Throw and Catch (T&C)
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1. Test objective
Determination of coordination performance in precision tasks.
2. Description of the task
The child stands with his back to the wall behind a drop line and holds a gymnastic ball in both hands. After the direct throw through the straddled legs to the wall, he straightens up as quickly as possible and performs a 180° turn towards the wall. The ball bouncing back from the wall is to be caught with both hands or at least touched without touching the ground. There are different scores depending on the execution.
3. Test materials
Gym ball, tape measure, tape for marking the floor, free wall, marking sheet DIN A4.
4. Test setup
A drop line is marked on the floor at a distance of 3m from the wall. The wall must have a smooth surface up to a height of at least 3m. At a height of 120 cm, a marking sheet (DIN A4) is glued to the wall as a guide only.
5. Measurement recording
The test is fulfilled if the child achieves at least 17 points in 10 attempts. The test should not be declared as such. The task contains three sub-elements: Throwing the ball through the legs to the wall, body rotation and catching the ball.
The following points are awarded:
0 points: The ball does not hit the wall directly after being thrown
1 point: The ball hits the wall after being thrown, but is then neither caught nor touched. There is no body rotation in time.
2 points: The ball hits the wall after the throw, but is then neither caught nor touched. There is a timely body rotation.
3 points: The ball hits the wall after being thrown and is then actively touched or caught after making contact with the ground once. There is no timely body rotation.
4 points: The ball hits the wall after being thrown and is caught without contact with the ground (possibly with a change of location by the child or an unsafe catch). There is no timely body rotation.
5 points: The ball hits the wall after being thrown and is then actively touched or caught after single contact with the ground. There is a timely body rotation in which the child does not leave the court.
6. Test instruction
"At this station, you will initially stand with your back to the wall. Then throw the exercise ball at the wall through your spread legs, quickly turn around and catch it again with both hands without it touching the floor. Look between your legs before you throw and aim at the leaf on the wall. Make sure the ball touches the wall first and doesn't bounce on the ground beforehand. Try to catch the ball after throwing it without leaving your place. If you can't catch the ball, at least try to touch it before it hits the ground or catch it after it hits the ground once. You will have 10 attempts at this feat."
7. Special notes
The following sources of error should be noted:
The child...
...closes his eyes or looks away while catching.
...tenses his hands and shows excess mass movements.
...does not orient himself towards the wall or the ball after the turn.
8. Sources
https://www.zebis.ch/sites/default/files/teaching_material/ball_beine_wand.pdf (accessed 03/11/2023)
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