Lesson 4 - Catching on the Move
Strategic Throwing & Fielding
•Year 7
•Danish Longball
•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 you use anticipation and spatial awareness to become a game-changing player?
Learning Objectives
- Develop a sense of anticipation and find space whilst maintaining awareness of others
- Master catching a ball whilst on the move with precision and control
- Apply tactical understanding in Danish Longball game situations
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate improved anticipation skills and spatial awareness
- Students will catch balls effectively whilst moving at speed
- Students will apply catching and movement skills in competitive game situations
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed around court perimeter for easy access
Alternative: Tennis balls, foam balls, or bean bags
Mark court boundaries and target zones clearly
Alternative: Markers, chalk lines, or rope
Ready for quick team identification
Alternative: Coloured bands or t-shirts
Pre-prepared with age-appropriate maths problems
Alternative: Whiteboard with problems, verbal calculations
Positioned for optimal recording angle
Alternative: Smartphone, GoPro, or observation sheets
Key Vocabulary
The ability to predict where the ball or players will move next
Understanding where you are in relation to other players and the boundaries
Successfully receiving the ball whilst running or changing direction
Gentle, cushioning action when catching to absorb the ball's impact
Strategic placement of players to maximise defensive or offensive advantage
The curved path that a ball follows through the air
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic catching and throwing techniques
- Understanding of simple game rules
- Basic spatial awareness concepts
Current Skills
- Catching whilst moving
- Anticipation and reading of play
- Advanced spatial awareness
- Team tactical positioning
Next Steps
- Advanced throwing techniques under pressure
- Complex tactical formations
- Leadership and communication skills
- Game strategy development
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Anticipation comes from reading body language and ball trajectory early
- Catching on the move requires timing, soft hands, and eye contact with ball
- Communication through hand signals prevents opponent interception
- Static fielding changes the entire tactical dynamic of the game
- Positioning and teamwork become crucial when players cannot move with ball
- Self-assessment and reflection deepen learning and skill development
- Progressive skill building from simple to complex game application
Common Misconceptions
- Students think they must catch every ball that comes near them - teach decision making about when to go for catches
- Assumption that calling loudly for the ball is always best - emphasise strategic silence and hand signals
- Belief that moving with the ball makes the game easier - explain how it actually reduces tactical thinking
- Thinking that individual skill is more important than team positioning - highlight tactical awareness
- Misconception that anticipation is just guessing - teach systematic observation of cues and patterns
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity bursts, clear physical boundaries, regular movement breaks, positive reinforcement systems
dyspraxia
- Larger, softer balls initially, simplified movement patterns, extra practice time, step-by-step instruction breakdown
autism spectrum
- Clear routine establishment, visual schedule of activities, quiet zones available, consistent rule application
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured balls, verbal descriptions of court layout, buddy system for guidance, audio signals for direction
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations emphasised, written rule cards available, hand signal communication encouraged, vibrating timer for breaks
physical disability
- Seated catching variations, modified running distances, adapted throwing techniques, peer support systems
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Calculating scores and statistics, angle and trajectory understanding, timing and distance measurements, mental arithmetic in warm-up
Science
Forces and motion in ball flight, momentum and impact in catching, physics of trajectory and gravity effects
Geography
Spatial awareness and mapping, directional movement, understanding of area and perimeter in court layout
PSHE
Leadership skills development, teamwork and cooperation, resilience under pressure, fair play and sportsmanship
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move between groups during skills practice, central position during games for optimal observation of all courts
Observation Focus
Watch for catching technique development, anticipation skills, tactical understanding, and positive communication
Intervention Points
Step in when students struggling with technique, safety concerns arise, or negative behaviour affects learning
Demonstration Notes
Use students to demonstrate good technique, film examples for immediate feedback, model positive communication and leadership
Verbal Cues
- •'Soft hands!'
- •'Watch the ball into your hands!'
- •'Use your signals!'
- •'Great anticipation!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Multiple courts minimum 20m x 30m each, clear of obstacles with 3m safety zones
Surface Check
Dry, even surface free from hazards, appropriate for running and jumping
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Soft balls only to prevent injury during throws
- •Cones placed safely away from running areas
- •Video equipment positioned out of play areas
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between running partners
- •Ball strikes above chest height
- •Slips during direction changes
- •Overcrowding in catching areas
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear court boundaries established and maintained
- •Chest-height throwing rule strictly enforced
- •Progressive skill building before full game application
- •Adequate spacing maintained between courts
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all courts
- •Monitor high-activity areas during games
- •Watch for fatigue affecting safety decisions
Emergency Procedures
Stop all play immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid, notify senior staff if required