Simultaneous investigation of effects of distance of projection and object size on object reception by children in grade 1.

This study examined simultaneously the effects of distance of projection (4-, 6-, and 8-horizontal ft.) and object size (6-, 8.5-in., and 10-in. diameter balls) on object reception by children in the first grade. 6 boys and 6 girls were randomly assigned to each of the 3 distances (36 subjects total). Each subject was administered 36 trials, 12 attempted catches with each ball size at their assigned distance. All balls were projected by a device designed to control accuracy as well as the angle of projection for projections to each distance. Each attempted each was evaluated by a 5-point scale (r = .96). Trials, sex, distance of projection, ball size, and related interactions were examined using a conventional analysis of variance. Ball size was the only significant main effect, but the interaction between ball size and sex was also significant. Post hoc analysis indicated that the 10-in. ball gave significantly more catching success than the 8.5- or the 6-in. ball. Although more success in catching was achieved with the larger ball sizes, no difference in catching was attributable to the varying distances. The sequences for catching success according to ball size at each distance were not significantly different.