B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Train, Plan, Stay Safe and Play Smart

Send, Receive, Retain: Three Phases and Changing Conditions

C1 A1.6About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can send objects (throw, pass, kick, strike) using the three phases of movement.
I can receive objects by moving into line and absorbing force.
I can retain (keep control of) an object while moving.
I can adjust my skills to conditions like wind, a wet ball, sun or bumpy ground.

Words to know

send
To move an object away from you: throw, pass, kick or strike.

receive
To gain control of an object coming toward you: catch, trap or stop it.

retain
To keep control of an object while moving, like dribbling or cradling.

absorb force
To "give" with your hands, body or foot as the object arrives, so it doesn't bounce away.

weight transfer
Shifting your weight from your back foot to your front foot to add power.

external conditions
Things around you that affect a skill, like wind, rain, sun, cold or the playing surface.

Remember from Grade 6

In Grade 6 you practised sending, striking and receiving with the right force and accuracy, used a lead pass, and kept control with both sides of your body.

In Grade 7 you'll break skills into three phases so you can find and fix problems yourself, and you'll learn to adjust when the conditions change: wind, wet balls, sun in your eyes, or bumpy park grass.

Hook: the windy-day mystery

You and a friend are playing catch in a park on a windy fall day. When you throw with the wind, the ball flies past your friend. When you throw into the wind, it falls short. Same arm, same throw. What changed?

The conditions changed. Skilled players notice conditions and adjust: more force or a lower, flatter throw into the wind; less force with it.

A red rubber ball lies on the grass in a park where the trees are bending in the wind and leaves are blowing. — A windy fall day in the park. When you throw into wind like this, you need more force and a lower, flatter throw. AI-generated image

The three phases of an overhand throw. Almost every sending skill has the same three phases.

Skill	Preparation	Execution	Follow-through
Overhand throw	Side-on to the target, eyes on target, throwing arm back	Step with the opposite foot, turn hips then shoulders, elbow leads, release toward target	Throwing arm swings across your body; weight on the front foot; balanced
Inside-foot pass (soccer)	Plant your support foot beside the ball, pointing at the target	Swing with the inside of the foot, ankle locked, strike the middle of the ball	Kicking foot follows toward the target
Backhand disc throw	Side-on, disc held flat, arm across your body	Step toward the target, pull across, snap the wrist	Arm points at the target; disc released flat
Catching	Hands ready; eyes on the object; move to get your body behind it	Reach toward the object; fingers up (thumbs together) for high catches, fingers down (pinkies together) for low catches	Give: pull hands in toward your body to absorb force
Dribbling (retaining)	Knees bent, body low, eyes up	Push the ball with fingertips (or with small foot touches), keeping it close	Protect the ball with your body; keep moving

Three phases for common skills. When a skill goes wrong, check each phase.

Adjusting to conditions

Into the wind: use more force with a stronger weight transfer from back foot to front foot, and keep the throw lower and flatter.
With the wind: use less force; the wind carries the object farther.
Crosswind: aim a little into the wind so it drifts toward the target.
Wet or cold ball: grip firmly, dry your hands, expect it to slip or bounce oddly.
Sun in your eyes: shade your eyes with a hand, or turn your body slightly when you can.
Bumpy grass or snow: get your body behind the ball when receiving, in case it bounces strangely; pass along the ground less on long grass.
Cold days: warm up longer; stiff fingers make catching harder.

Adjusting to wind: throw harder, lower and flatter into the wind, and softer when the wind is behind you.

Be your own coach

When a skill goes wrong, ask: Which phase? Was I ready (preparation)? Did I step and turn (execution)? Did I finish toward the target (follow-through)? Change one thing and try again. That's how athletes improve.

Worked example

Let's fix a throw

Ravi's overhand throws keep going short and to the left. Ravi is right-handed. A friend watches and notices: he faces the target square-on, steps with his right foot, and his arm stops right after the release.

Preparation problem: facing square-on means he can't turn his hips. Fix: stand side-on, left shoulder toward the target.
Execution problem: stepping with the same-side foot blocks his hips and weakens the throw. Fix: step with the left (opposite) foot.
Follow-through problem: stopping the arm early cuts power and can pull the throw off line. Fix: let the arm swing across the body.
Try again: change one thing at a time and check where the ball goes.

Side-on, step with the opposite foot, and follow through. The throws should travel farther and straighter.

Worked example

Let's adjust to the wind

You're passing a soccer ball 15 m to a teammate. A strong wind is blowing toward you (a headwind for your pass). What changes?

Force: the wind will slow the ball, so pass harder than usual.
Height: keep the pass on the ground; a lofted ball would be pushed back by the wind.
Receiving: your teammate's passes to you will be pushed by the wind, so they'll arrive faster. Be ready to absorb more force.

Harder, lower passes into the wind, and softer hands or feet when receiving passes that come with the wind.

Just for fun

Why did the ball refuse to play catch on a windy day?

It kept getting carried away.

Hands-on activity

Send, receive and retain circuit

You need: a soft ball or tennis ball, a soccer ball or playground ball, a flying disc or a sturdy paper plate, a target (a bucket, hoop or chalk circle), markers (shoes or cones), a partner, and an open park or yard.

Warm up first (5 minutes): march or jog on the spot, arm circles, leg swings holding a wall, and a few gentle skips. Add easy short throws to a partner.

Throw for accuracy: 10 throws at the target from 8 m. Record hits. Partner checks the three phases.
Catch high and low: partner throws 10 high and 10 low. Check hands (thumbs together high, pinkies together low) and "give".
Dribble and protect: dribble (hands or feet) through a zigzag of 5 markers and back, eyes up, both hands or both feet.
Condition test: if it's windy, throw 5 times into the wind and 5 times with it. Write what you changed. If it's calm, try receiving on bumpy grass versus a smooth path.
Write one phase you improved today.

Safety: Soft balls only for catching; stay away from roads, windows and people; one ball in the air at a time; drink water.

Your turn

Name the three phases of a movement and give an example of each for an overhand throw.

Which foot should a left-handed thrower step with?

How should you hold your hands to catch a ball above your waist? Below your waist?

What does it mean to "give" when catching?

You're throwing into a strong wind. Name two adjustments.

Dribble a ball 10 times with your weaker hand while looking up. What should a good attempt look like?

More practice: warm-up

Give an example of sending.

Give an example of retaining.

Which phase includes getting your body side-on?

With the wind behind you, should you throw harder or softer?

Why keep your eyes up while dribbling?

More practice: on your own

Your inside-foot passes keep popping up into the air. Which phase might be wrong, and what would you fix?

The field is wet after rain. How should you adjust passing and receiving a soccer ball?

A crosswind is blowing from your left to your right. Where should you aim a 20 m throw?

Why does stepping with the opposite foot make a throw stronger?

The sun is low and in your eyes while you're fielding. What can you do?

Challenge

Out of 10 throws at a target, Amira hit 4 on Monday and 7 on Friday after fixing her follow-through. What was her percent increase in hits, and what percent of throws hit each day?

Analyse a backhand disc throw that wobbles and curves sharply. Name a likely problem in each phase.

Explain why receiving a ball that is moving with a strong wind is harder, and what to change.

Check your understanding

Quiz

What are the three phases of a movement?

A right-handed player throws overhand. Which foot should step forward?

To catch a ball below your waist, your hands should be:

You throw into a strong wind. You should:

Which is a retaining skill?

What does "giving" with your hands do when catching?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 7 students send, receive and retain objects using the phases of movement, and adjust to external conditions like wind, wet surfaces and sun.

How to help at home:

Play catch on windy and calm days and talk about what changes.
Watch one phase at a time: "I'll watch just your follow-through."
Encourage both hands and both feet.

Common difficulties:

Same-side foot step. Cue "step with the opposite foot."
Stiff hands. Cue "soft hands, give."
Looking down when dribbling. Play a number-calling game while they dribble.

Safety: Soft balls for catching practice, clear space away from roads and windows, one ball in the air at a time.

Social-emotional learning: Analysing your own skills and planning a fix builds critical and creative thinking (A1.6).