Dr. Wyant (2013). Sport Pedagogy.

SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATIONS
Motor differences in higher & lower skilled students
School Site: Cleveland Elementary

Date: 10/27/14

Activity Observed: underhand throwing, softball pitch, catching

Grade/Age Level: 4th

DIRECTIONS: You will observe many children performing many different kinds of skills. Select 8 (or as
many as you can) different tasks and describe how the high skilled students and the low skilled students are
performing.

Task
1
High knees

2
lunges

3
Quick feet

4
Toe touches

5
Leg kick outs

6
catching

7
Underhand tossing

Higher Skilled

Lower Skilled

Students were able to exhibit a

great range of motion to get their
knees up to or past their core
Students were able to execute the
skill and get a good stretch in
without their knees touching the
ground
Students were able to quickly pick
up and land their feet in a fluid
manner

Students experienced difficulties

getting their knees up past 90
degrees
Students struggled to get into a
good lunging position and did not
drop their back knee towards the
ground
Students motor skills did not
allow high enough agility to
quickly lift and land their feet to
fluidly repeat the motion
Students experienced trouble

Students were able to keep a

straight leg and touch their toes
with ease
Students were able to coordinate a
backwards step with a outward
kick out to stretch their groin
muscles
Students had high success rates of
catching due to good throws or
great catching techniques
Students have great depth
perception and great ability to
estimate the strength needed to
cover the distance between them
and their partner
Students were able to coordinate

Teacher Christopher Ngo

Observer Christopher Ngo

Students had trouble with motor

coordination and muscle control of
the skill. Their full range of
motion was not exhausted
Students had hand-eye
coordination troubles when
catching the ball. Timing of
catches were often off.
Students often underestimated or
overestimated their underhand
tosses since their throws were
frequently off-target
Students experienced difficulties

Time spent @ site 31:12

/

10-27-14
(Date)

Dr. Wyant (2013). Sport Pedagogy.

Softball pitch

the correct motions for the cues of

the skill to execute a pitch

Teacher Christopher Ngo

Observer Christopher Ngo

with putting together each cue of

the skill. The winding motion of
the pitch threw many students off

Time spent @ site 31:12

/

10-27-14
(Date)