Sport Exploration Kit #2 will allow you to explore soccer, basketball, tennis, football and track and field.
Contents:
Soccer ball Basketball 2 tennis rackets Sleeve of tennis balls Football Discus Shotput Stopwatch Track measuring tape Set of pylons Adult & Youth pinnies
Soccer
Where to play in Lethbridge Lethbridge Soccer Association Lethbridge Soccer Association offers competitive and house indoor youth programs as well as adult leagues. There is a coed adult soccer league as well as a women's only indoor and outdoor soccer league. Learn more at http://lethbridgesoccer.com/index.php
Games and Activities to learn the skills of soccer
Keep away Begin with players keeping the ball away from only one or two players and rotating these players periodically. Players try to keep possession of the ball by passing the ball to their teammates. The players that do not have possession attempts to regain the ball. Follow the leader Pick a leader and have them dribble anywhere on the field, encouraging him to make lots of turns, changing speed, etc. All other players have to follow the leader and do whatever that player does. Switch leaders often. Last person out Two people or more needed. All players stand at a cone or designated spot about 20 feet from a group of balls. There is one less ball than the number of players. On "go", the players run to the balls, get one and begin dribbling. The player who didn't get a ball tries to steal one from the others. The coach keeps time and after a preset time has passed the game ends. The player who, at that time does not have a ball is out. Remove one ball from the group and repeat until there is only one person with a ball. Keep Ups Practice keeping the ball in the air with any 'playable' part of the body... feet, legs, shoulders, head, etc. This can be played with a group in a circle and the person who drops the ball or gives an unplayable pass is out.
Soccer How to dribble the soccer ball Dribbling is used to move the ball around the field without losing possession. Dribbling is done when you ar running with the soccer ball so it is important to be in an athletic position and use your arms. When dribbling forward use the laces part of your foot. Try to touch the ball with each step and keep the ball close to make it difficult for defenders to steal. Practice cutting and changing direction to get comfortable with the skill. How to shoot a soccer ball Before shooting, look up to see where you are wanting the ball to go. Look back down at the ball and keep looking at it until you kick it. This will lead to a stronger and more accurate kick. Run towards the ball, if kicking a still ball stand far enough back that you can reach the ball in 3-4 steps. Plant your non-kicking foot next to the ball. Bring your kicking leg back as far as possible, this will help generate power. Keep your ankle locked with your foot pointed downwards, straight and firm. Pick the sport where your foot will strike the ball, kicking it in the center gives you the most control over your shot. Strike the ball with the laces of your shoe for the most power. Kick the ball with the side of your foot for a more accurate shot. Follow through with your kicking leg, this will influence the height the ball travels. How to pass a soccer ball Plsce your plant foot even with the ball and facing your target. Keep your kicking ankle firm and your body over the ball. Kick using the inside of your foot and aiming for the middle of the ball. Follow through with your kicking leg at your target.
Basketball
Where to play in Lethbridge Lethbridge Minor Basketball Association LMBA is a non-profit organization committed to facilitating quality basketball development and opportunities in Southern Alberta. They also have club basketball teams for youth up to U15. Learn more at https://lethbridgebasketball.ca/ Lethbridge Wheelchair Basketball Association Provides recreation and competitive programs for Wheelchair Basketball. Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/Lethbridge-WheelchairBasketball-Association-Lethbridge-Steamers-116296729763031/about/? ref=page_internal
Games and Activities to learn the skills of basketball Knock Out Knock out requires two basketballs and two or more players. The players form a line at the free throw line with the first two having basketballs. The first player shoots and if they miss, the second player can "knock out" the first player by making the basket. If the first player is able to make the shot before the second player, they pass it to the next player in line, who then tries to knock out the second player. The first player then returns to the end of the line. The game goes on until there is one player left and everyone else has been knocked out. Relay Race Have two or more groups line up single file behind a designated start line. Each team will need one ball. The first player in line will dribble as fast as they can while controlling the ball to the designated sport and back to the start. They will then hand the ball off to the next player in line on their team who will then run their leg of the race. The first team to have every member complete the race and get back to the start wins. Cone touch dribbling Randomly scatter cones all over the playing area. Someone says "GO" and the players have to dribble to each cone and touch the cone. Players have to dribble while they touch the cone or it doesn't count. Set an amount of time that players have to touch as many cones as they can. You can set some rule variations such as, players must touch at least 5 different cones in a row before coming back to the same one again or you can't touch the same cone twice. This forces them to move all over the court instead of staying in the same area. This can be done in a group as a game or with one player and they try to do better each time.
Basketball
How to pass the ball There are a couple different ways to pass in basketball, the most common is the chest pass, and bounce pass. For a chest pass grip the ball on both sides with fingertips poinyed towards your chin. Bring the ball towards your chest, bend your elbows and make sure they are tucked in close to your body. Take a step with your dominant foot and throw the ball. Follow through to your teammate by fully extending your arms aiming at their chest. To do a bounce pass, it is performed exactly the same except you bounce the ball on the ground once before it reaches your teammate. The ball should bounce and arrive somewhere around your teammates chest. How to dribble When dribbling the basketball touch the ball with your fingertips, not your palm. Be in a low athletic stance, having feet shoulder-width apart, bending your knees and dropping hips back slightly. Then bounce the ball off of the ground keeping your hand on top of the ball. Keep the ball low, the shorter and quicker the ball bounces the harder it is for an opponent to steal. How to shoot Stand with your feet no further than shoulder width apart with your knees slightly bent in position to jump. Hold the ball with your dominant shooting hand against the back of the ball with your elbow is inline with your shoulder. Your nonshooting hand goes to the side of the ball as a guide. Locate the target so you know where to aim. Use your legs to help your shot by jumping upward while your shooting hand launches the ball. Push the ball upward with your shooting hand and release the ball with your shooting hand aimed at the basket. Straighten your elbow and push your wrist so the ball arches. The follow through is very important, when the shot is complete your shooting hand should be loosely downward with your fingers pointed at the hoop.
Tennis
Where to play in Lethbridge Lethbridge Tennis Club An non-profit society to promote tennis in Lethbridge and surrounding areas. Learn more at http://www.tennislethbridge.ca/home.html
Games and Activities to learn the skills of tennis Dribblers Have each person take their racquet and a tennis ball. Everyone should be spaced apart. Then have everyone dribble with the racquet and tennis ball. Running around the playing area dribbling the tennis ball without losing the ball, if you lose it you are eliminated. Hit and Catch With a partner, have one person serve (throw) using only their hands. The other partner has to hit the tennis ball with the racquet and the other has to catch the ball with the hands, like baseball but without a mitt. This helps to see the importance of targeting where they are hitting the ball and improves the hand-eye coordination of the other partner. Then switch roles. Partner Ball Pass Each player will take a turn tossing the ball from their racket to their partner's racket without letting it hit the floor. The intention is not to hit the ball but to toss it back and forth with the racquet between the players. Bounce and Hit Players play cooperatively in the service boxes, trying to build the rally. When the ball bounces on their opponent's side of the court, each player should shout "bounce", and when their opponent hits the ball, they should shout "hit". This helps players to concentrate on the ball at all times, rather than just when they're hitting it.
Tennis How to hold the tennis racquet There are a couple of different ways to hold the tennis racquet. A common way is to have the racquet pointing away from you and have the string area perpendicular to the ground. Put your dominant hand out as if tp shake hands with the grip of the racquet. Place the base knuckle of your index finger on the small, sloped side of the grip to the right of the flat side on top. Close your hand around the grip so that this grip goes diagonally across your palm to point towards the heel of your palm below your pinkie. How to hit the ball Keep the racquet straight and the face open towards the net as you make contact. Swing straight through as you make contact with the ball. Add a slightly downward action as you hit the ball to produce a powerful flat shot. Use your entire body to generate the power behind your shot.
Football
Where to play in Lethbridge Lethbridge Junior Football Club A Canadian Junior Football League franchise in Lethbridge Alberta. Learn more at: https://lethbridgesportcouncil.ca/sport-directory Southern Alberta Minor Football Association SAMFA has football teams at the atom, peewee and bantam age groups. Learn more at https://www.southabfootball.ca/ Lethbridge Minor Football Association A group of five (5) Football Teams, each with three (3) levels (Atom, PeeWee, Bantam). The group facilitates the registration, insurance and equipping of players. LMFA also organizes the fields of play for the teams. Learn more at http://www.lethbridgeminorfootball.org/ Lethbridge Steel Women's Tackle Football A women's football team that has players ranging in age from 16 to 50. They play in the Alberta Female Football League. Learn more at http://www.lethbridgesteelfootball.com/
Games and Activities to learn the skills of football Interception Identify a quarterback, receiver and defender. The defender begins downfield, receiver runs down the field and the quarterback must throw to the receiver so that they can reach the designated end zone without being tagged by the defender. The round ends either when the pass is incompletem the defender tags the receiver or the receiver scores. Then players rotate. The Shadow For this game it requires pairs. One player in the pair becomes the shadow. The player who is not the shadow will try to outrun and lose his shadow. Set up cones for a boundaries, the player should try to decieve their partner through lateral movement. Go for 30-45 seconds and then switch roles. Play catch Play a simple game of catch to get used to throwing the football. As confidence increases spread apart or add some movement from the receiver.
Football How to hold the football A football has laces on it which help to show when your fingers go. With your dominant throwing hand, place your ring finger on the second lace of the football (Starting at the back). Take your index finger and place it over the stitch line and your pinky should be underneath the lace. Your thumb should be directly under your index finger. Your thumb and index finger should make an "L" shape. Some palm contact is okay but try to keep space between the center of the palm and the ball. How to throw a football Position your body to be facing 90 degrees away from your target. If you throw right handed, turn to the right. Turn your pivot foot which is the opposite of your throwing arm so that it is pointing towards your target. Hold the ball near your ear and stabilize with your non-throwing hand. Release your non-throwing hand from the ball and wind your throwin arm back behind your ear. Quickly swing your throwing arm forward in a circular arc, releasing the ball midway through the circle. Your hand should finish towards your non-dominant hip. To get more spin on your pass snap your wrist forward as you follow through.
Track and Field
Where to play in Lethbridge Lethbridge Track and Field Club Track and Field Club offering training sessions all year around serving mainly 10-18 year old athletes. Learn more at: http://lethbridgetrack.ca/
Games and Activities to learn the skills of track and field Who can throw further? Using either the discus or shot put throw from a designated spot, measure the distance of the throw with the measuring tape and take turns. Compete to throw further than the person you are playing with. Race With one other person or a group set a designated start and finish line. Someone yells go and race against each other to be first to cross the finish line. Relay Race With a group of people, split up equally. This is easiest done on a track but can be done in any large space with designated relay spots. Depending how many people are on each team, space them throughout the length of the desgnated running space. The first person runs with the baton in hand until they reach their teammate. They then hand the baton to that teammate who runs with the baton to the next teammate. Depending how many people cotinue this until the last person gets the baton and runs across the finish line. Switch up players on teams if wanted.
Track and Field
How to throw the discus Begin with a stance a little wider than shoulder width apart. The ideal stance will also have a slight bend in the knees and waist, think of yourself as a coiled spring getting ready to release. Hold onto the discus with one hand. Place your palm down on the top of the discus so that it is facing the ground. Then spread out your fingers along the outer edge of the discus so they are evenly spaced.Use your dominate hand to hold the discus. Extend the arm holding the discus, maintaining the position of the discus so it is face down. Swing your arm and spin your body, this will help you gain momentum for the throw. Carry the momentum through the release and ground your non-dominant foot in the direction you are throwing. Finally, release the disc as you come around to the direction you are aiming. How to throw the shot put Position yourself a quarter turn from the direction of your target. Step back with your non-dominant foot. This gives you stability and momentum for throwing the shot. Lower your body by bending your hips and knees. Place the shot put at the base of your fingers in your dominant hand. Bend your hand in a cocked position, imagine you are balancing a pizza box. Hold the shot put at your neck, right by the jaw line. Elbow should be bent and parallel to the floor. To throw the shot put explode into a standing position, twisting your body to the same side as your throwing hand as you rise so that you are facing the target. Use your entire body to throw the shot, extend your arm to its full length while pivoting your hips to face forward. Push the shot away from your neck in one fluid motion.