"WITH most of the country likely to see snow this month, why should the kids have all the fun?" begins this PR puff from Rounders England.
They have pulled together information on how to perfect your snowball throwing technique to help ensure you hit your target every time.
Now, before we proceed, it's worth pointing out that kids don't have all the fun, not any more. Snowball fights are banned in a great many of the schools across Merseyside, as is playing out in it. This is in case someone slips and the compo claim lawyers get to hear about it.
Laughing in the face of such litigious, po-facery (or maybe they just didn't know), Dan Newton, Competition & Development Director for Rounders England, says: “As adults, unless we are involved in sports like rounders, cricket, or netball, we don’t get a chance to regularly practice our throwing technique. This means that when the snow comes along we put in a shameful performance in a snowball fight.
"Not this year! The team has come up with some simple instructions to improve your strike rate and have the kids watching in awe."
Indeed, from behind a classroom window.
STEP ONE - Preparation
Form a handful of soft snow into a ball that fits snuggly into the palm of your hand. The snow needs to be packed tightly enough so that it doesn’t break up in mid-flight but loosely enough to ensure break up at impact.
Stand facing your target. Pull back the arm holding the snow ball and, at the same time, take a step back with the foot on the same side as your throwing arm. Point your other arm at the target and rock back so that your body weight is on your back foot.
STEP TWO – Action
Transfer your body weight from your back, to your front foot by rotating your hips. At the same time, bring your throwing arm through, leading the action from your shoulder joint. As your arm reaches a point just in front of your head, flick your wrist and release yoursnowball. This action will increase the speed of the snowball through the air, helping it to maintain a true course towards its target.
STEP 3 – Follow through
Allow your throwing arm to continue on its path, aiming in the direction of your target. If you have too much forward momentum, take a small step forward to avoid an embarrassing fall, face down in the snow!
Throwing techniques are one skill of a Rounders game. There are others for you to discover at the Rounders England website. Here you will find information on local playing opportunities and a Toolkit explaining how to set up your own game of rounders.
