Abstract
The overarm throw is a fundamental skill and is the basis
upon which many games are built. Most children acquire the skill
naturally but a minority have difficulty learning it and some never
master it. It is possible that instruction given at the right time
and in an appropriate manner would help the minority to a more accomplished level of performance of the skill. With this in mind
the study sets out to establish a clear understanding of the overarm
throw. The throw is described and analysed in terms of kinesiological,
physiological, biomechanical, developmental and psychological factors.
A number of experiments were conducted in an attempt to establish
criteria for good performance of an overarm throw. Video tape was
used to record many throws and repeated observations of the recorded
throws have been made. As a result of the experiments and in
combination with study of the literature it became clear that the key
to the performance of a good throw was the establishment of the correct
basic movement pattern. The final section outlines a method of
teaching the overarm throw which seeks to develop the basic movement
pattern.
