UNIT: Softball

SKILL: Overhand Throw

EQUIPMENT: Different size balls, Mats, Blowing Pins, Scarves, Scooters
GLCEs: M.MC.06.01, M.MS.07.04, M.MS.07.05, M.TG.07.01, K.MS.07.05, K.MC.07.15,
ACTION: Students will learn the overhand throw
CONDITION: Students will throw the ball from a designated points around
the gym to a target.
CRITERION: Students will use proper form while throwing and hit the target
2/5 times with accuracy
ITIP FORMAT:
1. Anticipatory Set
What is the purpose of the overhand throw in softball or baseball? ---- Start the game, Passing
to Teammates
How do I avoid injury during the overhand throw? ---- By using proper form
What is the purpose of a good follow through in the overhand throw? ---- To avoid injury, pass
ball to target, aim

2. Objectives
Learning the overhand throw will allow students to advance in their physical abilities in a variety
of sports
Students will be able to practice the steps of the overhand throw in order to perfect it and obtain
the muscle memory involved for the proper form of the throw so they will be able to perform the
skill without thinking through each step individually. It will become natural
The overhand throw should become fluid and students will develop the skill so they can hit their
target with more accuracy and from different distances

3. Explain: Model 4-8 key steps

Cues:
a. Stand sideways with feet comfortably shoulder

-- Stance

width apart
b. Extend arms out from the body into a T

-- T

formation with eyes on target

c. Reach dominant hand, holding ball, up behind

-- Itch!

the back of the head, as if to scratch an itch

d. In a fluid motion, bring bent arm forward with

-- Step

the ball while simultaneously stepping in the

same direction with same foot, ultimately
turning the body to face the target
e. When ball reaches eye level, release the ball -- Follow Through
and follow through, with dominant arm, by swinging
it across the body
Again the Cues are:
-

Stance
T
Itch!
Step
Follow Through

4. Questions to check
What is the itch step? --- The step in which the dominant arm is bent behind the head ready to
perform the overhand throw
Which way do you start in your stance? Facing the target or facing adjacent to target? --Adjacent to target
How do we follow through? --- Arm swings across the body
5. Mass Practice/Demo
Students will use scarves to practice the fundamentals of the overhand throw
Students will use soft balls to throw against the wall and practice the overhand throw
(Transition -)

6.

Students will return materials to their proper place and be seated for instruction
Explain Battleship
Independent Practice or Activity
Battleship:
Mats are placed on the floor throughout the gym with 3 pins bordering each mat, and 1 scooter
alongside the mat
2-3 students are on a mat at one time and they may not step two feet off the mat at any given
time during the game or they become sharks in the water (sharks sit in a designated area out of
the game, until the next game begins)
Students throw balls (cannon balls) from their ship to an opposing ship, trying to knock their pins
over

 Once all three pins have been knocked over the ship is sunk
Students may catch flying balls but must bounce them once before throwing them again (defuse
live ammo)
In order to retrieve more ammo students may select one individual to use the life raft (the
scooter), that individual moves about the gym to collect ammo but must do so whilst on the
scooter, if they leave the scooter for any reason, they become a shark
There is no limit to how much ammo they can collect, but they must be able to carry it all; the
student cannot roll ammo back to their team
Pins can be knocked over only if directly hit by a ball in the air, if the ball bounces and hits the
pin, the ship my set the pin up right once again
Students can block a shot with any part of their body as long as both feet do not touch the water;
Students cannot bridge themselves over a pin to protect it, thats cheating
Last ship standing wins the game
7. Closure Reason for playing battleship
1 thing you learned (quick closure)
Steps of the throw