Lesson 2 - Underarm Throwing with Accuracy
Foundation Hand-Ball Skills Through Playful Precision
•Year 1
•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 hands to throw a beanbag accurately to help our team succeed?
Learning Objectives
- Develop underarm throwing technique with beanbags
- Apply throwing skills accurately in team game situations
- Understand the importance of accuracy when throwing to a target
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate underarm throwing with increasing control
- Students will successfully throw beanbags to targets and team members
- Students will understand why accuracy is important in team games
Equipment & Resources Required
Store centrally for easy collection and redistribution
Alternative: Small soft balls, tennis balls, or sock balls
Place around perimeter of activity area
Alternative: Chalk circles, rope circles, or hula hoops
Bright colours for clear visibility
Alternative: Plastic bottles, markers, or bean bags as markers
Key Vocabulary
Throwing technique where the ball is released from below shoulder height in an upward motion
The specific area or person you are aiming to throw the beanbag towards
Being able to throw the beanbag exactly where you want it to go
The hand you prefer to use for throwing and writing
Moving one foot towards your target as you throw
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic familiarity with holding and releasing objects
- Understanding of simple game rules and taking turns
- Recognition of dominant hand preference
Current Skills
- Underarm throwing technique development
- Target accuracy and aiming skills
- Team cooperation and communication
Next Steps
- Overarm throwing techniques
- Catching skills with moving targets
- Advanced team game strategies
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Underarm throwing technique: sideways stance, pendulum arm motion, step forward with opposite foot, low-to-high release
- Accuracy development: look at target, control force, practice consistent technique, understand consequences of poor throws
- Team cooperation: encourage teammates, take turns fairly, celebrate others' success, work together toward common goals
- Safety awareness: appropriate force levels, controlled movements, awareness of others during equipment collection
- Progressive skill building: individual practice before team games, technique before competition, understanding before application
Common Misconceptions
- Throwing harder will automatically make throws more accurate - emphasise control and technique over force
- Overarm throwing is always better than underarm - explain when underarm is more appropriate and accurate
- Competition is only about winning - focus on skill development and teamwork as primary goals
- Missing targets means failure - reframe as learning opportunities and celebrate improvement attempts
- Only dominant hand should be used for throwing - encourage experimentation with both hands for motor development
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity segments with clear transitions, movement breaks between skills practice, clear visual boundaries for activity areas
dyspraxia
- Larger beanbags for easier handling, extra practice time for technique, simplified movement patterns, peer buddy support
autism spectrum
- Clear visual schedule of lesson activities, consistent routines and expectations, quiet reflection time available, predictable team groupings
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured beanbags and cones, provide verbal descriptions of layout and targets, assign sighted buddy for guidance and support
hearing impairment
- Use clear visual demonstrations, hand signals for game start/stop, written instruction cards, ensure face-to-face communication
physical disability
- Seated throwing version from wheelchair or chair, adapted distances and targets, larger beanbags for easier grip, modified game rules
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Following multi-step instructions, using descriptive language to explain throwing technique, communication in team settings
Maths
Counting beanbags in team scores, measuring distances from cone to hoop, understanding concepts of accuracy and estimation
Science
Forces in throwing - push and pull, trajectory and gravity effects on beanbag flight, cause and effect relationships
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, handling competition positively, resilience when facing challenges, encouraging others
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around perimeter of activity area for optimal visibility of all teams, position near central beanbag collection during Golden Egg Cup for safety monitoring
Observation Focus
Watch for consistent underarm throwing technique, appropriate force levels, team cooperation, and safety awareness during equipment collection
Intervention Points
Step in if students revert to overarm throwing, if competitive pressure causes unsafe play, or if team dynamics become negative
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated underarm motions for visibility, demonstrate both correct and incorrect technique for comparison, model positive team communication and encouragement throughout
Verbal Cues
- •'Remember your magic 4 steps!' when technique falters
- •'Gentle underarm throws!' if force levels too high
- •'Aim for the target!' to refocus on accuracy
- •'Encourage your teammates!' to promote positive team dynamics
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 15m x 20m indoor hall or outdoor playground area, clear of obstacles
Surface Check
Dry, non-slip surface free from hazards, adequate grip for running and throwing
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check all beanbags are in good condition with no tears or loose filling
- •Ensure cones are stable and have no sharp edges or cracks
- •Verify hoops are intact and positioned securely
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during central beanbag collection in Golden Egg Cup
- •Slips and falls during excitement of competitive games
- •Impact injuries from beanbags thrown with excessive force
- •Trips over equipment during game transitions
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries established around all activity areas
- •Controlled entry to central collection area with turn-taking system
- •Emphasis on underarm throwing technique to control force levels
- •Adequate spacing between team areas to prevent interference
- •Progressive skill building from individual to team activities
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all team areas during games
- •Monitor central collection area closely during Golden Egg Cup
- •Watch for appropriate force levels in all throwing activities
- •Ensure equipment is properly stored during transitions
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid if needed, ensure other students are safely positioned away from incident