Drs. Killick and Wyant (2013). Sport Pedagogy.

SYSTEMATICOBSERVATIONS
Motordifferencesinhigher&lowerskilledstudents
School Site: CLEVELAND
Activity Observed: Basketball

Date: March 17, 2016

Grade/Age Level: 4th and 5th grade

DIRECTIONS: You will observe many children performing many different kinds of skills. Select 8 (or as many
as you can) different tasks and describe how the high skilled students and the low skilled students are
performing.

Task
1
DRIBBLING

2
SHOOTING

3
CHEST PASSING

4
BOUNCE PASS

Higher Skilled
1. Pushes basketball with
pads of fingers
2. Basketball has backspin
3. Non dribbling arm is up to
protect the basketball
4. Eyes are up
1. Balance the ball on
shooting hand
2. Elbow stays directly under
the ball
3. Eye on target
4. Follow through
1. Square body to target
2. Thumbs against chest
3. Extend arms fully toward
target
1. Spread fingers along the
sides of the basketball
2. Start the ball at chest level
3. Keep knees bent
4. Release by extending arms
down
5. Upon release, turn palms
outward towards floor

Lower Skilled
1. Uses palm to dribble
2. No backspin
3. No arm up to protect
basketball
4. Eyes are down
1.
2.
3.
4.

Ball is not balances

Elbows flared
Eyes not on target
No follow through

1. Not squared towards target

2. Thumbs not against chest
3. No extension of arms
1. Fingers not spread
2. Ball starts at hip
3. Knees not bent