Key Stage 1 PE · Fundamental movement skills

KS1 throwing and catching: a guide for parents

Throwing and catching sit alongside running and jumping as basic movements that children in Years 1 and 2 are taught to master. They combine hands, eyes and whole-body movement, which makes them hard for young children at first. Lessons build from rolling and bouncing to underarm throws and catches with a partner, so that children can later use the skills in team games with confidence.

Throwing and catching, explained

Catching is one of the trickiest early skills because the child has to watch a moving object, guess where it will arrive, get their hands to the right place and close them at the right time. That is why teachers begin with rolling a ball along the ground to a partner, then bouncing it, then throwing it gently from a short distance. At each step the ball is easier to track and the child gets many more successful attempts, which builds confidence.

Throwing is taught in a similar order. Most children begin with an underarm throw: look at the target, step forward with the foot on the opposite side to the throwing hand, swing the arm back and then forward, and let go at the right moment. Many schools also introduce overarm throwing with a soft ball or beanbag, often in Year 2, though it is not expected to be secure yet. Teachers talk about throwing for accuracy, such as into a hoop, and throwing for distance, and show that these need different amounts of force.

Teachers use simple cues. For catching these are usually: watch the ball all the way into your hands, get your hands ready early (little fingers together like a basket for a ball arriving below the chest, thumbs together in a “W” shape for one arriving higher), reach to meet the ball and then bring your arms in towards your body so the catch is soft. Equipment varies, with beanbags, large soft balls, small balls and hoops all common, and children usually begin with larger balls because they are easier to catch.

The curriculum asks children to apply their basic movements in a range of activities and to take part in both competitive and co-operative activities. For throwing and catching that means partner challenges (how many catches can we make in a row?), target games (can I land three beanbags in the hoop?) and passing games in small teams. Schools choose the games and equipment, and many encourage children to compare their score with their own earlier attempts, which keeps things fair for those who are still learning.

Words your child will hear

Roll: Send a ball along the ground to a partner, usually underarm and low.
Underarm throw: A throw where the arm swings from low to high, below the shoulder.
Overarm throw: A throw where the arm swings over the shoulder, used for longer distances.
Target: The place you are aiming at, such as a hoop, a bucket or a partner’s hands.
Catch: Receiving a thrown ball with the hands and holding on to it.
Soft hands: Letting your hands and arms give a little as the ball arrives, so it doesn’t bounce out.
Bounce pass: A throw that bounces once on the ground before it reaches your partner.

What the National Curriculum says

The programme of study for Key Stage 1 says:

Pupils should be taught to master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities
Pupils should develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others.

Objectives from the National Curriculum in England, © Crown copyright, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Try it: a partner catching challenge

How can two people practise throwing and catching so the skill gets steadily harder but stays achievable?

Choose a clear area away from windows and breakable things, and use a soft ball, a rolled-up pair of socks or a beanbag. Stand two big steps apart facing each other.
Start by rolling the ball to each other along the ground. The catcher bends down, watches the ball and picks it up with both hands. Do five each.
Move on to an underarm throw. The thrower looks at the partner’s hands, steps forward with the opposite foot and swings the arm through. The catcher holds their hands out early in a basket shape, reaches and brings the ball in softly.
Count how many catches you make in a row without dropping the ball. Each time you reach five in a row, take one step back.
Try a bounce pass for a change, then let the thrower aim at a hoop or a bucket held by their partner.
Talk about what helped. Was it looking at the ball, standing still, or throwing more gently? Choose one thing to try next time.

A good catch at this age means watching the ball, getting both hands in position and bringing the ball in to the body. A good throw is aimed at the partner’s hands with a smooth swing and a step forward. If your child catches four in five from two steps apart, they are ready to move back or try a smaller ball. If they catch two in five, move closer again and use a larger or softer ball.

Common mistakes and how to help

Turning the head away or closing the eyes as the ball arrives

It is a natural protective reflex, and a child who has been hit by a ball once may be nervous of the next one.

What helps: Use very soft items such as scrunched-up socks or a light foam ball. Practise catching a bounced ball from close up before anything is thrown through the air.

Throwing as hard as possible to be accurate

Children assume harder means better, so they use the whole arm without aiming, and the ball sails past the partner.

What helps: Ask for “gentle to your friend’s hands” and practise throwing into a bucket from a short distance. Let your child move further away only after several successes.

Catching with stiff, straight arms and clapping at the ball

Young children try to stop the ball with their arms instead of receiving it. Without any “give”, the ball bounces off.

What helps: Show how a catcher’s hands follow the ball in and pull it gently towards their tummy. Pretend you are catching an egg and need to be careful.

Standing still and using only the arm to throw

The skill looks like an arm movement, so children forget to use their feet and body, and the throw is weak and inaccurate.

What helps: Say “step and throw”. Place a mark on the floor for the stepping foot, and let the child feel how the throw gets smoother when the whole body is involved.

How to help at home

Bucket and beanbag target. Set a bucket or a washing basket a few steps away and score points for each beanbag or rolled sock that lands inside. Move the bucket back when your child gets most of them in.
Catch the bounce. Bounce a large soft ball on the floor for your child to catch, then swap. Count how many catches in a row you can make together and try to beat the number next time.
Wall throw and catch. On a safe wall with no windows, your child throws a soft ball underarm against it and catches it on the rebound. Draw a chalk target to aim at and keep the distance short.
Both hands, both sides. Ask your child to try with the less-used hand too, and to catch with both hands together. Fewer successes at first is normal, and it builds co-ordination on both sides of the body.