1. Bounce the ball with some control to self.
2. Begin to bounce a ball to a partner.
3. Play 2 vs 1, using bouncing skills to score.

Skill Development: Bouncing the ball to self

1. I can bounce different balls myself.
2. I can try and bounce a ball to somebody else.
3. I can use bouncing skills to try and score at a goal.

Play in games using skills learned.

L Communicate with others as part of a team.

N Keep track of the team’s score. Identify the different shapes of the equipment (spheres, round, etc.).

Give children a ball each moving around the designated area with the ball in their hands. Explain the following commands to the children. When these commands are called out, children should respond appropriately.

1. Bounce the ball and catch.
2. Stop and bounce the ball to another player whilst they bounce theirs to you (swapping balls).
3. Bounce the ball one-handed for 5 bounces (dribbling) and then move with the ball in your hands. (Some children may need to bounce and catch 5 times if they are struggling to dribble the ball continuously.)

Bouncing the ball to self – In different areas of the room, leave different equipment that children could ‘bounce’, e.g. small balls, big balls, different shaped balls, soft balls etc.

Children should stand in a space not touching any equipment. When the teacher calls ‘go’, the children should pick up a piece of equipment and practise bouncing it to themselves.

Suggestions: Can they bounce it and catch, can they bounce continuously (dribbling), can they showboat, for example, bounce the ball around their body, bounce the ball under their leg?

Give children a little while to practise with that piece of equipment. Then call change, children now must find a new different piece of equipment.

Question children individually during the activity, asking: what is difficult about bouncing this piece of equipment? Which is the easiest piece of equipment to bounce? What do you notice about this piece of equipment that is different to the others?

Play 2 vs 1 with the pair aiming to bounce the ball in a hoop or target area. The pair should start with the ball approximately 5 metres back from their hoop. The pair can bounce to themselves or can bounce pass the ball to their partner to try and get closer to the hoop to shoot. Player 1 needs to try and intercept the ball so 2’s cannot shoot.

The 2’s cannot move if they are holding the ball in their hands, but they can move if they are dribbling. Swap the teams often so all can practise bouncing skills.

to bounce a ball with control to ourselves.

Bouncing the ball to self

1. Use fingers to bounce the ball rather than the palm of the hand
2. Attempt to bounce the ball waist height
3. Watch the ball throughout the whole bounce

Bouncing the ball to others

1. The ball should bounce at a midway point between the two players; not too close to their feet as the ball will bounce short
2. Do not bounce the ball too hard so that it bounces too high for a partner to catch and not too softly so the ball does not rise up to their partner’s hands

1. Can you name a sport where you can bounce the ball to yourself? (basketball, handball)
2. What do you need to remember when bouncing the ball to yourself?
3. What skills did you use when bouncing a ball to your partner?