Instructional Baseball Teaching Cues

Batting

Skill Cue Common Errors

HITTING

Stance  Stand sideways  Stand forward  Feet slightly wider than shoulder  Feet too far apart or too close togeth- width er  Weight over balls of feet, heels lightly  Weight on heels touching the ground, more weight on back leg Arm Swing  Hitter should think “shoulder to  Moving head during the swing shoulder” (start with chin on front  Head too tense shoulder; finish with chin on back shoulder)

Hip Rotation  Back hip snaps or rotates at pitcher;  No hip rotation drive body through ball; take a photo-  Using arms instead of wrists graph of pitcher with belly button  Throw hands through baseball: “slow feet quick hands” Focus of Eyes  Imagine middle of baseball has a face  Not seeing ball hit bat that is laughing at you; try to hit the ball in the face

Step  Step 3 to 6 inches (stride should be  Over striding causes bat to drop dur- more of a glide) ing swing (jarring step)  “step to hit”  Hitter “steps and then hits”

Follow Through  Top hand rolls over bottom hand; bat goes all around body

BUNTING

 Pivot toward pitcher; square body to  Hitter or bunter does not get properly pitcher squared around in position to bunt  Slide top hand up bat; keep bat level  Hands remain together (bat is not at all times. Keep fingers behind bat kept level if pitch is either high or or protect fingers from ball low); wrap hand around bat  Catch ball with bat  Push bat at ball, swipe at ball

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Instructional Baseball Teaching Cues

Batting

Skill Cue Common Errors HITTING INEXPERIENCED BATTERS Grip  Hold bat in base of fingers (this tech-  Bat held in palm of hand squeezing bat nique allows wrist to roll freely and generates bat speed)  Align knuckles Closed Stance  Feet are shoulder-width apart; then  Stepping back front foot is placed toward plate (helps untrained hitter step toward pitcher) Bat Position  Bat held at armpit high and far enough  Bat held too close to shoulder away from the body that two players’  Back elbow drops fists could fit  Back elbow held away from body Bat Angle  Straight up in air or up and angled  Cradling bat around head; bat is slightly over back shoulder pointing back toward pitcher

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Instructional Baseball Teaching Cues

Throwing

Skill Cue Common Errors Grip  Get a seam, either across the seams or  Not getting enough seam, poor con- with the seams trol of ball  Hold ball with fingertips; first two  Holding baseball in palm or placing fingers on the top of the ball, second more fingers on top of ball two underneath to the side, thumb opposite side Stance  Stand sideways, ankle bone toward  Stand facing target target Throwing Action  Point glove-hand shoulder at target  Staying square to target (no shoulder  Take a long step toward target or hip rotation is possible)  Stretch arm way back  Stepping across body, no step at all,  Make L shape with throwing arm or step that is too high  Pull glove arm down, and replace  Taking the ball directly behind head glove arm with throwing arm with bent elbow  Whip the arm through, snap wrist  No wrist action, all arm  Follow-through, wrist goes to oppo-  No follow-through site knee-slap knee

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Instructional Baseball Teaching Cues

Fielding

Skill Cue Common Errors FIELDING GROUND BALLS Stance  Feet shoulder-width apart, weight on  Weight on heels, feet too close or too balls of feet (right handers lead slightly far apart with left foot because the slight lead of  Glove inside or behind knees the left foot means that less time is  Bending at waist and not knees needed to rotate body to throw)  Create a triangle with both feet and glove; the glove is the top of the trian- gle  Bend at knees; slightly at waist Catching Action  Field ball out in front  Keep glove close to or on ground  Elbows inside knees  Put your nose on the ball; follow the ball into the glove with eyes  Secure ball with both hands  Read a hop, read the path of the base- ball; try to field ball on big or long hop; after a big hop ball will usually stay low FIELDING-FLY BALLS Stance  Comfortable stance, weight on balls of  Rigid, fight stance; weight on back of feet heels like a boxer

Catching Position  Position body underneath flight of  Having to catch ball behind your head baseball (the path should becoming or below your waist down to the eyes) Catching Action  Place glove slightly out from and  Catching ball to side of the body; fin- above head; reach for the sky with gers stretched out rather than up fingers just before the ball arrives  One-handed “showboat”  Always use two hands to secure ball  Not watching ball all the way into the  Follow ball into glove with eyes glove

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Instructional Baseball Teaching Cues

Sliding

Skill Cue Common Errors Feet First  Sprint  Slowing up  Slide early  Sliding too late (injuries)  Sit down  Falling and hopping  Curl leg under, making a figure 4  Sliding with both legs forward  Roller-coaster ride  Lying down completely Head First  Sprint  Slowing down  Sink  Upright and no balance  Dive  Belly flopping into base  Outstretched arms  Hands and arms too close to body  Superman in flight

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Flag Football Teaching Cues

Throwing

Skill Cue Common Errors Stance  Stand sideways  Feet and stomach facing the target Grip  Grab top of ball like holding a soda  Grabbing middle of ball pop can sideways or making a C  Palm holding ball  Finger pads hold laces Leg Action  Take a short to medium step  Over striding, high stepping, or tak- ing no steps Arm Action  Stretch arm way back, make an L  Taking ball behind head  Whipping action with wrist (palm  No snap of wrist out)  Palm turning in  Index finger responsible for the spin  Nose of ball in any other position on the ball  Palm out at point of release  Nose of ball should travel slightly up Release  Picture an eye on right and left front shoulders and on right and left knees; when these four checkpoints on body face target, release ball

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Flag Football Teaching Cues

Catching and receiving

Skill Cue Common Errors Above the Waist  Make diamond or triangle with fore-  Hands apart, palms face sky fingers and thumbs; look through the diamond or triangle  Thumbs in Below the Waist  Touch pinkies  Hands apart  Thumbs out  Hands are like a wall (no collapse)  Fingers collapse around the ball like a  Stiff arms butterfly net or a Venus fly trap  Elbows should act as shock absorbers on ball contact  Quiet hands/soft hands Coaching Point  Diamond  Wrong sequence  Collapse fly trap  Squeeze ball too soon  Shock absorber

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Flag Football Teaching Cues

Ball Carrying Technique

Skill Cue Common Errors Tuck Away After Catch  Tuck ball into four pressure points  Ball not on one of four pressure points  REEF (four pressure points)  Carrying like a loaf of bread Rib Cage (stuff ball into rib cage) Elbow (tuck elbow in) Eagle Claw (spread fingers over point of ball) Forearm (cover ball)

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Flag Football Teaching Cues

Running Strategies

Skill Cue Common Errors Fundamentals  Stay light on feet  Planting your heal  Feet off the ground  Feet coming out from underneath,  Run on the balls of feet , like a balleri- jerky and uncontrolled na, smooth and controlled so feet can  Planting heels can cause knee injury spin  Running like a semi (top heavy) can  Run like a Ferrari race car (low to injure ribs ground) Running Down Sidelines  SOAPS: Switch Outside Arm Position  Running down right sideline, carry ball in right hand  Running down left sideline, carry ball in left hand Change in Directions  Cut off with your lateral foot  Cutting off medial foot causes one to slip

Making a Turn  Make a tight turn  Making a wide turn  Keep the turn tight  Keeping angle of turn loose

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Flag Football Teaching Cues

Blocking

Skill Cue Common Errors Techniques  Sit on heels/sit on a chair  Weight is forward  Arm hangs  Too much weight on hands  Hot feet/choppy feet  Stopping feet and lunging  Mirror the opponent  Not keeping with opponent  Bust a door open with shoulder and  Using any other parts for blocking forearm  Push a car uphill

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Flag Football Teaching Cues

Hiking or Centering

Skill Cue Common Errors Long Snap, 12-14 yards  Sit on heels  Slow snap  Pyramid base  Generating power with arms  Cock the trigger (rotate ball clockwise  Not looking at target with wrist in flexed position)  No follow through  Extend hips and knees like getting kicked in the butt  Focus on punter’s belt  Reach for belt (palms out) Shotgun Formation  Same cues as long snap, less force Direct Snap  While snapping turn ball 1/4 turn  Not turning ball (Quarterback Under Center)

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Flag Football Teaching Cues

Defensive Strategies

Skill Cue Common Errors Techniques  Pedaling bike backward staying on  Falling backward toes  Inability to change direction quickly  High knees backward, quick and  Inability to locate ball choppy  Look through receiver to quarterback Running Strategy  Grapevine of crossover  Poor hip rotation Man to Man  Play inside out  Getting beat to inside (letting receiver  Force opponent outward get inside position) Zone  Play outside arm  Receiver able to turn ball up field for  Funnel toward center more yardage Hatchet  Use arm closest to ball as a hatchet to  Receiver not stripped of ball after make opponent miss ball catch Coaching Point  Defense is meant to be suppressed; this is mainly an offensive game

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Set Shot

Skill Cue Common Errors

SET UP

Shooting Hand  Spread fingers  Ball held in palm  Palm up; balance a waiter’s tray Non Shooting Hand  Hand faces side wall; fingers only touch ball Alignment  Arm, eye, and hand lined up with bas-  Push ball sideways ket, like throwing a dart  Arm at 45-degree angle  Elbow points to side Sight  Focus on back edge of rim  Basket looks like a big bin

Legs  Slightly bend knees and buttocks out  Insufficient force from no use of legs Balance  Body square to basket

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Set Shot

Skill Cue Common Errors

SHOOTING ACTION

Fingers  Spin ball off middle and index finger:  Ball is thrown fast spin, lines on ball not visible Wrist  Flip wrist, wave good-bye to ball  Inadequate wrist action Shoot Over  Shoot up over a telephone booth  Insufficient drive upward, loss of bal- ance Path of Ball  Make a rainbow; put it in the pot of gold FINISH POSITION Wrist  Gooseneck finish, thumbs points at  Lack of follow-through shoes  Fall backward and relax  Everything stays in a straight line  Wrist points at rim or put finger in basket  Follow Shot

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Jump Shot

Skill Cue Common Errors

Arm and Hand Preparation  Bring back of hand to forehead in  Hand is off line, insufficient force preparation, as if holding a waiter’s from wrist tray over head Shooting Action  Same as the set shot  Shooting from behind head

Timing  Jump-hand-then shoot  Shooting on way up  Shot released at top of jump

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Free Throw

Skill Cue Common Errors

Set Shot  Refer to Set Shot Cues with a couple of exceptions Set-Up, Feet Parallel  Feet square  Line violation  Both toes on foul line, shoulder width apart Offset Stance  One foot slightly forward  Line violation

Ritual  Prepare  No routine, no high-percentage shots  Breathe/Relax  Rushing shot; distracted-not concen-  Focus/visualize trating  Shoot  Mental imagery at different times dur- ing the day

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Lay-Ups

Skill Cue Common Errors

RIGHT-HANDED

Steps  Step right, left, hop (jump)  Jumping off wrong foot  Right knee up (90 degrees)  Shooting ball more likely to be  Reach: shoot at peak of hop and reach blocked

Shooting Hand  Underhand, laying up ball softly as if  Not softening shot enough the ball is an egg  Hitting backboard too hard or soft  Extend arm, reach high (ball kisses  Not compensating for speed backboard)  Release at peak of reach  Soften shot because of speed Shot Focus  Square on backboard  Looking at dribble, not focused on aim

LEFT-HANDED

Steps  Step left, right, hop (jump)  Jumping off wrong foot  Left knee up (90 degrees)

Shooting Action  Left hand shoots ball  Using wrong hand on wrong side

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Dribbling

Skill Cue Common Errors

Position of Hands  Fingers spread, stretch fingers  Fingers together  Wrist firm but movable  Lack of tension in the wrist  Pads of fingers control ball  Palm touches ball

Forearm and Wrist Action  Action from forearm, pushing action  Slapping ball with wrist action  Absorb ball back into pads of fingers  Slapping ball, not absorbing the ball (hesitation in hand): “spring action”  Treating ball as obstacle apart from  Ball attached to hand, you and the ball self are one: “yo-yo action” Hand Placement-  Move hand on different angles of ball  Palming the ball (carrying the ball) More Complex Dribble Eyes  Keep eyes up  Do not watch ball

Height of Dribble  Below waist  Dribble too high

Range of Dribble  Knee to waist  Dribble to hear yourself dribble

Overall Rules-  Higher dribble for higher speed  Not advancing the ball More Complex Dribble  Lower dribble for lower speeds and  Dribble without purpose tight situations Body Protection  Protect ball with body but see basket  Turning back to teammates and basket  Protect/shields ball if guarded

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Basic ball handling

Skill Cue Common Errors

Ready Position  “Triple Threat”  Not assuming the position  Purpose: to fake out opponent with the option of the following skills: shooting, passing, dribbling

Hand Position  Shooting position on ball  Hands not in shooting position; hands too close together Holding Ball  Hold ball to side of hip  Ball held too high or too low  Keep ball on hip-hold ball to side to pass, dribble, or step into shot  Elbows out

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Passing

Skill Cue Common Errors

TWO-HAND CHEST PASS Hand Position  Hand on side of ball, thumbs pointing  Dominant hand does most of the pus- to each other ing

Throwing Position  Step forward with preferred foot  No forward step or transfer of weight

Elbows  Push ball forward from chest, elbows out; snap it Finish Position  Thumbs down  Backs of hands facing each other  Transfer weight to front foot TWO-HAND OVERHEAD PASS

Arm Action  Ball overhead, like a soccer throw-in  Misuse of pass  Strong wrist flip  Not using both hands equally

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Blocking Out

Skill Cue Common Errors

Action of Body  Find with hands

Turn Back to Opponent  Put buttocks under opponent’s hip or  Not able to hold position create a stable wall between opponent and ball Hands (after Pivot)  Elbows out, palms wide; feel for op- ponent

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Rebounding

Skill Cue Common Errors

Timing  Hesitate  Jumping too soon or late  Catch ball at height of jump Hands/Arms  Grab ball with both hands  Trying to tip the ball with one hand  Strong hands, elbows out, fingers and possibly to someone else spread  Elbowing in, fingers together

Go to Ball  Jump to ball

Body Position  Buttocks out, elbows out, ball in  Exposing ball to opponents in traffic for Defensive Rebounding  Protect ball with body  Ball stolen or tied up as rebounder  Outlet pass or dribble out stands and looks

Body Position  Protect the ball  Exposing ball to traffic For Offensive Rebounding  Tip ball to basket or assume shooting  Bringing ball down and getting set or position as quickly as possible, like a dribbling “pogo stick”

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Defensive Stance

Skill Cue Common Errors

Stance  Weight on balls of feet  Stance too wide  Wide stance  Surfer’s stance, legs straight  Knees bent, body low, like a sumo wrestler Leg and Foot Action  Shuffle step, do not cross feet  Weight back  Knees bent  Straight leg shuffle  Heel-to-toe foot placement  Bouncing on toes

Offense Dribbles  Palms up, swat up  Hands not moving  One hand up, one hand down, hands active

Offense Prepares to Shoot or Pass  Like putting handprints on a mirror  Resting hands and arms on defense  Cut off passing lane

Rules Off Ball  See both; see ball, see opponent  Playing too far from ball  Losing sight of ball

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Basketball Teaching Cues

Pivoting

Skill Cue Common Errors

Stance  Toes of pivot foot pinned or nailed to  Dragging pivot foot floor

Movement  Anchored to floor  Traveling  Stepping all directions, forward and backward Going For a Ball Out of Bounds  Sacrifice your body  Watching a perfectly fair ball go out  Grasp the ball of bounds  Dive to the ground

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

offense

Skill Cue Common Errors Tactics –Offense  Offense begins immediately when ball  Delay in transition may result in loss has been won of possession  All players are involved in offense  Player fails to move into offense, lim- from point of recovery iting options  Create options by utilizing width of  Attacking players squeezing in toward field center of field closed down space for  Quickly move ball into defensive half players in possession through quick, short, crisp passes to  Delay in advancing ball allows defense open players or directly to forward to recover target  Lack of movement provided few op-  Forward movement of offensive play- tions for player with ball ers not in possession creates dribbling  Team becomes predictable and easy to or passing opportunities for player defend with ball  Lack of imagination and creativity  Vary focus and method of attack stifles attack  Creativity and imagination in final  Without taking risk in front of defen- offensive third of field is vital to creat- sive team’s goal, scoring will become ing chances for scoring difficult  Taking risk in front of opponents’ goal  Teams that play not to lose rather that is encouraged as loss of possession to win develop players who find the does not create immediate danger game to be dull and boring  The ultimate object in soccer is to score goals; therefore, always attempt to end attack with a shot or goal

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Defense

Skill Cue Common Errors Tactics  Funnel players in front of goal  Team is spread out in front of goal,  Players in front of goad will be close creating space for attackers to exploit together, closing down goal-scoring  Defense posture is loose, allowing options for attackers goal- scoring opportunities  Create lines of defense for depth and  Players are caught in a straight line support across the field, allowing for penetra-  Delay opposition as far away from tion with a single pass goal as possible to allow players to  Team in possession allowed to freely recover advance forward  Players closest to ball must provide  Closest individual defender does not immediate pressure delay attacker  Keep playing space narrow for oppo-  Defending with body square to attack- nents by channeling toward touchline er allows for options to the sides or or supporting defenders through lefs  Keep balance of team organized  Confusion and disarray in defense through communication through lack of communication  If ball cannot be won directly from  Players in their defensive third of the challenge, clear ball away from danger field attempt to advance ball under area either upfield or over touchline extreme pressure and lose possession,  Once ball has been recovered offense possibly creating goal-scoring oppor- begins immediately tunity for opponent  Results can be achieved through man-  Slow transition form defending to to-man marking, zonal marking, or a attacking combination

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Dribbling

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Technique  Caress ball in stride  Contact made on vari-  Keep ball too far in  Player can use inside, ous areas of foot, de- front allowing it to es- outside, sole, or laces of pending on situational cape shoes demands  Poor recognition of  Close control, pushing  Head up situation resulting in firmly  Arms out with elbows improper contact and  Change pace and direc- bent for balance loss of possession tion  Head always down  Pace too hard or too soft

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Trapping

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Control Trap  Catching an egg  Water balloon catch  Meeting with too hard a  Present controlling sur-  Square up with ball and surface face to ball: example cushion on contact  Ball bounces too far to foot or thigh is raised up be controlled toward ball and pulled  No cushion on contact back on contact

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Chipping

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Technique  Popping a billiard ball  Square up with ball  Striking too high on ball with a pool stick  Keep head steady will not provide backspin  Straight on approach  Strike where ball contacts  Stabbing too soft under  Quick hard stab under ball ground ball does not allow it to  Very little follow-through rise creates backspin  Too much follow-through will cause ball to be pro- pelled too low

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Passing

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Push Pass on the Ground  Pendulum swing with foot  Follow-through in front of  Improper momentum  Inside of foot contact body causes pace to be too soft  Ankle firm  Flex knee and strike or hand and inaccurate  Non-kicking foot along- through midline of ball  Follow-through goes side ball  Flex non-kicking foot across body  Knee of kicking leg over balancing leg  Ankle loose, not allowing ball on contact  Correct weight of pass player to guide ball  Non-kicking foot points away from target causing poor follow-through  Knee of kicking leg too far behind ball may cause ball to rise

Lofted Aerial Pass of 15  Wide approach with non-  Toes pointed down, foot  Non-kicking foot too Yards or More kicking foot; use surface turned slightly out close to ball causing it to between laces and inside  Keep ankle locked when strike too high on ball of foot striking  Ankle loose, causing ball  Strike ball where ball  Follow-through in front of to go astray touches grass, with good body  Non-kicking foot too follow-through close to ball, keeping ball  Non-kicking foot plants to low side and slightly behind  Body to erect, not allow- ball ing ball to rise  Lean back

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Volley

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Technique  Contact mad through ver-  On contact, knee slightly  Contact is made under- tical midline, follow- over ball neath ball making it rise through from center of  Square up with ball and  Non-kicking foot too far ball to top as if ball is use full instep when strik- behind ball rolling off foot causing ing  Toes pointing up causing topspin  Head steady, constantly ball to go straight up  Non-kicking foot along- watching ball  Head not steady on con- side as in push pass tact, causing ball to go  Ankle firm, toes pointed astray down  Land on kicking foor

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Shooting (instep Drive)

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Technique  Firing a cannonball  Load up kicking leg  Leg not properly pulled  Pull back kicking leg  After follow-through land back, resulting in less mo-  Non-kicking foot along- on kicking foot mentum through ball side ball pointing at target  Head down and steady  Follow-through across  Ankle firm, toes pointing with weight over ball to body carries ball wide of down keep ball low target  Body leaning back causes ball to rise  Ankle loose, head not steady, causing ball to stray

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Challenging (tackling)

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Definition  Meet ball as same time as  Went fishing and caught opponent nothing (player not fo- cused on the ball) Technique  Tackling foot turned out at  Weight behind ball  Diving in or poor timing right angle  On contact, weight of  Tentative challenge with  Swing through as in push body goes through ball kicking leg or going in too pass  Balance with arms out strong and out of control  Powerful controlled follow (can result in broken leg) -through

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Heading

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Heading  Bend at the waist  Project ball out and away  Bumping ball and leaning  Meet ball with forehead from body back, causing improper  Eyes open, watch ball onto  Lean back, tighten stom- follow-through forehead ach muscles, and propel  Making contact with ball  Weight of ball goes torso and head forward too high on the head through ball when contacting ball (headache)  Closing eyes  Striking too low on ball causes ball to spin up- ward; striking too high on ball may cause ball to hit nose

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Punting

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Technique  Like holding a skunk  Hold ball out away  Holding ball to close to chest Hand Position

Technique  Drop the ball

Drop Action

Technique  Like and underhand serve  Shoelaces flat  Swinging leg from stand- in volleyball  Pull back kicking leg ing position does not cre- Kicking Leg  Like kicking a football ate momentum  Swing leg under body making contact with ball below knee

Technique  Support leg plants simulta-  Ball is met too high on leg neously with dropping of with shins or too low on Support Leg the ball end of toes

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Goaltending

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error

Catching  Making a W with thumbs  Keep thumbs and heel of  Keeping hands to side of and index fingers hand behind ball for sup- ball, allowing ball to slip  Elbows bent port though  Cushion on contact while  Fingers spread  Arms held too rigid, not pulling ball back in front  Soft hands allowing for controlled of body comfort when receiving  Ball meets hard surface and bounces away

Punching  Clear ball our when unable  High and wide  Punching ball down to- to grab  Elbows cocked ready to ward feet of offensive  Fits clenched and together release when contacting players  Time jump ball  Extending arms, not al-  Meet ball as high as possi- lowing for punching ac- ble and under control tion when striking  Meeting ball too low be- cause of poor timing

Receiving  Knee and foot together  Knee and foot not close enough to each other, leaving space for the ball to go through

Receiving  Scoop shovel  Cup hands together and  Hands spread apart, allow-  Elbows bent and slightly create a shovel ing ball to squeak through Low Balls tucked in toward body  Watch ball into arms  Arms too stiff, not allow-  Bring into chest  Always secure ball in safe ing to receive comfortably area in front of body  Collecting ball to side, not providing second surface in case ball is mishandled

Receiving  Meet a highest comforta-  Hand technique same as in  Meeting ball too low, al- ble point catching cues lowing opposing players High Balls  Pull ball in  Reach out with both hands the chance to make con- tact

Lobbing (20 + Yards)  Cup ball in hand and fore-  Rotation begins from be-  Ball not securely held arm hind body and level with  Trajectory is limited by  Throw a javelin hip poor rotation  Release overhead and in  Arms swing from hip be-  Releasing ball too low, front of body hind body, and then over- limiting distance of lob head

Throwing (10-20+ Yards)  Throwing a baseball  Grasp ball with one hand  Arm not properly pulled  Shove ball forward and cock arm back does not allow for  Twisting action will limit  Throwing action comes quick release bounce for player receiv- from side of head next to  Release of ball is too ing ear slow; ball may be inter-  Hard push from side of cepted head  No spin on release makes ball bounce and difficult to receive

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997 Soccer Teaching Cues

Goaltending

Skill Cue Alternate Cue Common Error Rolling (<10 Yards)  Rolling a bowling ball  Cup ball into hand and  Holding ball to loose  Underhand pitch in soft- forearm as in lob  Too short a follow- ball  Swing from behind body through will not allow ball  Roll in front of or directly and past hip to reach target to player’s feet  Keep ball low with no  Releasing ball too high bounce causes it to bounce and be hard to control

Source: Teaching Cues For Sport Skills; Hilda Fronske; c1997