Minds On

Holding

There are many activities that involve controlling an object, keeping an object safe, or carrying an object safely.

For each object, select the corresponding sport.

Student Success

Think-Pair-Share

  • What other sports, activities, or games involve controlling an object, keeping an object safe, or carrying an object safely?

If possible, discuss your ideas with a peer or adult. You can also record your ideas on paper, on a computer, as an audio or video clip, or by using another method of your choice.

Action

Retaining

There are many different ways to hold onto an object. This is also called retaining an object.

Press 'What does retaining mean?' to access a definition of retaining.

Retaining means to maintain the possession of an object while being still or while moving.

Dribbling in soccer, running with the ball in football, and carrying a ball in lacrosse are all examples of retaining.

When this learning activity refers to objects, it does not only mean a ball; it can be any safe object of your choice.

For example, you can use any of the following as objects:

A crumpled paper ball, cloth ball, balled up sock, ball of yarn, bean bag, and soft plastic ball.

We are now going to explore how you can use the skills and strategies of retaining objects in different physical activities.

Let's get warmed up!

Always be sure to do your safety checks before starting an activity.

Before you begin, check:

Safety

Before you begin:

Warm Up

Squats warm up

Warmups are simple activities that slowly increase our heart rate and get our muscles and joints ready!

Let's warm up with squats.

  1. If possible, stand up straight with arms forward at shoulder height, palms facing down, and feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  2. Slowly bend knees and squat down until thighs are parallel to the floor.
  3. Rise up slowly and return to the starting position.
  4. Repeat 15 times.

Press 'Modification' to access an alternate warm up activity.

Frog jumps

  1. If possible, squat low with knees bent, toes forward, and hands on the ground.
  2. Jump up, extend arms, and land on toes.
  3. Jump again and return to the starting position.
  4. Repeat 15 times.

Carrying an object

Carrying is one way of retaining an object. Carrying involves keeping an object with you while moving.

Holding a football while running or moving an object to the other side of a room are both examples of carrying.

Carrying strategies

There are different strategies you can use to improve your carrying skills.

When carrying an object, you should:

  • maintain a firm grip around the object
  • keep the object close to your body
  • carry the object under one arm with your other hand on top
  • move in different directions using short, swift steps

Try It

Practising carrying activity

Using an object of your choice, complete four of the following six carrying activities. Try each of your selected activities for one minute and use two hands to carry your object.

Remember to perform your safety check before you begin!

Activity 1 Carry your object while hopping on the spot.
Activity 2 Carry your object while tagging anything that is red.
Activity 3 Carry your object while skipping.
Activity 4 Carry your object while bouncing it every five seconds.
Activity 5 Carry your object while throwing it upwards and catching it every five seconds.
Activity 6 Carry your object while balancing it on a plate, racquet, or scoop.

Carrying challenge

If possible, complete 2 of the activities while carrying your object with one hand.

Dribbling an object

Dribbling is another way of retaining an object. Dribbling involves controlling an object with your hands, feet, or equipment while moving.

Bouncing a basketball with your hand, controlling a soccer ball with your feet, or controlling a puck with a hockey stick are all examples of dribbling.

Dribbling strategies

There are different strategies you can use to improve your dribbling skills.

Press each tab to explore strategies for different ways of dribbling.

When dribbling an object with your hand, you should:

  • keep your head up and eyes forward
  • flex your knees and lean forward
  • keep the object low and close to your body
  • bounce the object at or below waist-level
  • control the bouncing object using your wrist and finger pads

Check out the following video demonstrating dribbling by hand.

When dribbling an object with your foot, you should:

  • keep your head up and eyes forward
  • use your arms to maintain balance
  • keep the object close to your body
  • move the object using the inside and outside of your feet (not your toes)
  • use short and quick shuffles to control the object
  • put your foot on top of the object to stop it from moving or to change direction

Check out the following video demonstrating dribbling by foot.

Try It

Practising dribbling

Using an object of your choice, complete the two following dribbling activities.

Dribbling with hands activity

Press the following tabs to access the equipment and steps required to complete this activity.

Remember to perform your safety check before you begin!

  • an object of your choice that you can dribble by hand

  1. Sit on a chair or on the ground.
  2. Dribble your object using both hands for one minute. Remember to keep your head up and the object close to your body.
  3. Have fun!

If possible, dribble your object with one hand for 30 seconds, then switch to your other hand for 30 more seconds.

Dribbling with feet activity

Press the following tabs to access the equipment and steps required to complete this activity.

Remember to perform your safety check before you begin!

  • an object of your choice that you can dribble by foot
  • at least five soft objects

  1. Move to an open area and arrange your soft objects in a circle.
  2. Dribble your object using both feet while moving in and out of the soft objects. Remember to put your foot on top of the object to change direction or to stop it from moving away.
  3. Dribble your object around the circle 3 times.
  4. Have fun!

Dominant and non-dominant

It can be helpful to practise skills using both your dominant and non-dominant body parts.

Dominant means the hand or foot that a person feels most comfortable using. For example, a left-handed student may be more comfortable sending and receiving with their left hand.

Non-dominant means the other hand or foot that a person might not feel so comfortable using.

To determine which of your hands is dominant, consider which hand you use to write, brush, or catch with.

Which hand is your dominant hand?

My dominant hand is…

My non-dominant hand is…

Non-dominant body parts activity

Using an object of your choice, complete two of the following three activities. Try each of your selected activities for one minute using your non-dominant body parts.

Remember to perform your safety check before you begin!

Activity 1 Carry your object while hopping on your non-dominant foot.
Activity 2 Dribble your object with your non-dominant hand while moving in a straight line.
Activity 3 Dribble your object with your non-dominant foot in a straight line, stop the object, then dribble back to where you started.

Pause and Reflect

Time to reflect

When you are finished with carrying and dribbling, reflect on the following questions:

  1. Have you ever used your non-dominant body parts for activities like drawing, colouring, typing, or picking up objects?
  2. What strategies did you use when using your non-dominant body parts?
  3. Was it easier, harder, or the same as when you use your dominant body parts?

Record your ideas on paper, on a computer, as an audio or video clip, or by using another method of your choice.

Cool Down

Yoga cooldown

Explore the following How Do You Feel? video entitled "Yoga" to learn more about stretching and deep breathing to help us relax.

We're now going to cool down with cobra pose and cat pose.

Remember to take slow and deep breaths as you allow the heart rate to return to a normal pace.

Cobra pose

  1. Lie face down on your belly. Place palms near shoulders and keep elbows near the body.
  2. Breathe in, and press on the floor with both hands.
  3. Slowly lift head and chest, then breathe out from the mouth.
  4. Hold pose for 10 seconds and return to the starting position.
  5. Repeat 5 times.

Cat pose

  1. Place hands and knees on the floor, with wrists under shoulders.
  2. Breathe deeply through the nose.
  3. Slowly stretch upper back upwards between shoulder blades and bring chin to chest.
  4. Stretch arms and press hands down into the floor.
  5. Hold pose for 10 seconds and return to the starting position.
  6. Repeat 5 times.

Consolidation

Let's review!

We are now going to review our knowledge of carrying and dribbling.

For each sentence, select the missing word from the drop-down menu.

My retaining challenge

Now it's your turn to create a carrying or dribbling challenge. For example, it could involve dribbling a ball in between your legs or carrying an object while jump roping.

Complete the My Retaining Challenge activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

My Retaining Challenge

Create a retaining challenge by recording answers to the following questions.

If you need help, review the carrying and dribbling strategies from this learning activity.
1. Does your challenge involve carrying or dribbling?
2. Which carrying or dribbling strategies does your challenge involve?
3. What are the steps required to complete your challenge?
4. Optional: What equipment is required to complete your challenge?

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access My Retaining Challenge. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

When you are finished creating your retaining challenge, set it up in a safe environment and then try it yourself!

Remember to perform your safety check before you begin!

If possible, share your challenge with a peer or adult and have them try it.

Have fun!

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.