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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proficiency punting Children can punt in dynamic, unpredictable situations

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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