WHO INFORMATION SERIES ON SCHOOL HEALTH ... - PAHO/WHO

Basic motor skills:
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Promoting Physical Activity in Schools
To be able to perform most physical exercises and sport, children must have developed basic motor skills.
Acquiring these basic motor skills, a physically educated student can perform a variety of physical activities,
and is thus prepared to participate regularly in physical activity.
Basic motor skills:
Catching: Catching is receiving and controlling an object by the body or its parts. As children
learn to catch, they may first fear the ball and pull away to protect themselves. As they progress
they catch a ball with their whole body, then with their arms and hands, and eventually with their
hands alone. Some basic activities that involve catching are first catching balloons or bubbles
and later basketballs, softballs, and catching activities of cultural games.
Running: Many activities and sports involve running for short or long distances. To run safely,
efficiently and without falling children need to learn how to use legs, feet, toes and arms,
techniques in running downhill and uphill, wearing appropriate clothes.
Throwing: Throwing skills are required for activities such as throwing snowballs, frisbees, cultural
games and for sports such as cricket, basketball, hand ball or volleyball. Children need to be
taught the correct way of throwing — the position of objects, the position of hands, watching
the target, eye, body and feet coordination, placement of the feet and balancing the body.
Jumping and Hopping: Jumping and hopping activities involve jumping rope, jumping over
obstacles, diagonal jump, hopping on one leg etc. Again, eye, body and feet coordination as
well as body balance are essential.
Kicking : Kicking activities involve kicking any ball – soft foam ball, rolled up paper wad, many
local and cultural games, sports including football, karate and judo.
WHO Information Series on School Health