I have a few students who lack situational awareness, especially during goal shooting practice for fundamental basketball lessons. Any suggestions to help these students become safer for themselves?
Situation: Fourteen students in a 40 minute PE class, split numbers at two hoops; simultaneous goal shots from spaced poly dots about the Lane for near (forward positions) to Lane Elbows & free throw line (close guards). After instant activity warmup, shot fundamentals, cue words and demonstrations, with reminders to be safe and watch out for errant basketballs, a few students repeatedly, place themselves where a ball hits their head. Not just under the basket,and not just beyond the basket (retrieving their missed shot).
Attempted Interventions: 1) always face the hoop to see where most rebounded balls come from; 2) use peripheral vision to see players about to attempt a goal, see other balls in the air; 3) predict where a ball may come from; 4) walk way around behind other players when retrieving own ball; 5) I even attempted to walk with a student a a scree to protect from being hit, and still a ball passed by me and hit the student in the head for the fifth time in one class period! This/these students’ heads are ball magnets.
During paired pass/catch drills (basketball, football, team/olympic handball and even just frisbee) these ball magnets get hit in the head. Often, I notice these students are also ball shy. Fear of ball causing closing eyes then ball hits head, or lack of depth perception or hand-eye coordination allows ball to hit head then bay shyness justifiably results?
Helpful tips, practices, protocols etc. welcomed.
Jim