Kicking Projecting an object by striking it with the foot Must have the perceptual abilities and coordination to make contact Children gain these abilities at a fairly young age

Early Kicking Use a single action Kicking leg just pushes ball forward No step for preparatory position Knee bent at contact No trunk rotation Arms stationary at side No follow through Step forward with non kicking foot Minimal leg swing

Proficient Kicking Preparatory windup Use sequential movements Full range of motion Arms in opposition to legs Developmental Changes –Only 10% of 9yr olds have advanced kicking form –Support foot placement

Punting Similar to kicking, drop ball and time kick Early Punting –Toss ball up –No step forward –Kick with straight leg –Arms at sides –Use toes to contact

Proficient Punting Arms extended with ball Arms to side Leap onto supporting leg and swing punting leg up to contact Follow through Kicking leg straight, toes pointed Developmental changes –Arm action: ball release, ball contact –Leg action: short sep, long step, and leap –Ankle: flexed to extended

Sidearm Striking Various parts: hand or implement Most difficult perceptual judgment Early striking Looks like unskilled throwing at first Chop or just extending elbow facing ball

Proficient Sidearm Striking Much like an overarm throw Step into hit Facing sideways Differentiated trunk rotation Swing horizontal plane Extension of arms Kinetic chain: linking movements together

Developmental Changes Standing sideways Trunk rotation Change plane of movement Power grip vs. shake hands grip

Overarm Striking With or without implement Early Overarm striking Little pelvic or spinal movement Swing with collapsed elbow Swing with arm and racket forward in unison

Proficient Overarm Striking Rotate spine and pelvis Elbow at angle Racket lag behind arm during forward swing Developmental changes Trunk, humerus, forearm, leg Pelvic range of motion, spinal range of motion, elbow angle, racket action

Reception Skills Gaining possession or control of an object Catching –Retain possession of an object you catch Early catching –No force absorption –Trap against chest

Proficient Catching Catch with hands “give” with ball Be able to move body Point fingers appropriately

Developmental Changes At 8yrs old: most boys and ½ girls proficient Arm action: rigid, hugging, scooping, receiving Hands: palms up, palms in, adjusted Movement: none, awkward, proper Other factors –Ball velocity, size, shape, trajectory, direction, arrival point –Must make accurate perceptual judgment of ball –Coincidence-anticipation timing tasks

Weight Transfer Skills Forward rolling Begin and end on feet with hands, back of head, upper back, lower back, and hips successively supporting body’s weight in between Early rolling –Not symmetrical movements –Need sufficient arm and shoulder strength to support body weight and abdominal strength for tuck

Proficient Rolling Support weight on hands not head Tucking chin Swing arms forward to continue momentum Maintain tuck Push with both legs equally Hips and knees flexed throughout roll so will end up standing