- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
- The throwing line
- A wall or fence target (a hoop or a chalk box)
- The home spot
- First base (a cone or flat shoe)
Open ground; tennis balls.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Ready, watching the thrower.
- Ball to your side: cross one foot over the other and run (the crossover step).
- Ball behind you: step back with one foot, turn and run back at an angle, looking over your shoulder (the drop step).
- Call "Mine!", get under it and catch with two hands above your head.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- You throw high: left, right, in front or behind.
- The fielder tracks the ball and sprints to it.
- Crossover step to the side, drop step to go back.
- Call "Mine!" and catch with two hands.
How much: 10 throws in each of four directions
Turn and run
Calling catches
The rules
Fielders call "Mine!" and catch high balls; every catch needs a call.
- The thrower throws high balls in any direction
- A fielder calls "Mine!" loudly before catching
- 10 throws, then the player with the most catches becomes the thrower
Fair play: A grown-up fielder starts 3 m farther away.
- Points
- 1 point for each two-handed catch made after calling "Mine!".
- Fouls
- No point: no call before the catch; a one-handed catch; two fielders going for the same ball (no point for either)
- Win
- The most catches after 10 throws.
- 4
- 6
- 8
5 of 8 balls caught in the four directions.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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