Overarm bowling from a standing position
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can bowl a ball with an overarm technique and follow through.
Key learning points
- Move: bowling a ball requires a side on stance with a straight arm which follows through to point at the target.
- Move: releasing the ball at the highest point of the bowling action will contribute to ensuring it is a legal ball.
- Think: bowling the ball to the correct areas of the pitch will ensure it is legal and not a no ball or wide.
- Feel: focusing on learning a complex skill can be a great distractor from everyday stress.
- Connect: providing feedback to a partner helps them understand their performance of a complex skill and correct errors.
Keywords
Follow through - a bowler’s body actions after the release of the ball to stabilise their body
Straight arm - the bowling arm stayed extended as you bowl
Grip - how the ball is held in the hand using index and middle finger, and the thumb
Common misconception
The most common error made when beginning to learn how to bowl in cricket is that pupils throw the ball with the elbow bending in the action which is not allowed.
Pupils need to understand that the action requires a straight arm and this should be emphasised throughout the lesson. It is perhaps a unique throwing action which takes time to adjust to.
Teacher tip
Any pupil in your class who plays at a club cricket has quite likely gone beyond the content of this lesson and may have an accomplished bowling action. Call on their experience to coach their classmates in what is a difficult skill to learn as beginners.
Equipment
hoops, wickets, wind balls, stack of cones, cricket bats
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.How will clear and quick communication help fielding teams?
Q2.What affects how you move your feet when batting?
Q3.Which of these is a front foot shot in cricket?
Q4.Where would a batter want to avoid hitting the ball?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the essential shape of the bowling arm when bowling?
Q2.Where must we ensure the ball goes to avoid being called a wide?
Q3.How can learning complex skills help us mentally?
Q4.What does the bowling arm do as you follow through after releasing the ball?
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Overarm bowling from a standing position, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Overarm bowling from a standing position, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 3 physical education lessons from the Striking and fielding games: competition and performance analysis in cricket unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.