Eye-Foot Coordination

What is it?

Eye-foot coordination is the collaboration between the eye and foot so that movements led by the eye can be carried out efficiently by the feet.

Examples

Eye-foot coordination activities include:

stepping or jumping on a mark
walking on a line or rope (forwards, backwards and sidewards)
hopscotch
dribbling a ball
stepping over obstacles without touching them
jumping over a moving rope
step and catch beanbag apparatus

Why is it important?

Good eye-foot coordination will result in a child being able to control the direction in which he moves because he uses his feet and legs effectively. It is important to encourage the use of both feet. In this way the child’s grasp of laterality will be improved.

Assessment

Eye-foot coordination challenges include:

inability to kick or direct a ball
difficulty in stepping or climbing over obstacles without touching them
inability to direct an object between obstacles (e.g. ball or bike between cones)
inability to dribble a ball

Here is our Ages and Stage Gross-Motor Development Chart for you to view and/or print.

Please note that the chart is based on averages and is to be used as a guideline only.