juggling for elementary students?

4
This article was downloaded by: [New York University] On: 06 December 2014, At: 15:22 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ustr20 Juggling for Elementary Students? Jack C. Kern a a Department of Exercise and Sport , West Texas A&M University in Canyon , TX Published online: 23 Jan 2013. To cite this article: Jack C. Kern (1996) Juggling for Elementary Students?, Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators, 9:4, 20-22, DOI: 10.1080/08924562.1996.10592094 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08924562.1996.10592094 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

Upload: jack-c

Post on 07-Apr-2017

225 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Juggling for Elementary Students?

This article was downloaded by: [New York University]On: 06 December 2014, At: 15:22Publisher: RoutledgeInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House,37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport EducatorsPublication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ustr20

Juggling for Elementary Students?Jack C. Kern aa Department of Exercise and Sport , West Texas A&M University in Canyon , TXPublished online: 23 Jan 2013.

To cite this article: Jack C. Kern (1996) Juggling for Elementary Students?, Strategies: A Journal for Physical and SportEducators, 9:4, 20-22, DOI: 10.1080/08924562.1996.10592094

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08924562.1996.10592094

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) containedin the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make norepresentations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of theContent. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, andare not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon andshould be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable forany losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoeveror howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use ofthe Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematicreproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in anyform to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

Page 2: Juggling for Elementary Students?

Jack C. Kern is an assistant professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX

20

\0

E lementary-aged students can learn to juggle. You simply need to teach with a slow, proper progression to be sure students are successful every step

of the way. Juggling is great for students this age. Juggling enhances their eye-hand coordi­nation, self concept, and concentration skills. Your students may be surprised at how easily they develop complex juggling skills .

Use Bean Bags To get students comfortable with the juggling techniques, have them use bean bags. If you use balls, even small balls that the students can easily grip, students will get frustrated because balls roll away. Many teachers start students juggling using scarves. They're useful items to promote tossing and catching success. However, scarves are not ideal to help elemen­tary-aged students learn proper juggling sequences. Scarves are large and students' hands are small, so they'll learn to throw and catch, but not to juggle. Bean bags are small and lightweight, easy to grip, and don't roll away. Another great reason to use bean bags­they don't hurt if an occasional stray toss ends up hitting a student's nose!

Start With One Bean Bag Successful juggling begins with the ability to toss one bean bag to a consistent height with one hand, and subsequently catch it with the opposite hand. Have your students imagine a picture frame extending from waist height to

en Jack C

just above the head, about shoulder width apart. Tell students to try to toss and catch from one hand to the other keeping the bean bag in the "framed" area. It is important that students toss and catch the bag-not simply "bat" it from one hand to the other.

Students may find it easy to toss a bean bag from the dominant to the nondominant hand, but may have more difficulty tossing from the nondominant to the domina,nt hand. This maneuver will take a great deal more practice. Emphasize using the fingers , rather than the palm of the hand, to toss anti catch. Some elementary students, about 5-7 years old, will stay at this stage for a long time. So, work for short periods on this skill and have students practice it often (e.g. , 5-7 minutes each week).

Be sure to start students with only one bean bag. Many instructors give l:Jeginners two bean bags. This will cause students to learn im­proper juggling techniques. Students with two bean bags tend to toss the bags from the dominant hand and simply "hand off" the bean bag from the nondomittant to the domi­nant hand. While students may experience success with this, the potential to add a third bean bag in this situation is virtually impos­sible.

Toss-toss If students can make l 0 successful tosses and catches with one bean bag, they are ready to

Strategies/January 1996

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

New

Yor

k U

nive

rsity

] at

15:

22 0

6 D

ecem

ber

2014

Page 3: Juggling for Elementary Students?

rtentar • Kern

advance to two bean bags. To teach them the proper tossing sequence, have students make alternate tosses in a diagonal fashion, making sure the bean bags stay within the "framed" area. Tell students to toss the first bean bag diagonally from the dominant hand to the top of the frame on the nondominant-hand side. For example, a right-handed student would toss the bean bag from the right hand to the top of the left-hand frame. As the bean bag nears its peak, ask students to toss the second bean bag. Look for these two common errors at this stage:

1) Tossing both bags simultaneously. This will most likely cause the bean bags to collide in midair. In addition, this leaves students no time to toss the third bean bag (when they progress to this stage). Correct this improper technique immediately. Cue the students to toss-toss in alternate fashion. Spend as much time as necessary on this; it's important to get students to develop a "feel" for the alternate­toss continuity.

2) Errant nondominant hand tosses. To correct these tosses , have the beginners at this stage toss with the nondominant hand first. This allows students to concentrate more on the initial toss. It is also important not to stress catching the bags at this stage. Focus your teaching cues on the tossing aspect. If students are able to catch the bean bags as well, it simply means they are ready to progress to the next stage.

January 1996/Strategies

Toss-toss/ Catch-catch The key to successful juggling lies in the tossing/catching sequence with two bean bags: toss-toss/catch-catch . Repeat this phrase regularly to remind students of this sequence. Get students to say it to themselves often. Have students start the toss-toss/catch-catch sequence by tossing first with the left hand and second with the right hand. Then start the next sequence by tossing with the right hand first and the left hand second. This will help students avoid getting into a habit of always tossing with the same hand first . Point out to students that the second hand to toss is the first hand to catch.

The more comfortable students get with this stage of tossing and catching, the faster they should be able to continue the sequence. Do not allow students to add a third bag until they can continuously toss-toss/catch-catch about 10 times without dropping the bags. Try to get all of upper level elementary students (approxi­mately 10-12 year olds) to this stage.

The Third Bean Bag

Students who master the previous stage can quickly experience success with a third bean bag. Have them try tossing and catching all three bags in a sequence of "toss-toss-catch­toss-catch-catch." While this sequence may sound confusing it simply includes an added toss and catch with the third bag. Instruct students to start with two bean bags in the

Editor's Note: The authors of this article and the next one,on page

23, have different juggling

philosophies. Both are

experienced teachers and prefer their

juggling method. You can try each one and see which works best for you.

21

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

New

Yor

k U

nive

rsity

] at

15:

22 0

6 D

ecem

ber

2014

Page 4: Juggling for Elementary Students?

dominant hand. Have them hold one bag in the finger tips and one at the base of the fingers. Then, practice the juggling sequence. If students properly toss and catch, they will catch two bean bags in the nondominant hand and one in the dominant hand. The sequence, if a student is right-hand dominant, would be:

• right hand toss,

• left hand toss,

• left hand catch ,

• right hand toss,

• right hand catch, and

• left hand catch .

Emphasize diagonal tossing within the "framed" area. Also, keep students from attempting continuous tossing and catching until they can toss and catch all three bean bags in one sequence.

Continuous Juggling

Practice and concentration are the two ingre­dients students need to continually improve

The IJA Is Juaal~na Get more out of juggling by joining the International Jugglers Association. Member­ship includes Juggler's World, a quarterly magazine that covers juggling from art to sport and from "chops" to props. Plan now to attend the IJA's 49th Annual Festival July 16-21, 1996, in Rapid City, S.D.

22

IJA :. Box 218 Montague MA 01351

413/367-240 I •: [email protected]

their juggling abilities. You can teach students who have mastered the basic techniques some advanced juggling skills. This will maintain their interest and offer them new challenges. The basic juggling sequence is sometimes referred to as the "under" method because the tossed bags travel under the previously tossed bags. To add variety, teach students the "over" method. It's a bit more difficult, but students with more advanced skills will probably be able to master it. Students simply toss bean bags over or around incoming bags.

You can also teach students to make the first toss in the juggling sequence in a variety of ways (e.g., under the legs or behind the back). This is not nearly as difficult as it may seem because it only affects the original throw before the juggling sequence has sta,rted. Another advanced level juggling technique you can use to keep your students' interest high is the "snatch" method. Students snatch the bean bags out of the air with the palms facing down, or away, from the body. Gradually introduce this technique by having students first "snatch" with the dominant hand and use ~he nondominant hand in a normal palms-up fashion.

Teach students of all levels to juggle using a slow and proper progression. Be sure to recognize all stages of students' success:

• tossing and catching,

• complete juggling, and

• all stages along the way.

While making three-point shots in basketball and executing highly skilled gymnastic stunts may be confined to those students that possess advanced athletic skills, any child can experi­ence a degree of success while juggling. You'll want to teach juggling to elementary school students because it:

costs little or nothing,

challenges students,

offers success for inexperienced and experi­enced students,

increases self concept,

improves eye-hand coordination, and

shows that physical education is for everyone .

Strategies/January 1996

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

New

Yor

k U

nive

rsity

] at

15:

22 0

6 D

ecem

ber

2014