Year 3 Rounders Lesson 1
Lesson Summary
Learning Intentions
- Hit a stationary ball into space
- Get into the best body position to field a ball
- Retrieve and throw the ball as a fielder
Skill Development Being ready to field a ball
Success Criteria
- I can hit the ball into an area where there are no fielders
- I can collect a ball and send it to the desired target, bowler or base
- Describe how to set up in fielding positions in relation to the batter
We are Learning...
to get into the best body position to field a ball.
Curriculum Links
NC Developing simple tactics for attacking and defending.
L Able to discuss and decide on correct fielding positions.
N Decide what angles they need to use to hit the ball into space.
Equipment
- Small soft balls
- Cones
- Hoops
- Tennis racquets
- Paddle bats
- Rounders bats
Key Questions
- What sort of body positions do we need to be a productive fielder?
- How can fielders try to reduce the batters’ scoring runs?
- How can the batters increase their chances of scoring runs?
Teaching Points
✔️ Preparing to field a ball
- Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent for stability and quick movement.
- Keep hands in front of the body with palms facing forward, ready to receive a high or low ball or to get into the long barrier.
- Always watch the ball from when it’s thrown/hit to predict its path.
- Use quick, efficient movements to quickly adjust your position.
- Be ready to move instantly by anticipating the ball’s direction based on the batter’s actions.
Lesson Content
Starter Activity
Fielders Get Ready! – Pupils run around an appropriately sized area. On different commands, pupils will have to react and take up different body positions.
- Long Barrier – Pupils’ have to make the correct long barrier position. One knee down, ensuring there is no gap between the foot and knee on the floor.
- Backstop – Pupils’ will have to bend their knees slightly and hands together in front of their chest.
- Rounder! – Pupils’ have to change direction quickly and show some form of acceleration as if they are attacking the ball.
- Overhead – Pupils’ have to jump up and reach as high as they can, as if catching an imaginary ball overhead.
Skill Development
Body positions on the field – From the starter activity, discuss the different actions and what their purpose is when fielding.
- Long barrier – to stop a ball rolling along the ground
- Backstop – to stop the ball that goes behind the batter
- Attacking the ball – chasing a ball in the field to stop the batter scoring points
- Overhead catch – Being able to catch a ball high in the air.
When fielding, players should always be aware of where the ball is and face it before it is sent by the batter into the field. See the teaching points for how fielders should stand ready to field the ball.
Play the following simple game in fours.
- The batter must throw a small sponge/tennis ball into the playing area, then run between two cones while the fielders gather the ball and send it to the hoop to stop the batter from running.
- The three fielders must be ready in position to respond and catch, chase or stop a rolling ball.
- The ball must be stumped down inside the hoop by the fielders, not thrown in.
- Once the batter has had three throws, the players swap around. To help organise the game, you could number players 1 – 4.
Assessment for learning
Before playing this game, discuss how to be safe when using bats. Set out clear rules when using rounders bats to keep everyone safe.
Now transfer the fielding body positions from the skill development to the Assessment for Learning task. The objective of the game is to score points by running to 1 of 4 marked areas on the field before the fielders return the ball to the base. The game should be played 4/3 v 1.
The batter hits the ball and runs to one of the four scoring zones. Each batter has 3 or 4 attempts before swapping with a fielder.
Options for striking
- Kick a ball
- Self-feed from tennis racquet or paddle bat
- Hit with a rounders bat or paddle bat from a batting tee
Easier: Throw the ball instead of hitting it. Make the playing area smaller. Give the fielders a role, e.g. backstop, bowler, fielder etc.
Harder: Introduce the bowler or increase the size of the field. Introduce points for each zone. Introduce an order in which they must run through the zones, so first; they run through the zone to their right, then into each zone in an anticlockwise direction (as in the rounders game).