ROWAN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND EXERCISE SCIENCE
TEAM SPORT UNIT PLAN
Teacher: Megan Becker
Team Sport: Overhand Throwing
SECTION A. (Overview)
Background Information
Number and duration of classes: 4 classes of 43 minutes
Number of students: 20
Grade level: 5th
Entry Level Assessment of Learner
Age:11-12
General abilities/skill proficiency level: Control Level ( Advanced Beginner)
Previous experience in this type of activity: Some basic experience and knowledge of skills
associated with overhand throwing and catching. Although they will all have different skill levels,
strengths, and abilities, every student should be able to grasp the rules and understand the proper
form of the overhand throw.
Rationale (importance of unit): Many team sports utilize some important skills and concepts that
continue to appear throughout one’s life such as: hand-eye coordination, overhand throwing, and
catching. Overhand throwing helps improve health related fitness skills, especially muscular strength
and endurance. The overhand throws skills can be transferred into other sports as well. When one
masters the overhand throw, they are able to play many different lifelong activities competitively or
recreationally. This lesson is also important because students need to learn the fundamentals to
throwing in order to ensure safety to themselves and others.
Anticipated difficulties and how they will be addressed:
1. Some students may have learning/physical disabilities, therefore a variety of modified
equipment, rules and games will be provided accordingly
2. Softballs can be a safety issue, therefore wiffleballs, tennis balls and squishy balls can be used
3. Students may be at different skill levels than others; therefore a variety of skill level activities and
games will be provided
4. Some equipment may not be included in the budget, therefore old personal equipment can be
brought in or games can be modified were some equipment is not needed (i.e.gloves)
Resources
Assessment Evidence
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Skill Tests
Written Tests
Game Performance Assessment
Teacher Observation
Question and Answer
Student Feedback
Review
Peer Assessment
SECTION B. (Standards, Objectives:)
Day 1: Overhand Throwing
Psychomotor:
1. Students will demonstrate a contra lateral step
while throwing overhand
2. Students will perform mechanically correct hip
rotation while overhand throwing
Cognitive:
1. Students will explain the importance of the follow
through
2. Students will describe why we step with the non
dominate foot while throwing overhand
Affective:
1. Students will demonstrate a cooperative and
positive learning attitude
Day 2: Throwing to Stationary Target
Psychomotor:
1. Students will perform mechanically correct
overhand throws to a stationary target
2. Students will successfully throw 80% of their
overhand throws to a stationary target
Cognitive:
1. Students will describe situations in which one would
use the overhand throw
2. Students will describe how to perform a
mechanically correct overhand throw
Affective:
1. Students will demonstrate good sportsmanship
Day 3: Throwing to Moving Target
Psychomotor:
1. Students will perform mechanically correct
overhand throws to a moving target
2. Students will catch an overhand throw using proper
mechanics
Cognitive:
1. Students will understand the importance of pointing
towards the target when overhand throwing
2. Students will explain why throwing overhand to a
moving target is important
Affective:
1. Students will identify the positive physical benefits
from performing an overhand throw
Day 4: Throwing in different game settings
Psychomotor:
1. Students will overhand throw using proper
fundamentals in a modified game of handball
2. Students will overhand throw using proper
mechanics in a modified game of football
Cognitive:
1. Students will identify different team sports where
the overhand throw is utilized
2. Students will explain the importance of stretching
before overhand throwing
Affective:
1. Students will demonstrate a positive attitude
SECTION C.
Assessment
Psychomotor:
Students will be assessed based on a skill component
checklist filled out by their peers
Cognitive:
Students will be assessed based on a verbal question
and answer period during the closure
Affective:
Students will be assessed by a verbal question and
answer period during the closure
Assessment
Psychomotor:
Students will be assessed based on teacher
observation of skills
Cognitive:
Students will be assessed based on their ability to
answer questions during skill development phase
Affective:
Students will be assessed by teacher evaluation
Assessment
Psychomotor:
Students will be assessed based on teacher
observation of their skills
Cognitive:
Students will be assessed based on a verbal question
and answer period during the closure
Affective:
Students will be assessed by their peers
Assessment
Psychomotor:
Students will be assessed based on teacher
observation of their skills
Cognitive:
Students will be assessed based on a verbal question
and answer period during the closure
Affective:
Students will be assessed by teacher observation
Day 1. Focus: Overhand Throw
Opening Activity: Students will run 2 laps around the gymnasium. They will then get into their squad lines and
perform a variety of stretches including: biceps, triceps, shoulder, hamstrings, quadriceps, calfs. They will
then perform crunches and push-ups to work their core.
Learning Focus Activities: Demonstrate and explain the fundamentals of the overhand throw (trunk rotation,
point at target, follow through across body, step with non-dominant foot, grip, and always in an athletic
stance). The teacher will introduce the proper mechanics behind throwing a softball/baseball. Students will
spread out and go through the throwing motion without a ball and visual themselves throwing the ball with
the proper mechanics. Students will then grab nerf balls and begin to practice their mechanics by throwing
the ball (10 times) against the fence and then into the buckets (5, 10, 15 feet away) that are set up down
the foul line.
Culminating Activity: The students will continue to practice their throwing by playing monkey in the
middle. The students will be grouped into groups of 3. Two of the students will be about 10-15ft apart and
in line with each other while the 3rd student is in the middle. The students will practice properly throwing the
ball to the other person while the student in the middle tries to snatch the ball away. Students will switch
every 5 throws even if the student in the middle did not successfully get the ball.
Closure: Review of skills taught in class. Question and answer period to assess student’s cognitive and
affective domains. Preview tomorrow’s lesson.
Day 2. Focus: Throwing to a Stationary Target
Opening Activity: Students will run 2 laps around the gymnasium. They will then get into their squad lines and
perform a variety of stretches including: biceps, triceps, shoulder, hamstrings, quadriceps, calfs. They will
then perform crunches and push-ups to work their core.
Learning Focus Activities: The students will be in pairs of two and throw medium sized squishy ball (10) from
5, 10, 15 and 20 feet. Students will then throw the same ball at numbers placed on the wall trying to score
as many points as possible. Once finish the students will stay in their group and throw tennis balls into
baskets that are 10 feet away 15 times.
Culminating Activity: The students will be grouped into 4 groups of 5. They will line up across the gym,
standing 10 feet apart in a straight line. The first student will grab a ball and overhand throw it to the next
person in their line. This will continue until the last person has received an overhand throw. The next relay
race will consist of the same formation, but the last person receiving the ball will have to throw it into a
specified area (hula hoop). The next relay race will have the students hitting a designated area on the wall
marked off by numbers. The number they hit will determine the points for that round. The next race will
involve the last student throwing the ball all the way back to the person in the beginning of the lane. The
last race will involve the student throwing the ball into a bucket placed 10 feet from them. They will continue
to throw until the ball goes in. Make sure students rotate so each one has had the opportunity to be at the
front and end of the line.
Closure: Review of skills taught in class. Question and answer period to assess students cognitive and
affective domains. Preview tomorrow’s lesson.
Day 3. Focus: Throwing to a Moving Target
Opening Activity: Students will run 2 laps around the gymnasium. They will then get into their squad lines and
perform a variety of stretches including: biceps, triceps, shoulder, hamstrings, quadriceps, calfs. They will
then perform crunches and push-ups to work their core.
Learning Focus Activities: Students will be divided into 5 groups of 4 and begin to run down the court/field
passing the ball to one another making sure to call their name prior to throwing the ball (repeating this 2
times). Next, the students will go in their groups to a designated area with four cones in a square shape 10
feet apart. The students will throw the ball to the person on their left while in motion and then follow their
throw. They will continue this drill until everyone has thrown 10 times.
Culminating Activity: The teacher will divide the students into even teams of 10 each. Students will be
playing a game called Huff Ball, which helps them work on their throwing and catching skills. Students are
to overhand throw/underhand toss the ball to their teammates down the playing field into their designated
end zones. A point is rewarded each time a student catches a ball from a teammate in the designated area.
If the ball hits the floor, a point is scored, or the opposing team intercepts; possession changes. Teams
cannot win unless every member of the team has caught/thrown the ball at least once.
Closure: Review of skills taught in class. Question and answer period to assess students cognitive and
affective domains. Preview tomorrow’s lesson.
Day 4. Focus: Throwing in different game settings
Opening Activity: Students will run 2 laps around the gymnasium. They will then get into their squad lines and
perform a variety of stretches including: biceps, triceps, shoulder, hamstrings, quadriceps, calfs. They will
then perform crunches and push-ups to work their core.
Learning Focus Activities: Students will be broken into groups of 4 and spaced on the foul line one behind
another the first students will begin to run in a straight line while the person behind then will overhand throw
a ball so the person running will be able to make a clean catch (students will repeat this until everyone has
gone 2 times).
Culminating Activity: Students will be broken up into 2 groups of 10 to play a modified game of team hand
ball. Before beginning I will briefly explain the rules and answer any questions. ( cannot take more than
three steps, cannot hold the ball more than 3 seconds, must score from behind the goal line, and goalie is
the only person who can take more than 3 steps while the ball is in possession (within the goal lines).
Closure: Review of skills taught in class. Question and answer period to assess students cognitive and
affective domains. Preview tomorrow’s lesson.
SECTION D. (Reflection)
Teacher Assessment*
Self assessment points:
1.Did I provide enough time to allow my students skills to develop?
2.Did I provide enough variety of activities so those at different levels could succeed?
3.Did I teach all of the skills that I wanted to teach in the allotted amount of time?
4.Did I provide a positive and encouraging learning environment?
5.Did I teach the information in a clear, easy to understand way?
Unit evaluation points:
1.Did the culminating activities help emphasize the skills?
2.Where the skills placed in an effective order?
3.Did the students gain a better understanding for the game of softball?
4.Did the students gain skills that they can take with them at the end of the unit?
5.Was the unit plan clear and easy to follow?