Fundamental Movement Skills

Jumping

What is...Jumping: The action of pushing off with both feet and landing with both feet.

Does it look right?• Preparetojumpbybendingthekneesandpushingthearms forcefullybehind.• Stretchbotharmsforcefullyforwardandupwardreachingall thewayabovetheheadtocreatemomentum.• Takeoffandlandonbothfeetsimultaneously.• Thrustthearmsdownwardduringlanding.

Running

What is...Running:Isarapidmovementthatinvolvestransferringweightfromonefoottotheotherwithabrieflossofcontactwiththegroundbyboth feet.

Does it look right?• Thereshouldbeabriefperiodwherebothfeetareofftheground.• Ensurethereisanarrowfootplacementlandingontheheelor toeratherthanflat-footed.•Thenon-supportlegshouldbebenttoapproximately90degrees.

Galloping

What is...Galloping:Isasteppingoffonefootthenslidingwiththeotherfootinaforwarddirection.Weightistransferredfromthefrontfoottothebackfootwithasmalllift,beforethefrontfoottakesthenextstep.Thesteppingfootisalwaysthefrontfoot.

Does it look right?• Armsbentandliftedtowaistlevelattakeoff.• Stepforwardwiththeleadfootfollowedbyastepwiththe trailingfoottoapositionnexttoorbehindtheleadfoot.• Thereneedstobeabriefperiodwherebothfeetareoffthefloor.• Ensurethechildmaintainsarhythmicpatternforatleastfour consecutivegallops.

Hopping

What is...Hopping:Involvesstandingononefootandliftingoffthegroundbyleaningslightlyonthehoppingfootsideandmovingthebentarmsoutandinforbalance.

Does it look right?• Startingwithbalancingononelegandbendingthenon-supportleg.• Swingthenon-supportlegforwardlikeapendulumtoproduceswing.• Keepthenon-supportfootbehindthebody.• Keepthearmsbentandswingthemtoproducetheforwardmomentum.• Trytotakeoffandlandfourconsecutivetimesonthenon-preferredfoot.

Leaping

What is...Leaping:Isagracefullongstepsothebodyliftsoffthegroundtocoveradistanceorgooveralowobstacle.Ashortrunbeforealeapaids themomentumoftheleap.

Does it look right?• Takeoffononefootandlandontheoppositeone.• Thereshouldbeabriefperiodwherebothfeetareofftheground.• Thearmoppositetheleadfootshouldreachforwardduringtheleap.

Side-sliding

What is...Side-sliding:Islikeagallopbuttothesideandwithminimalbounce.

Does it look right?• Turnyourbodysidewayssotheshouldersarealignedwiththe lineonthefloor.• Stepsidewayswiththeleadfootandthenslidethetrailingfoot toapointnexttotheleadfoot.• Tryanddofourormorecontinuousstep-slidecyclestotheright then to the left.

Catching

What is...Catching:Isareceptivemanipulativeskillthatinvolvesthereceiptofanobject.Itisoneofthemoredifficultfundamentalskills.

Does it look right?• Preparetocatchbyholdingbothhandsinfrontofthebodyand elbowssoftlybent.• Stretchthearmsinfronttoreachfortheballasitarrives• Catchtheballinthehandsonly,nottheforearms.

Underarm-rolling

What is...Underarm-rolling:Isamanipulativeskillthatinvolvesapplyingapushingforcetoanobjecttopropelitalongtheground.

Does it look right?• Swingtherollinghandbackanddownreachingbehindthetrunk whilethechestandheadfacesforward.• Stepforwardwithoppositefoottotherollinghand.• Bendthekneestolowerthebody.• Releasetheballclosetothefloorsoitdoesnotbouncemore than10cm.

Stationary dribbling

What is...Stationary dribbling:Isamanipulativeskillthatinvolvesapplyingapushingforcetoanobjectandimmediatelyreceivingitagain.

Does it look right?• Holdtheballwithonehandataboutbeltlevel.• Pushtheballdowntothegroundwiththefingertips(donotslap the ball).• Makesuretheballhitsthefloorinfrontoforoutsidethepreferredfoot.• Pushtheballdownagainwhenitbouncestoaboutbeltlevel.• Trytodofourormorebounceswithouthavingtomovethefeetto retrievetheball.

Striking a stationary ball

What is...Striking a stationary ball:Isamanipulativeskillthatinvolvesapplyingapushingforcewithabattopropelanobjectintotheair.ThisisthemostdifficultFundamentalMovementSkilltoachieve.

Does it look right?• Thedominanthandgripsthebatabovethenon-dominanthand.• Thenon-preferredsideofthebodyfacestheimaginarybowler withthefeetparallel.• Thehipsandshouldersrotateduringtheswingofthebat.• Transferthebodyweighttothefrontfoot.• Swingthebatandhittheball.

Kicking

What is...Kicking:Isamanipulativeskillthatinvolvesapplyingapushingforcetoanobjecttopropelit.

Does it look right?• Movequicklytowardstheball.• Takealongsteporleapjustbeforeballcontact.• Makesurethenon-kickingfootisplacedevenwithorslightly behind the ball.• Kicktheballwiththeshoelaceareaofthefootorthetoe.

Overarm throwing

What is...Overarm throwing:Isamanipulativeskillthatrequiresapplyingapushingforcetoanobjecttopropelit.

Does it look right?• Windupisinitiatedwithadownwardmovementofthethrowing hand/arm.• Thechildthenrotatestheirhipsandshoulderstoapointwherethe non-throwingsidefacesthetarget.• Thechild’sweightisthentransferredbysteppingontothefootthat isoppositethethrowinghand.• Thethrowinghandandarmthenfollowthroughbeyondballreleasein adiagonalmovementacrossthebodytowardthenon-throwingside.