SPORT SKILLS, MOVEMENT SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS

Playball is a sport program and a movement program
which aims to teach not only physical skills, but also life skills in a positive and educational environment

 Sport Skills

At Playball children between the ages of 2 and 9 are introduced to the wonderful world of sport.Basic skills, sport techniques, mini matches and basic rules of soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, hockey, cricket and netball are coached.

Movement Skills

Playball is an age-specific movement program, recognizing that the younger children in the program need to develop basic motor skills before specialized sport skills can be tackled.

Activities in the 2- 5 age group, focus strongly on improving motor development (muscle tone, dominancy, bilateral symmetry and mid-line crossing) and motor skills fine and gross motor co-ordination, eye and foot /hand co-ordination, body balance, timing, directionality, spatial orientation and motor planning)

Playball not only offers the child maximum movement development, but also an excellent foundation in sport.

 Life Skills

The way in which Playball is presented is educationally sound: it is a positive, unintimidating and non-competitive environment where results are achieved while having fun. Playball coaches do not deal with only one aspect of a child's development. We have a commitment to address the whole child and follow a holistic approach, recognizing that children have social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs.

As competency in motor skills improve, children improve their self-concept, which in turn affects other areas of their lives.
 

Socially, children improve the following skills when involved in the program:

- Independence
- Co-operation
- Leadership
- Sportsmanship
- Communication
- Positive Relationships
- Social Respect
- Flexibility

Emotionally, children gain by being part of Playball, by improving the following life skills:

- Confidence
- Self-Esteem
- Responsibility
- Persistence
- Courage
- Respect
- Positive Attitude

On a cognitive level, children have an opportunity to develop the following life skills:

- Auditory Processing
- Visual Discrimination
- Discipline
- Decision-making
- Goal Setting
- Concentration
 

STAGE OBJECTIVES

Playball recognizes the different development milestones in differing age groups and therefore offers specialized, age-specific programs which are relevant to each specific development level:

2's

Two is a delightful age filled with curiosity, wonderment, growth and new experiences. The two year old program encourages learning and development. The 2 year old is starting to control muscles and movement patterns.

Playball takes advantage of this developmental moment by providing a wide range of suitable activities which stimulate and improve coordination, balance, body and spatial awareness, muscular development and fine motor skills.

3's

The main emphasis is on participation within a group. The environment is non-intimidating, caring and friendly. A healthy balance is maintained between fun and learning as the 3 year old is introduced to basic movement / development skills, which will lay the foundation for future, successful sport participation.

As this is often the first encounter with a formal environment, coaching will also be directed to improving concentration and listening skills.

 4's

The main emphasis is on mastering a variety of sport and movement skills. The balance between participation and the quality of each skill is given careful consideration. By use of repetition, the quality of the execution of each

skill improves. Pupils hereby take great strides into the world of competent sport participation as good ball skills are established and improved on.

 5's

In essence, this stage deals with the refinement of skills - the quality of each movement is thus of the utmost importance. The 5's program includes a wide range of specialized sport skills, formalized sport drills and a large amount of partner work, which lays the foundation for competent sport participation

.

6 - 9's

To develop a love of and interest in sport by:

(i)   refining skills in the sports taught in accordance with
      appropriate age levels;

(ii)  enhancing interest in sport by teaching the rules of the sports;

(iii) skills instruction and skill application in a game situation.