- Definition
Follow-through" is the natural ending motion after you've thrown a ball, hit something, or kicked, where your body continues to move in the direction of the action until it slows down and you regain your balance.
After a basketball player releases the ball for a shot, their wrist stays flicked downward in a follow-through to help guide the ball.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Follow-through is like how your arm keeps swinging in a smooth circle even after you've let go of a baseball you are throwing.
Ask your child: When you kick a soccer ball, where does your foot go after it touches the ball?
Common mix-up: Kids might think a physical action ends the exact moment they release the ball. The follow-through is a crucial part of the movement that improves aim and prevents injury.
Examples
- A golfer's club continuing its arc up and over their shoulder after striking the golf ball.
- A tennis player's racket crossing over their body after they hit a forehand shot.
follow-through is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
