Hand-eye Coordination: Easy Drink Coaster Spin

Game 1:  Catch spinning drink coasters

1. Flip the drink coasters (or use pieces of card box) backward to make them fly slower and let them fall down from a balcony or elevated area for children to catch with a small bucket.

Game 2: Catch with running

1. Have children start from further away, ideally behind a line so that they have to run as soon as the drink coaster has been tossed and catch it on the fly.

Game 3: Catching drink coasters facing away

1. Children face away from the person tossing the drink coasters and on command calling a number or their name, they have to turn around and try to catch the falling drink coaster.

Game 4: How far away can you go?

1. After each time you catch the drink coaster, line up a step further back for the next drink coaster to catch and see how far you can distance yourself from the thrower and still catch the drink coaster.

Tips

1. The higher up you are, the further away from children should start running.
2. The key when tossing is to make the drink coaster or piece of cardboard spin as quickly as possible which will slow down the drink coaster and minimize directional changes.
3. To make this work well it is best for the coach to toss them.
4. If your gym floor is smooth, clean up the drink coaster regularly to keep children from slipping on the coasters.
   

Goals

Main focus: Hand-eye coordination is improved with the catching
In addition: Reaction to getting started and physicality, speed, and endurance over time.

Progressions

1. Use smaller buckets or,
2. have them catch with their hands or T-Shirt to increase the challenge,
   
3. Have children start from further away and after each time you catch the drink coaster, line up a step further back for the next drink coaster to catch and see how far you can distance yourself from the thrower and still catch the drink coaster to further increase the challenge.