Key Stage 2 PE · Athletic skills

KS2 throwing and catching skills: a guide for parents

Throwing and catching are two of the core skills children are taught to use in Years 3 to 6, both on their own and in combination with other movements. They underpin almost every team game, from netball and rounders to basketball and cricket. Children learn to throw for distance and for accuracy, to catch a ball coming from different directions, and to link the two with running, turning and passing in short sequences of movement.

Throwing and catching, explained

By Year 3, most children can throw and catch a ball in a simple way. The aim over Key Stage 2 is to make those skills more accurate, more controlled and more flexible. Teachers usually break a throw into a few steps. For an overarm throw, the child stands side-on to the target, holds the ball up and back with the elbow high, steps forward with the foot opposite to the throwing hand, turns the body to face the target and follows through with the arm towards where the ball is meant to go. For an underarm throw, the arm swings back and then low and forward, letting go of the ball at about waist height as the hand comes up towards the target. Letting go too early sends the ball into the ground, and too late sends it high.

Catching is taught as a set of habits as much as a movement. Children learn to watch the ball all the way into the hands, to get their body in line with it, to hold the hands out ready with the fingers spread, and to “give” a little as the ball arrives by drawing the hands back towards the body. They are taught to adjust the shape of the hands: for a ball coming in above the waist, the fingers point up and the thumbs are close together; for a ball coming in low, the fingers point down and the little fingers are together. Children practise with soft, light objects first, such as foam balls or bean bags, before moving on to harder or smaller ones.

Different throws have different purposes. A chest pass or bounce pass is for accuracy over a short distance, for example between two team-mates. An overarm throw is for power over longer distances, such as a fielder returning a ball. A push throw, often done with a bean bag or a soft ball held at the shoulder, gives children the feel of the shot put. Schools choose which of these they teach, and many use different equipment, from tennis balls and quoits to rolled-up socks. Children also learn that the best throw depends on the situation: sometimes you throw fast and flat, and sometimes you throw gently so a partner can catch comfortably.

The curriculum asks for these skills to be used in isolation and in combination. That is why lessons move from throwing at a target, to throwing to a partner, to throwing and catching while one or both are moving, and then to small games where the throw is only part of what is needed. Children also learn to link actions into short sequences, for example catching a ball, turning, taking a step and passing it on. Throughout, children are asked to watch one another and say what makes a throw or catch successful, which builds their understanding of how to improve.

Words your child will hear

Overarm throw: A throw where the arm swings up and over the shoulder, used for distance.
Underarm throw: A throw where the arm swings low and forward, used for gentle, accurate passes.
Chest pass: A two-handed pass from the chest, with the elbows out and a push of the hands as the ball leaves.
Follow through: Letting the arm carry on in the direction of the throw after the ball has been released.
Accuracy: How close a throw gets to the target or the partner’s hands.
Give: Drawing the hands back as the ball arrives so that it stays in the hands.
Target: The spot, hoop or person a throw is aimed at.

What the National Curriculum says

The programme of study for Key Stage 2 says:

Pupils should be taught to use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination
Pupils should continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to link them to make actions and sequences of movement.

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

Try it: improving an overarm throw to a partner

A child throws a tennis ball to a partner 8 metres away, but it often lands short and to the left. What should they change?

Look at the stance. The child is facing the partner with their feet side by side, so the throw is all arm. Turn the body so the non-throwing shoulder points at the partner, with the feet apart.
Prepare the arm. Hold the ball up and back with the elbow at about shoulder height. The other arm points towards the target, which helps balance and aim.
Step and turn. Step forward with the foot opposite to the throwing hand and let the hips and shoulders turn to face the partner. The power comes from the whole body.
Release and follow through. Let go of the ball as the arm comes forward and over the shoulder, then let the throwing hand carry on towards the target before it finishes down across the body. A throw where the arm stops dead at the moment of release tends to land short.
Check the aim. A ball that keeps drifting to one side often means the front foot is stepping across the body instead of straight at the partner, or the ball is being let go too late. Check that the front foot points at the partner and that the hand is pointing at the partner’s chest as the ball leaves it.
Try again and count. Throw ten times and count how many reach the partner’s hands without them moving. Repeat and see if the number rises.

Turn side-on, step straight towards the partner with the opposite foot, release with a high elbow and follow through towards the target. The step and body turn add distance, and a straight step with the hand pointing at the partner on release fixes the drift to the side. The child can say, “When I stepped and followed through at my partner, more throws reached them without them having to move.”

Common mistakes and how to help

Throwing with only the arm while standing square to the target

Facing the target feels natural, and children who haven’t been shown otherwise tend to use only the arm, which gives a weak, inaccurate throw.

What helps: Practise the side-on stance without a ball first. Place a hoop or a cone for the front foot to step towards, which gives a clear signal to the body.

Catching against the chest or with stiff hands

Children are afraid of the ball and pull it in with their arms, or hold their hands stiff so that the ball bounces out.

What helps: Start with a soft ball or a scrunched-up pair of socks. Ask your child to watch it into their hands and bring the hands back slightly as it arrives, like catching an egg.

Looking away just before the ball arrives

Children flinch at the last moment, or look at where they plan to throw next instead of at the ball.

What helps: Say “eyes on the ball” and try a slow, high toss to give plenty of time. Making a catch easier to begin with builds confidence, and speed can come later.

Aiming the ball at a moving partner rather than ahead of them

The ball takes time to travel, so by the time it arrives a running partner has moved on, and children do not think about that gap.

What helps: Practise by walking, then jogging, while a partner throws a gentle ball to the space in front. Ask the thrower to aim at where the partner will be, not where they are now.

How to help at home

Target practice. Set up a bucket, a laundry basket or a hoop in the garden and take turns throwing bean bags or rolled-up socks into it. Move it further away as your child improves, and count how many go in out of ten.
Soft-ball catch. Use a light, soft ball or a balloon, and throw it at a gentle speed. Count how many catches you can make in a row. Add a rule such as clapping once, or catching with one hand, to make it harder.
Catch while moving. Take turns walking slowly across the garden while the other person throws a soft ball into the space ahead. This practises throwing to where a partner will be, and catching on the move.
Throw, turn, pass. Ask your child to catch, take a step, turn and throw to a new target, such as a family member standing to one side. It is a simple sequence that links two skills and is the basis of passing in team games.
Check your surroundings. Play away from windows, cars and pets, and use soft objects where you can. Keep to open spaces such as a garden or park, with enough room for the ball to travel safely.