Ball Bouncing Activities
Purpose: To improve visual space prediction and eye-hand coordination
Apparatus: Two rubber balls, about the size of tennis balls; a ping-pong ball; a golf ball
Method:
1. BALL BOUNCE WITH ALTERNATE HANDS: When able to bounce ball with both right and left hand individually, alternately bounce the ball from right hand to left hand. Try to keep bouncing the ball within an 18″ square on the floor.
2. TWO BALL BOUNCE AND CATCH: Bounce and catch two balls in an 18″ square, simultaneously and alternately.
3. BALL BOUNCE UNDER LEG (ONE, TWO, THREE, O’LEARY): Bounce the ball continuously on the floor. One every fourth bounce, swing leg over the ball. Use alternate legs on each fourth count. Also, practice using non-preferred hand. It is well to utilize the counting rhyme with this activity. The rhyme goes:
One, two, three, O’Leary,
Four, five, six, O’Leary,
Seven, eight, nine, and that is all.
4. BALL BOUNCE IN THE CIRCLE: Two players are needed. With chalk or masking tape, make five circles or squares about one foot in diameter on the floor and arranged in a straight line between the two players. Each circle is to be numbered. The assistant calls a number and the patient is to bounce his ball to the assistant by throwing it at the square called. The patient then is to call a number and the assistant is to follow suit, with the patient catching the ball.
5. BALL BOUNCE AND CATCH AGAINST THE WALL: Throw the ball against the wall and catch it as it bounces off. Also, throw the ball at the junction of the wall and the floor, bouncing the ball off the floor onto the wall. Then try bouncing it off the wall onto the floor.
6. CEILING TOSS: Hold a ping-pong ball in one hand and a fold ball in the other. The patient is instructed to toss first one then the other to the ceiling, attempting to come as close as possible without actually hitting it. Alternate the two balls from one hand to the other.
Aspects to be Emphasized:
1. When there is difficulty sustaining ball bouncing with either hand, start with ball bounce and catch, until adequate skill develops for bouncing.
2. Accurate tossing of ball in squares, at wall, to ceiling, etc., and awareness of inaccuracy by patient.
3. Maintain awareness of the rest of the room, or the working area.
