Lesson 3 - Overarm Throwing
Foundation Hand-Ball Skills Through Playful Exploration
•Reception
•Ball Skills
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
How can we use our whole body to throw further and more accurately?
Learning Objectives
- To explore and develop overarm throwing technique using beanbags
- To understand how body movement affects throwing distance and accuracy
- To apply throwing skills in competitive activities with fairness and encouragement
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate improved overarm throwing technique
- Students will explain how body positioning affects throwing performance
- Students will participate in throwing competitions with good sportsmanship
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed in equipment bags around activity area
Alternative: Small stuffed animals, tennis balls in socks
Set at 3-metre intervals for distance marking
Alternative: Hoops, chalk lines, rope
With dry-wipe pens for scorekeeping
Alternative: Paper and clipboards, digital scoring app
For setting up accurate 3-metre intervals
Alternative: Pre-measured rope, chalk marks
Key Vocabulary
Throwing with your arm going over your shoulder, like bowling in cricket
Being able to make the beanbag go where you want it to go
Looking at where you want the beanbag to land and trying to throw it there
How close your throw gets to where you wanted it to go
How far your throw travels from where you are standing
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Students can throw underarm with basic control
- Students understand basic spatial awareness and safety in PE
- Students can follow simple instructions and take turns
Current Skills
- Developing overarm throwing technique
- Understanding body positioning for power and accuracy
- Applying skills in structured competitive activities
Next Steps
- Combining overarm throwing with catching skills
- Throwing at specific targets for accuracy
- Using throwing skills in simple team games
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Overarm throwing uses 'up and over' arm action, completely different from underarm
- Stepping forward with opposite foot adds power and balance to the throw
- Body rotation from side-on to facing forward increases throwing distance
- Technique and control are more important than throwing as hard as possible
- Encouragement and good sportsmanship make activities enjoyable for everyone
- Following through with arm action completes the throwing movement
- Looking at target and aiming helps improve accuracy over time
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking overarm throwing is just 'throwing harder' - emphasise technique over force
- Using side-arm action instead of over-shoulder - demonstrate clear 'up and over' pathway
- Stepping with same foot as throwing arm - practice opposite foot stepping separately
- Believing only the strongest students can throw far - show how technique beats strength
- Thinking competition is only about winning - emphasise improvement and effort
- Assuming good throwers are just 'naturally talented' - highlight learned techniques
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Frequent movement breaks, clear boundaries marked visually, regular positive feedback and refocusing
dyspraxia
- Larger target areas, simplified movement patterns, extra practice time with adult support
autism spectrum
- Clear visual schedule of activities, quiet space available for breaks, consistent routines and signals
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured beanbags, verbal descriptions of distances, tactile markers for throwing line
hearing impairment
- Clear visual demonstrations, hand signals for 'throw' and 'stop', written instructions on display
physical disability
- Seated throwing option, modified distances, adapted equipment like larger beanbags
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting points in competition, measuring distances with markers, comparing 'further' and 'nearest'
Science
Understanding forces and motion, exploring how body position affects throwing power
Geography
Directional language (forward, backward, left, right), spatial awareness and positioning
PSHE
Taking turns, encouraging others, dealing with winning and losing, building confidence
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Stand at side angle to observe all throwing lanes while remaining out of throwing path
Observation Focus
Watch for technique development, safety compliance, and individual progress
Intervention Points
Step in for unsafe behaviour, provide technique corrections, support struggling students
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated movements for clarity, demonstrate slowly then at normal speed, involve students in demonstrations
Verbal Cues
- •'Up and over your shoulder!'
- •'Step with your opposite foot!'
- •'Twist your body as you throw!'
- •'Follow through with your arm!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 15m x 20m clear space for throwing activities
Surface Check
Non-slip surface free from hazards, suitable for running and throwing
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check beanbags are intact with no loose filling
- •Ensure marker cones have no sharp edges or cracks
- •Verify whiteboards and pens are safe for student use
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between students during throwing
- •Slips and falls when retrieving beanbags
- •Beanbag strikes to head or body
Risk Mitigation
- •All throwing in same direction with clear lanes
- •Organised collection system preventing running into throwing area
- •Adequate spacing between participants (minimum 2m)
- •Clear 'stop' and 'go' signals for throwing and collecting
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for clear view of all throwing lanes
- •Monitor collection area for safe retrieval
- •Watch for students following safety instructions
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess injury, provide appropriate first aid, contact support if needed