eye coordination activities, such as a one-handed bounce, two-handed bounce, KS1 Ball Skills and KS2 Juggling.

You can also explore more skill-based activities and ready-made PE lessons by signing up for our free trial today. With high-quality resources, games, and planning tools, you’ll always have the perfect activity at your fingertips with The PE Hub.