1. Precontrol kicking Children need practice
making contact with stationary ball
tapping while moving behind the ball

2. Control kicking Children need practice:
With consistent contact with ball
Kicking for accuracy
In different directions
At various speeds
With partners

3. Utilization kicking Children need to
Focus on accuracy and control in dynamic situations with increased complexity
Perform skills on the move and in relation to an opponent

4. Proficiency kicking Children should be
Involved in game situations with more players that require strategic play

5. Precontrol punting Children will
Contact with other body parts than foot and often after the ball has bounced
Succeed if more exploration time is spent with lightweight balls that contact the foot after a bounce and before it reaches the ground

6. Control punting Children should be able to
Consistently make contact with the ball
Drop the ball rather than toss it
Move to make contact

7. Utilization punting Children should
Combine punting with factors such as partner relationships
Time limits
Accuracy
Dynamic situations

8. Proficiency punting
Children can punt in dynamic, unpredictable situations

9. Precontrol level: Throw/catch
When addressing throwing and catching at this level, give children a chance to explore with many types of objects
Throwing should be in static situations
Catching should be with a throw made directly to the child

10. Children at the precontrol level of catching are most likely also at the precontrol level of throwing
It is recommended that older children or an adult throw to children at this level in order to eliminate throwing inaccuracy when teaching catching

11. Control level: throw/catch
Children need to practice throwing in various static situations, but at different speeds, heights, distances, over and under things and at various targets
Children should practice catching with both hands, on either side of the body, and at various levels

12. Throwing for distance will help to develop a mature throwing pattern
Throwing at a target will develop through distances that are close to a target at various speeds
Target throwing typically does not develop a mature throwing pattern

13. Utilization level: throw
Children at this level of throwing can perform smooth throwing actions in static situations and are ready for more dynamic settings
Encourage traveling while throwing, throwing accurately at moving targets, and jumping to throw

14. Utilization: catching
Children at this level can consistently catch a variety of objects with one or both hands and are ready to catch in unpredictable situations.
Encourage children to move in relationship to people and objects
For example, 3 player keep away works well!

15. Proficiency level: throw/catch
Children at this level are ready for complex game situations that are dynamic and unpredictable.
Encourage throwing and catching many different kinds of objects and encourage movements in relation to an opponent and with rapid changes in speed, direction, and level

16. Volleying: Precontrol level
Children are still struggling to achieve eye-hand coordination necessary to contact the ball. They rarely intentionally direct the flight of the ball
Provide experiences to explore volleying so they are able to concentrate on watching the object as it approaches and on making contact with the object

17. Volleying: Control
Children are able to strike an object continuously with a bounce in their own space and control the amount of force on the volley
Appropriate activities: volleying with different body parts, striking both overhand and underhand, striking over designated lines with a partner

18. Volleying: Utilization
Children can control the direction and force of their strikes and produce a level surface for striking with a variety of body parts.
Children can combine different movement concepts with the striking skill
Move in relation to people and /or objects
Consistency and accuracy are developed

19. Volleying: Proficiency
Children can move consistently and accurately in relation to others in unpredictable and dynamic situations
Children are able to strike an object and simultaneously focus on surrounding activities within the environment

20. Dribbling: Precontrol
Children want to make contact with the ball so that it comes back to them in a stationary position
Tasks should focus on exploring striking the ball down repeatedly in self-space and then walking and dribbling

21. Dribbling: Control Focus on varying the dribbles
Different heights, positions around the body
Focus on dribbling with the non-dominant hand
Dribble while traveling

22. Dribbling: Utilization
Incorporate dribbling into beginning game-like situations that require combining dribbling with other skills such as throwing, catching, dodging, and dribbling with either hand without looking at the ball

23. Dribbling: Proficiency
At this level, dribbling is almost automatic
Children can change direction, speed, pathways at will, and enjoy dynamic games that involve larger groups with more complex relationships

24. NOTE Volleying and dribbling require fine eye-hand coordination
These two skills will be the last of the fundamental skills to develop

25. Striking with Paddles
Requires coordination of some familiar skills into one
Tossing or dropping an object
Tracking the object
Contacting the object
Compensating for the weight and length of paddle

26. Task Complexity
Striking with paddles or long-handled implements is a complex skill
Requires development of visual tracking
Requires eye-hand coordination
Introduce these striking skills after children have experience with striking with body parts, specifically the hand

27. Task Difficulty
Difficulty of striking with an implement increases with the length of the implement
Precontrol level: short-handled, lightweight implements and light, slow traveling objects to contact
Control level: can consistently strike a ball and are ready for tasks involving control of direction, force, and aerial pathway of the object

28. See the progression spiral for skill theme activities
Control level activities should also allow children to focus on the object of contact
Children also need experience with different types of striking implements
Utilization level: Children can contact an object repeatedly without missing and can send the object various distances and in different directions
Children are ready to apply striking skills in dynamic situations and in cooperation with a partner
See the progression spiral for skill theme activities