Minds On

Pregame pep talk

A softball team and coach do a team cheer.

Building team spirit

Often before a competition or game, coaches will give their team or their player a pep talk.

A pep talk is given to build self-esteem, confidence, and motivation. The intended outcome of a pep talk is better performance in the activity or sport. The pep talk may include words to encourage teamwork, ideas for adjustments and tactical solutions that the team can do to improve their performance.

Check out the following video entitled “Speed Skating” to learn about a pep talk given by Perdita Felicien, who is a former Canadian world champion hurdler.

Consider the following question as you explore the video:

  • How did Perdita’s pep talk make you feel or how do you think it made the athletes feel?

Now let’s give ourselves or another person a pep talk. In this learning activity, you will be developing skills in baseball and/or kickball. Create a pep talk to help encourage either yourself or a partner for this learning activity.

Consider the following as you make your pep talk:

  • Is it clear and direction-oriented?
  • Does it express empathy?
  • Is there a purpose or a desired outcome from your pep talk?

Action

Baseball and kickball

Playing Kickball

Playing Baseball

Baseball and kickball are two sports that fall under the fielding and striking category of physical activity. In this learning activity, you are going to learn and practise how to pitch, catch, and bat a ball.

Safety

Before you begin, consider these safety precautions:

Warm Up

Warm up

Let’s do a warm up before we get into our main activities! Warm ups will help you better perform a movement/activity while also greatly reducing your chance of injury.

Depending on what activities you are performing, choose one of the following warm ups, or you may do a combination of them.

Press the following tabs to access the warm ups.

  • Jogging: Let’s start off with a relaxed jog for 5 minutes. You can jog in one place or back and forth in your space.
  • Jumping jacks: Now do 10 jumping jacks! To perform a jumping jack, position your body straight up with hands to your sides. Then jump and spread legs apart and bring arms above the head. After that, jump back into starting position.
  • Toe touch: Time to touch our toes! Have your body straight up. Then lean and bend forward and try your best to touch your toes. Hold the position for 10-20 seconds, return to straight upward position and repeat 10 times.
  • Sit-up: Now do 10 sit-ups! To set-up a sit-up, lay on your back and bend your knees to form a ‘V’ shape with your legs. Bend your upper body towards your knees to perform the sit-up.
  • Mountain climber: Finally, do the mountain climber for 60 seconds. To perform the mountain climber set yourself up in the push up position, then bring each knee forward as if you were climbing.

  • Neck Tilts and Rotations: Slowly tilt your head side to side 10 times and then slowly and carefully rotate your neck 10 times in each direction.
  • Arm Circles: Straighten your body and put your arms straight out to the sides. Then start forming circles in one direction, start with small circles and work your way up to large circles. Do this 10 times and then repeat with the opposite direction.
  • Chest Expansions: Straighten your body and put your arms out straight to the sides with palms of hand facing forward. Bring your hands together in a clapping motion slowly, then return to the starting position. Do this 10 times.
  • Wrist Circles: Clasp your wrists together and start to circle your wrists in one direction. Do this 10 times and then repeat with the opposite direction.
  • Shoulder Rolls: Put your arms to the side keeping your posture straight. Rotate your shoulders forward to make a circle. Do this 10 times and then repeat with the opposite direction.

  • High Knee Jog: Standing straight with shoulder-width apart perform a jog but raise your knees to about waist level. Do this for two minutes.
  • Side-to-Side Hops: Standing straight with hands to side and feet hip-width apart hop side to side quickly. Do this for two minutes.
  • Lunges: Stand straight with feet hip-width apart and arms grabbing the side of your hips. Take a step forward and bend your knees so that you form two 90-degree angles with your legs with one leg forward and one leg behind. Hold the position for 20-30 seconds then switch legs and repeat. Do this three times.
  • Squat Side Kick: Go into a squat position so that your feet are shoulder-width apart and your hips are back. Then gradually get up and shift your weight towards one leg so that you can lift your other leg out to the side in a slow kick motion. Then return to the squatting position. Do this 10 times for each leg.
  • Lateral Leg Swing: Stand upright, holding onto a wall with one hand for support and the other hand placed on the side of your hip. Swing one leg in front carefully across your body from side to side for 10 times. Then repeat with other leg.

As you go through the various skills, complete the Pitching, Catching, and Batting Questions 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.

Pitching, Catching, and Batting Questions

Press the Activity button to access Pitching, Catching, and Batting Questions.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Equipment

The equipment you will need if you are practising skills in baseball are:

  • a baseball/softball. You can also use a round plush toy or roll a sock into a ball.
  • a baseball bat. You can also use an empty plastic bottle, paper towel roll, or a ruler. If you are using a bat, be mindful of how heavy the ball is in relation to the stiffness of your bat.
  • a baseball glove (optional)
  • a baseball t-shirt (optional)
  • empty plastic bottles, plastic/paper cups, and/or soda cans to use as targets

The equipment you will need if you are practising skills in kickball are:

  • a medium sized ball. You can also use a balloon, a round plushie toy, or blow into a plastic bag and tie it up.
  • empty plastic bottles, plastic/paper cups, and/or soda cans to use as targets

Pitching

Pitching a Ball

Pitching is when a player sends the ball towards the home plate. The aim is to strike out the player who is at bat. Let’s consider the following examples of pitching.

Check out the following slow motion video entitled “Baseball Player Winding Up and Pitching Baseball” to learn more about pitching.

Explore the following video entitled “Kids Playing Kickball” to learn more about pitching.

Try It

Pitching practice

Now let’s try pitching.

In this activity, you will be pitching at targets.

If you are practising skills in baseball, make sure to set up your targets on an elevated surface such as a table or bench.

If you are practising for kickball, you can set up your targets on the floor.

Set up your targets in diverse directions and distances.

Targets such as plastic cups set up on a table, a bench and on the floor.

How to Set Up Pitching Targets

Experiment with a variety of pitches! Try adjusting your speed, direction, and way you pitch.

Catching

Catching a Ball

Being able to catch and then send the ball quickly to prevent the opposing team from scoring is key for fielding and striking sports.

Explore the following slow motion video entitled “Fielding Baseball” to check out a demonstration of two learners catching a ball in diverse ways.

Try It

Catch craze

Now let’s try catching. This would work best if you can find a partner, but if you would like to work on your own you may find a wall to send and receive the ball or throw the ball in the air and try to catch it.

Practising Catching A Ball

Experiment with a variety of catching techniques! Try adjusting the height at which you catch at, the hand(s) you catch it with, catching while staying stationary, and catching while moving around.

Batting

Batting

Batting is when a player is having a face-off with the pitcher from the opposing team as they try to send the ball. The desired outcome of batting is that the player sends the ball far away so that they and possibly their teammates can move through all the bases to score points.

Let’s check out the following videos that demonstrate batting in baseball and kickball.

Explore the video entitled “Baseball Player Hitting Baseball With Bat” to learn more about batting in baseball.

Check out the following video entitled “Children Playing a Game of Kickball” to learn more about batting in kickball.

Try It

Hey, batter, batter

Now let’s try batting.

If you have a partner, you may get them to send you the ball.

If you are on your own, you can have the ball set up on a tee or you can throw it up in the air.

If you are doing kickball, then you have the ball on the ground.

For a challenge, set up some targets and try to hit them with the ball like you did for the pitching activity.

Practising batting

Experiment with a variety of batting techniques!

For baseball, try adjusting your speed, force, and the way you swing, such as which part of the bat hits the ball and height of the swing.

For kickball, try adjusting your speed, force, where your foot makes contact with the ball, and how much or how fast you move up to kick the ball.

Cool Down

Cool down

Now it’s time for a cool down! It’s important to allow your body to gradually return to a resting state after intense physical activity.

Remember to perform your safety check before you begin.

Depending on what activities you are performing, choose one of the following cool downs, or you may do a combination of them.

Press the following tabs to access the cool downs.

  • Jogging: Begin with a jog and transition to a walk. Do this for 2-5 minutes.
  • Wide Toe Touch: Now do wide toe touches for 60 seconds. To perform a wide toe touch, position your body in the shape of a star, then bend forward and reach with one arm to touch the opposite foot. The other arm which is on the same side as the foot is pointed upwards. Hold this position for 10-15 seconds, then return to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
  • Quad Stretch: Stand up straight and shift your weight to one leg. Then lift your other leg backwards towards your butt and grab it with the arm on the same side. Hold it for 20-30 seconds and repeat with the other leg. Do this 5 times for each leg.
  • Child’s Pose: Do the child pose for 30 seconds. To perform the child pose, get down on your knees and bend your body forwards stretching your arms out. Your forehead should be resting on the floor.
  • Abdominal Stretch: Now, do an abdominal stretch for 30 seconds. To perform the abdominal stretch, lie face down with legs straight up and place your arms in a push up position. Push upwards and slowly lift your torso holding the position.

  • Shoulder Stretch: Bring one arm across your chest bend your other arm to help support it into position. Hold the position for 30 seconds and then do the opposite side. Repeat three times.
  • Triceps Stretch: Bend one arm up and behind towards your shoulder blade. Use the other arm to help support it into position. Hold the position for 30 seconds and then do the opposite side. Repeat three times.
  • Overhead Stretch: With your body straight interlock your fingers and bring your arms above your head. Have your palms facing away from you. Hold the position for 60 seconds.
  • Torso Stretch: With your body straight fold one arm behind your back and use the other arm to help support it into position. Then bend your torso towards one side. Hold the position for 30 seconds and then do the opposite side. Repeat three times.
  • Chest-Cross Arm Swing: With your body straight put your hands horizontally straight out to the sides and then swing your arms to make an ‘X’ shape back and forth for 60 seconds.

  • Flutter Kick: Lie on your back with your hands to the side. Lift your legs and perform a kicking motion, alternating the legs back and forth. Do this for one minute.
  • Side-Lying Leg Lifts: Lie on your side with one arm supporting your head and one arm bend in front supporting your body in position pushing against the ground. Lift your leg slowly and gradually return it back. Do this five times and then switch to the other leg.
  • Single Leg Hug: You can do this lying on your back or standing straight up. With your arms hug your thigh to bring one knee towards your chest. Hold the position for 20-30 seconds then gradually release and switch sides. Repeat three times.
  • Butterfly Stretch: Sitting on the floor bring both feet together so they are touching. Use your arms to safely move your knees towards the floor. Hold the position for 20-30 seconds and then release gradually. Repeat three times.
  • Hip Flexor Stretch: Kneel on one of your knees and bend your other leg in front of your body at approximately a 90-degree angle. Shift your weight forward until you feel a stretch. Hold the position for 20-30 seconds and switch sides. Repeat three times.

Let’s reflect on your learning!

Now that you have practised your skills in how to pitch, catch, and bat the ball, make sure to complete the Pitching, Catching, and Batting Questions from the beginning of this section.

Consolidation

Tactical solutions

Coaching a Team

You are coaching a team and you need to provide them with advice. Now it is time to take what you have learned about pitching, catching, and batting to identify tactical solutions that will help improve performance and success of your players in a baseball and/or kickball game. Think about what advice you may provide for each of the roles of pitcher, catcher, and batter.

Consider the following questions as you think about what advice to give your team:

  • What are factors that can affect pitching, catching, and batting?
  • What adjustments based on the factors can you do to improve performance and success?
  • When pitching how would you make it more difficult for opponents to hit/kick the ball?
  • When your team is on the field how would you increase the chance of someone on your team catching the ball?
  • When batting how can you increase your chance of hitting the ball?
  • When batting how would you make it more difficult for opponents to catch the ball?

Provide your advice to the team using a method of your choice.

Use the following checklist to help create the advice you provide to your team.

   

Tactical solutions advice success criteria

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.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

Explore this video clip from the “Golf” episode from All-Round Champion. Observe how each of the batting technique of each of the athletes. What are some things you noticed? Are there any tips you got from it?