Strike Cues Posters
CUE 01 P.E. Striking Mechanics
FOUNDATION STANCE
READY POSITION
"Feet Wide • Knees Bent • Hands Up • Ready to React!"
FEET WIDER THAN SHOULDERS 1 HANDS UP AT CHEST BENT SPRING KNEES WEIGHT FORWARD
1. Balanced Base
Feet wider than hips. Light on the balls of feet so you can explode in any direction!
2. Spring Knees
Never lock your knees! Keep them unlocked like bouncy coiled springs.
3. Paddle High
Paddle held up right between waist and chest level—never hanging down by knees!
CUE 02 P.E. Striking Mechanics
TRACKING & TIMING
EYES ON THE BALL
"Laser Eyes • Lock on Flight • Watch the Exact Hit!"
LASER EYE TRACKING QUIET, STILL HEAD TRACK RIGHT TO PADDLE
1. Watch It In
Follow the ball all the way from partner's toss or bounce directly to your paddle face.
2. Steady Chin
Don't peek early to see where the ball will go! Keep your chin completely still.
3. Read the Ball
Spot the ball's color, stripes, or spin before hitting so your timing is razor sharp!
CUE 03 P.E. Striking Mechanics
THE POWER LOAD
SWING ARMS BACK
"Turn Shoulders • Coil the Spring • Load Your Power!"
70% WEIGHT ON BACK FOOT PADDLE BACK & LOW TURN SIDE-TO-TARGET POINTER HAND AIMS
1. Show Your Side
Turn your belly button sideways to the target. Your front shoulder points at the ball!
2. Pointer Hand Out
Reach your non-hitting arm straight out like an antenna to track the ball and balance.
3. Load Back Leg
Shift your body weight to your rear foot so you are primed to step into the strike!
CUE 04 P.E. Striking Mechanics
CONTACT & FOLLOW THROUGH
STRIKE!
"Step Forward • Hit Out in Front • Finish Over Shoulder!"
STEP TOWARD TARGET POW! FINISH LIKE A SCARF! HIT OUT IN FRONT LOW-TO-HIGH SWEEP
1. Step Forward
Step your opposite foot directly toward your target and drive your weight forward!
2. Hit in Front
Make contact right off your front hip or knee—never let the ball get behind your body.
3. Wrap Like a Scarf
Don't stop at contact! Sweep low-to-high and wrap the paddle high over opposite shoulder.
Strike Zone Activity Guide
P.E. Unit Playbook Grades 1–6 • Striking with Implements
4-Cue Progression
STRIKE ZONE: GAMES & ACTIVITIES | Active Gymnasium Drills
Engaging, high-repetition games designed to reinforce: 1. Ready Position • 2. Eyes on the Ball • 3. Swing Arms Back • 4. Strike!
A
Gym Warm-Up & Cue Activation (8–10 Min)
Full Class Activity
1. Cue Reflex "Simon Says" All 4 Cues
Teacher calls cue commands rapidly. Students instantly freeze in the exact posture: "Ready Stance!", "Eyes Lock!", "Arms Back!", or "Strike & Scarf!"
Check: Soft knees on Ready, paddle high Fast Paced
2. Balloon Hover Tap Cues 1 & 2
Each student keeps a 9" balloon aloft using soft, upward paddle/hand taps. Between each tap, students must touch their heels and return to Ready Position.
Check: Steady head, watching contact Hand-Eye Focus
1
Game 1: Target Castle Crashers
Target Striking from Batting Tees or Tall Cones
Primary: Swing Arms Back + Strike
Gym Setup: Set up 6 striking stations. At each station, place a batting tee or upside-down traffic cone with a soft foam ball 15 feet away from a "Castle" made of stacked bowling pins or cardboard bricks.
How to Play: In pairs, Player A assumes Ready Position, executes Swing Arms Back, steps forward, and Strikes the ball toward the Castle. Partner B safely retrieves behind the safety line and restacks.
Scoring: 1 pt per pin tumbled • 3 pts for king center cone Switch roles every 4 strikes
Station Visual Setup
Striker
Tee Ball
Castle
Coaching Cue: "Coil your hips away from the castle before you release your strike!"
2
Game 2: Volcano Eruption
Self-Drop & Bounce Striking into Target Craters
Primary: Eyes on Ball + Contact Point
Gym Setup: Scatter 4 colored hula-hoops ("Volcano Craters") at 10, 15, 20, and 25 feet in front of each court lane. Provide tennis balls or high-density foam bounce balls.
How to Play: Striker drops the ball from waist height, lets it bounce once, tracks the ball with Eyes on the Ball, and strikes upward to arc the ball into one of the hoops.
Hoop Points: Yellow = 1 pt • Green = 2 pts • Red = 3 pts Team goal: Reach 15 pts
Bounce-Hit Path
Drop
BOUNCE
Coaching Cue: "Drop, bounce, strike! Don't rush—wait for the ball to rise to your hip!"
Safety Check: Strikers must stay on their marked dots. Retrievers wait until partner yells "CLEAR!" before gathering balls.
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Gym Playbook Cooperative & Station Play
Full Skill Application
GAMES 3 & 4: RALLIES & GYM STATIONS
Moving from isolated striking to cooperative rallying and multi-station rotations.
3
Game 3: Alley Rally Grand Prix
2-Player Cooperative Rally Over Low Net or Cone Line
All 4 Cues in Flow
Gym Setup: Create 10 ft x 15 ft mini-courts divided by jump ropes, gym benches, or low badminton nets. Two players per mini-court with foam paddle balls.
How to Play: Player 1 serves with an underhand strike. Ball must bounce once on partner's side. Partner 2 resets in Ready Position, tracks with Eyes on Ball, draws Arms Back, and Strikes it back.
Mission: Work together to achieve a "Grand Prix 10-Hit Rally" Non-competitive team score
Mini-Court Layout
Player 1
Player 2
Coaching Cue: "Call 'MINE!' the moment you track the ball over the line!"
4
4-Station Gymnasium Circuit Setup
6–7 Min per Station
Corner 1
Tee Knockout
Batting tees hitting targets on wall mats.
Arm Back Focus
Corner 2
Volcano Bounce
Bounce-hit into concentric hoop zones.
Eyes on Ball
Corner 3
Wall Rebound
Continuous strike against smooth gym wall.
Ready Stance
Corner 4
Alley Rally
Partner rally over gym bench or jump rope.
Strike & Follow
Differentiation & Equipment Modifications
Simplify / Scale Down (Novice / Younger)
- Larger Implements: Use oversized foam paddles or jumbo racquets.
- Slower Flight: Use 9" balloons, foam fluff balls, or punch balloons.
- Stationary Striking: Use suspended tethered balls or tall foam batting tees.
Extend / Level Up (Advanced / Older)
- Smaller Implements: Standard pickleball paddles or table tennis bats.
- Directional Targets: Call target colors in mid-air right before the strike.
- Non-Dominant Hand: Strike 3 reps dominant, 3 reps non-dominant.
Gym Cadence (Call & Response)
Teacher: "Ready Position?" → Class: "KNEES SOFT!" • Teacher: "Laser Eyes?" → Class: "ON THE BALL!" • Teacher: "Arms Back?" → Class: "LOAD AND STRIKE!"
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Strike Detective Peer Scorecard
P.E. Skill Tracker
STRIKE DETECTIVE SCORECARD
Be a coach! Watch your partner take 5 strikes. Check off each cue they nail!
Class / Period:
Date:
1
Striker (Athlete):
2
Detective (Observer):
Detective Mission: Stand 10 feet to the side in a safe spot. Watch one cue at a time during partner's hits! Check the box if you clearly see the cue.
5 Strikes Total
CUE 1
Ready Position
"Feet wide, soft knees, hands up"
Before the Ball Arrives
Strike 1
Strike 2
Strike 3
Strike 4
Strike 5
CUE 2
Eyes on the Ball
"Laser focus from drop to paddle contact"
Tracking
Strike 1
Strike 2
Strike 3
Strike 4
Strike 5
CUE 3
Swing Arms Back
"Turn side to target, paddle back & loaded"
The Power Load
Strike 1
Strike 2
Strike 3
Strike 4
Strike 5
CUE 4
Strike!
"Step toward target, contact in front, wrap scarf"
Execution & Finish
Strike 1
Strike 2
Strike 3
Strike 4
Strike 5
Detective Shoutout
Circle your partner's superpower today:
Fast Ready Stance Laser Vision Huge Power Coil Awesome Finish
Detective Signature:
Striker Self-Goal
Next round, the cue I will focus on most is:
Ready Stance Eyes on Ball Arms Back Strike & Follow
Safety Golden Rule: Keep 2 paddle-lengths of space between you and your partner at all times!
Switch Roles on Whistle!
