ABSTRACT
A number of structural, task, and environmental constraints have been identified that influence the development of overarm throwing. Researchers have used techniques to study product performance changes in children’s throwing performance: throwing for distance; throwing for accuracy; and a measure of throwing velocity. A basic question has been whether instruction can facilitate developmental changes or whether the year-to-year improvement observed in many fundamental skills is attributable more to age than to instruction. A qualitative evaluation can also be utilized to highlight gender differences in overarm throwing performance. Catching is the action of bringing an airborne object under control by using the hands and arms. In contrast to throwing research, there has been little process-oriented research into developmental stages associated with the fundamental movement pattern. A wealth of information exists regarding the development of two-handed catching in young boys and girls, but few studies have examined children’s ability to catch with one hand.
