FUNDAMENTAL FRISBEE Flying Disc Throwing Instructions For Teaching Youngsters Craig Sward These following guidelines will help keep the learning fun and effective. 1. THE DISC Choose the flying disc with children's hand size in mind. It's best to use a disc which is good for children to practice with. We have found a FRISBEE disc which children can handle easily (this one type is included for free with each "Heave H.O.E." Basic Throwing Instructional video -25 min.). It is actually good for children and adults of all age groups; above toddler. *For toddlers, we suggest another disc that all Basic Instructions will apply to, and yet has the nice characteristic of being SOFT. It's made of nylon cloth which provides an added measure of safety for toddlers. Little toddlers only sometimes catch with their hands, so until their eye-hand coordination is good enough to always catch with their hands, this soft flying disc is one we suggest you use to keep the game of catch safe for them. Note, there are other "soft" discs.. we just haven't been able to try them all. 2. REPETITION The biggest (and often the most potentially deflating) part of the process of learning to throw any flying disc, is connected to REPETITION -or actually, the lack of. (IE. Whenever a child makes a perfect throw, it's best when quickly followed up by another throw- to help "groove" the skill in their eye-hand thought-processes.) So the Question is: How can a good amount of repetition be achieved to help children more quickly? The Answer is: Use these guidelines for children's practice: A. Use several identical discs (at least 3 or more), which allows the child to throw one disc right after the other. B. When the disc is thrown, the chances of an errant throw is pretty high at first. Many times, we have seen the routine of one errant throw , leads to an even more errant return, and yet an even further errant throw back.. etc. etc. So the guideline is for both throwers to stay in the same area for each throw. This might mean taking the time to place a marker for each thrower, and only throw from one marker to another person, who is on the other marker. Two discs, or two hoola-hoops that are not in use, make good markers. So instruct children to pick up all errant throws and return to their marker and then toss to a child who is on their marker,.. if they have to stray from their marker to retrieve a throw, make sure you are coaching the child to quickly return to their marker before throwing. All this does is insure that they are throwing with the same reference of distance each time, rather than getting into wilder and wilder distances, increasing difficulty. 3. DISTANCE The farther away from the target, the harder it is to reach it. For teaching children (and even new adults), 7 paces/ yards (approximately 20 feet) apart is a good distance. Set up the two markers, and only throw from one marker, to another person on the other marker. All goals should lead to each partner throwing straight to the other partner around waist high. High, looping tosses are often what children think is needed -like with a ball. However, children need to see that a disc will fly straight to any target -riding through the air, without putting loft on the throw. Teach to aim and throw straight to the target. *For Toddlers: parents should just aim to throw the disc back to the ground at the child's feet . Later, as you feel more comfortable with the child's ability to catch, then you can attempt very soft tosses to allow for maximum chance of their catching. (( One of a child's greatest moments of pride will be when you and they cheer over their first, "official" catch. )) 4. INSTRUCTIONS The main parts of the Heave H.O.E. Basic Throwing Instructional Video will help children see exactly what to do and what not to do, and therefore save a lot of breath for teachers. Remember to look for (and point out during actual practice) the common errors that are exhibited on the video. Teachers should also slowly demonstrate what you would like to see them doing. Most details (to correct) will be about the "pull-back" postions and the "release angles." Once the children visually know what to do, then a teacher can use these quick verbal cues to remind them about what they saw on the video. A. The low pull-back. Use Verbal Cues: "Keep it low!".. on the pull back. "You flared up".. on throws that they didn't keep low on pull back. B. Stepping towards the target. Use Verbal Cues: "Stand sideways" "Step as you throw" C. Angled release Use Verbal Cues: "Keep it Angled Down" "Throw at an Angle" 5. ENCOURAGEMENT Everyone needs encouragement. Beginning disc throwers often make one great throw for every 3 or 4 that go astray. So a teacher of a student, needs to be verbally ready to say "Good Throw!" on a good throw and "That's okay, I've got it" on the errant throws. Other key words: A. Practice makes Perfect. B. Third Time is the Charm. Kids love to see this in action, and often get mentally geared up for perfection on every third throw with this running through their mind. It's also a great way to settle down a frustrated student. Keeping them focused on their "magical" third throw - instead of them aiming for perfection on every throw.   OPTIONAL: It's a great idea to use a backstop when learning One of the greatest aspects of playing catch with a disc is that it can be done nearly anywhere, anytime. Playgrounds, fields, parks, empty alleys, backyards, even hallways. But when starting out, the real good places to throw are places which save time running down errant throws: In a small yard In a racquetball court Anyplace where a wall or fence can be used as backstop for the one who is doing the most running due to errant throws. Try using the "Heave H.O.E." Basic FRISBEE Disc Instructional Throwing Video and free disc. Purchase orders are welcome. Order the Video   and get a FREE Disc w/Video!

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