Year 10 - Physical education
Batting techniques
Striking and fielding games: evaluate and improve performance in softball
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit will develop batting, pitching and fielding skills unique to softball, such as using a glove and applying the rules around strikes and base running. Pupils will be challenged to evaluate both their own performance and that of others as they apply tenacity to this American game.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to hit a softball using the recognised batting techniques.
Key Notes
- Move: setting up in a coiled side-on stance prepares the batter to strike the ball powerfully.
- Move: changing stance and grip to bunt the ball is a short hitting tactic used to surprise fielders.
- Think: shifting your weight from back foot to front as the pitcher releases the ball, adds power whilst keeping control.
- Feel: making clean contact with a fast moving pitch feels great but takes time and dedication to achieve repeatedly.
- Connect: hitting success and managing risk by not being too ambitious contributes to your team's overall performance.
Vocabulary To Learn
- coiled stance: the batter's preparatory position which sets them up for a powerful swing
- weight transfer: shifting weight from back foot to front during swing to create power
- bunting: strategic skill where the batter holds the bat still to gently tap the ball into play
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may use a static approach to batting, perhaps using only their arms to swing the bat with.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Move: setting up in a coiled side-on stance prepares the batter to strike the ball powerfully. Move: changing stance and grip to bunt the ball is a short hitting tactic used to surprise fielders.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'coiled stance'
the batter's preparatory position which sets them up for a powerful swing.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Pupils may use a static approach to batting, perhaps using only their arms to swing the bat with. Correction: Pupils should understand the whole body is involved in a good batting swing and that most of the power produced comes from the lower half of the body.
More Lessons In This Unit
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