Lesson 5 - Overarm Throwing Skills
Building Confidence in Motion
•Year 2
•Athletics
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How can we use our whole body to throw further and keep everyone safe while doing it?
Learning Objectives
- Develop overarm throwing technique with correct body positioning
- Demonstrate safe throwing practices and spatial awareness
- Apply jumping and coordination skills through athletic circuits
Key Outcomes
- Students will throw overarm with improved technique and distance
- Students will demonstrate understanding of throwing safety rules
- Students will perform a variety of jumping activities with control and coordination
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed to group leaders, safety checked for damage
Alternative: Tennis balls, bean bags for indoor practice
One per group of 4 children
Alternative: Foam tubes, wooden sticks, bean bags
Various colours for different stations and safety zones
Alternative: Playground markings, rope boundaries
For hopscotch activity, different colours if possible
Alternative: Small balls, markers
Various heights from 10-30cm, easily moved
Alternative: Rope, chalk lines, tape on ground
Cane must fall easily when touched, height adjustable
Alternative: Rope between cones, swimming noodle
Flat on ground, secured at corners
Alternative: Chalk squares, rope ladders, marked lines
Key Vocabulary
Throwing technique where the implement is released from above shoulder height
Continuing the throwing motion after releasing the implement
Body positioned with side facing the target direction
The area behind the thrower where others must wait
High jump technique with legs moving in opposite directions over the bar
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic underarm throwing skills
- Simple two-footed jumping
- Understanding of personal space
Current Skills
- Overarm throwing technique with body rotation
- Throwing safety awareness and implementation
- Multi-directional jumping and coordination
Next Steps
- Javelin throwing with run-up approach
- Target throwing for accuracy
- Combined athletics events and competitions
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Establish and maintain strict safety protocols throughout all throwing activities
- Focus on technique development before distance achievement in overarm throwing
- Encourage use of technical vocabulary during peer assessment and feedback
- Ensure progression from supported practice to independent application
- Create positive learning environment where effort and improvement are celebrated
- Maintain active supervision with clear sight lines across all athletics activities
- Connect throwing technique to real athletics and sporting applications
Common Misconceptions
- Students thinking throwing harder automatically means throwing further - emphasise technique over force
- Belief that facing the target is better than sideways stance - demonstrate why sideways position creates more power
- Assumption that peer feedback should focus on what's wrong - model positive, technical vocabulary-based observations
- Misconception that athletics is only about winning - emphasise personal improvement and skill development
- Thinking safety rules slow down learning - explain how safety enables everyone to participate and improve
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments with clear start/stop signals, provide additional movement breaks, use visual cues and reminders for safety rules
dyspraxia
- Focus on one technique element at a time, provide extra practice time, use larger or modified equipment for easier success
autism spectrum
- Provide clear visual schedule of activities, establish quiet rest area if needed, use consistent language and routines throughout lesson
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured implements and equipment, provide clear verbal descriptions of all movements, assign sighted partner for guidance during activities
hearing impairment
- Use visual signals for rotations and safety, provide written instruction cards at each station, ensure face-to-face communication for instructions
physical disability
- Modify throwing distance and implement weight, provide seated throwing variations, adapt jumping activities to stepping or reaching movements
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Technical vocabulary development, articulating observations clearly, listening skills during peer feedback
Maths
Measuring throwing distances, counting sequence in hopscotch, timing rotations in circuits, angles in high jump approach
Science
Forces in throwing actions, physics of projectile motion, body mechanics and lever systems, energy transfer in jumping
Geography
Directional awareness in throwing, spatial positioning in athletics field, mapping of circuit station layouts
PSHE
Peer assessment and constructive feedback, building confidence through achievement, resilience in challenging activities
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Position near throwing area during technique teaching with clear view of all groups, circulate between circuit stations maintaining overall safety awareness
Observation Focus
Watch for correct throwing technique development, safe equipment handling, peer feedback quality, and engagement across varied athletics activities
Intervention Points
Step in immediately for any safety breaches, provide individual technique coaching where needed, facilitate peer assessment conversations with technical vocabulary modelling
Demonstration Notes
Demonstrate throwing technique with exaggerated movements for clarity, show each athletics station activity before rotation, model peer feedback using technical vocabulary
Verbal Cues
- •'Safety line - everyone behind!'
- •'Sideways stance, shoulder pointing forward!'
- •'Smooth follow-through after release!'
- •'Use athletics words in your feedback!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 20m outdoor space with additional throwing area, clear of obstacles and adequate run-off zones
Surface Check
Dry, even surface free from holes, debris, or slippery areas, suitable for running and jumping activities
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Foam javelins checked for cracks or damage before use
- •Jumping bars and hurdles positioned to fall easily when contacted
- •High jump canes balanced loosely on cones for easy displacement
- •All cones checked for cracks or sharp edges
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Implement striking other students during throwing
- •Falls during jumping and hurdle activities
- •Collisions during relay running
- •Trips over equipment or in collection areas
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear safety zones established and enforced behind all throwing areas
- •One implement per group with controlled rotation system
- •Adequate spacing between athletics circuit stations
- •Clear pathways marked for equipment collection and movement between activities
- •Progressive skill building with technique before distance focus
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Constant visual supervision of throwing area with strict safety line enforcement
- •Regular circulation between athletics circuit stations
- •Position for clear sight lines across all activity areas
- •Monitor high-energy activities like hurdles and high jump closely
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately on safety signal, assess any injuries with appropriate first aid response, clear communication with emergency services if required