Lesson 6 - Overarm Bowling Technique
Cricket Skills & Team Play
•Year 4
•Cricket
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How can I use proper bowling technique to accurately hit targets and work as an effective team member?
Learning Objectives
- To develop accurate overarm bowling technique using the 'number 6' method
- To understand team roles in cricket and play fairly in fielding and batting teams
- To apply bowling skills in competitive game situations with score keeping
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate improved overarm bowling accuracy by hitting targets consistently
- Students will work effectively in teams, understanding roles of bowler, wicket keeper, and fielders
- Students will keep accurate scores and play with honesty and integrity
Equipment & Resources Required
Used for target areas, boundaries, and running markers
Alternative: Markers, bean bags, or other boundary markers
Check for damage, appropriate size for Year 4 students
Alternative: Rounders bats, paddle bats, or tennis rackets
Ensure stable setup on various surfaces
Alternative: Cone wickets, skittles, or cardboard targets
Different colours for team identification during activities
Alternative: Coloured bibs, wristbands, or fabric strips
Check balls are not too hard and appropriate for indoor/outdoor use
Alternative: Soft cricket balls, foam balls, or windball cricket balls
Key Vocabulary
Cricket bowling technique where the arm goes over the shoulder in a high arc
The three wooden posts that the bowler aims to hit
The fielder who stands behind the wickets to catch the ball
Drawing the shape of number 6 with bowling arm for correct overarm action
When the ball hits the ground once before reaching the target
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic underarm bowling technique
- Understanding of aiming and target practice
- Basic knowledge of team games and turn-taking
Current Skills
- Overarm bowling technique using 'number 6' method
- Accurate bowling to make ball bounce once before target
- Team play in cricket-style activities with role understanding
Next Steps
- Bowling in competitive matches with varying conditions
- Advanced cricket techniques including spin and pace
- Strategic field placement and game tactics
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Focus on technique quality over bowling speed - accuracy comes from good form
- Use the number 6 visual aid consistently to help students remember arm action
- Emphasise stepping with opposite foot for balance and power generation
- Make ball bounce once before target for realistic cricket bowling practice
- Encourage honest scorekeeping and celebrate good sportsmanship
- Provide regular feedback on grip, stance, and arm action throughout activities
- Connect bowling skills to real cricket context and professional examples
Common Misconceptions
- Students think bowling harder always means more accurate - emphasise control over power
- Belief that overarm bowling is just throwing - highlight specific technique differences
- Assumption that stepping with same foot as bowling arm provides more power
- Thinking that grip doesn't matter much - demonstrate how proper grip affects accuracy
- Misconception that hitting wickets is pure luck - show how technique creates consistency
- Belief that bowling is individual skill only - emphasise team aspects of cricket
- Thinking ball should be thrown directly at wickets without bouncing
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity segments with regular changes, clear and simple instructions, movement breaks integrated, positive reinforcement for focus
dyspraxia
- Larger equipment for easier handling, reduced complexity in technique, extra practice time, step-by-step breakdown of skills
autism spectrum
- Clear routine structure with visual schedule, quiet zones available for overwhelm, consistent language and instructions, predictable activity order
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured balls and equipment, provide verbal descriptions of all actions, pair with sighted buddy for guidance and support
hearing impairment
- Use clear visual demonstrations, written instructions on cards, hand signals for communication, ensure students can see teacher clearly
physical disability
- Seated bowling option using ramp or modified action, shorter distances to targets, lightweight equipment, alternative scoring methods
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting scores accurately, calculating team totals, measuring distances between cones and bowling lengths, understanding number concepts through scoring systems
Science
Forces and motion in bowling action, trajectory and bounce of balls, gravity and momentum in ball movement, understanding lever actions in bowling arm
Geography
Direction and positioning in field placement, spatial awareness and map-like thinking for game strategy, understanding angles in bowling delivery
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, honest behaviour and integrity in scorekeeping, resilience when facing challenges, celebrating others' success
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move between groups to observe technique, position for clear view of all bowling and running areas
Observation Focus
Watch for correct bowling technique, safe movement patterns, and positive team interactions
Intervention Points
Step in when technique is unsafe, when students are struggling with coordination, or when fair play issues arise
Demonstration Notes
Demonstrate overarm action slowly and clearly, emphasise each component separately before combining, show both correct and common incorrect techniques for comparison
Verbal Cues
- •'Remember your number 6!'
- •'Step with the opposite foot!'
- •'Count your scores out loud!'
- •'Bounce once before the wickets!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 20m, clear of obstacles, suitable for multiple bowling and running areas
Surface Check
Even surface free from holes or debris, adequate grip for running and bowling actions
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check cricket bats for cracks or loose handles
- •Ensure tennis balls are not too hard and appropriate for age group
- •Verify wickets are stable and won't tip easily
- •Check cones have no sharp edges or cracks
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collision between students in running and bowling areas
- •Cricket balls striking students in head or body
- •Trips and falls during running activities
- •Overextension injuries from bowling action
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear separation between bowling and running areas
- •Adequate spacing between different groups
- •Progressive skill building from technique to game application
- •Emphasis on controlled movements and spatial awareness
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all activity areas
- •Monitor bowling technique to prevent overextension
- •Watch for safe running patterns and collision avoidance
- •Ensure equipment handling follows safety guidelines
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess injury severity, provide appropriate first aid, contact school medical support if required