Dodgeball
Invasion Games | Years 5–6 | 6 Lessons
Dodgeball Sessions
These dodgeball sessions progress from the previous unit of year 3/4, looking to keep improving our throwing, catching and movement skills, whilst introducing tactical and positional knowledge, as well as improving our decision making skills through playing small sided games. Lessons are progressive and suitable for indoor or outdoor delivery.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Improving Our Attacking
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To perform skills using good accuracy and technique
- To improve throughout the session
Success Criteria:
- I can use good technique and accuracy when completing different types of throws.
- I understand where to aim when throwing the ball at an opponent
Key Words:
- Accuracy
- Technique
Equipment:
- Dodgeballs/soft balls
- Cones
- Bibs
- Large ball/yoga ball
- Benches
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Germs & Medicine
Select 3-4 players to be taggers (germs) and give them a ball each. The rest of the class find a space in the playing area.
When go is signalled, the game starts and the germs, only using underarm throws, have to try to strike the other players on the legs. If you are struck on the legs, you must stand still with your hand in the air. To return to the game, someone must give you a hi 5.
Skill Development
Time bomb
Set up a playing area with 2 narrow areas on either side, and 1 large area in the middle. Playing 2 teams at a time, each team must be stood in a narrow area. They must throw the ball from this area. Give each team 3-4 dodgeballs each (if possible one per player). Place a large ball in the middle of the hall (this may be a basketball, football or a beach ball type ball).
The aim of the game is for the team to strike the large ball in the middle area with their dodgeballs, causing the ball to travel towards the opponent’s area. If the ball passes into the opponent’s area, you win a point. You can move out of the narrow area to collect a ball, but you must return to that zone to throw the ball.
If you have enough space, you can set up two playing areas and split the class into 4 even teams. If not, have 2 teams playing, with the others watching and set a 3 minute time limit.
Game – Jailbreak Dodgeball
Keep the same teams as before for this game. Set up a dodgeball court and at the back of each area, set up 2 benches. This is the jail.
We are going to play normal dodgeball rules however this time, if you are out, instead of standing to the side, you will go to jail on the opposite side of the court. When in jail, you will stand on the bench and wait to be freed.
To be freed, your team mate must throw the ball over for you to catch, whilst standing on the bench. If you catch the ball, you drop the ball and return to your team’s side. If you catch the ball but fall off the bench in the process, this does not count and you remain in jail.
Play a 5 minute game limit. The team with the most players left in at the end are the winners.
Teaching Points:
- When playing time bomb, we want to see good accuracy of throws. We cannot move the time bomb to the opponent’s area without having an accurate throw and actually striking the bomb. Yes, the more power added will help move the bomb forward, but if we don’t strike the bomb, it won’t move at all, so accuracy is key
- Make sure the children are using the overarm technique when throwing, ensuring they are holding their non throwing arm out for aim. When aiming in dodgeball, it is best to aim low towards our opponent’s legs. This way, they find it harder to move to dodge the ball, and also minimizes the chances of them catching the throw. So always aim low.
- When playing jail break, the children must use tactics in order to win the game. Will they look to get opposition players out, or do they need to break their team mates free? These are the decisions that need to be made during the game. They may decide to have some players who free their team mates and others who look to get opposition players out, it is up to them to come up with a strategy to win the game.
Key Questions:
- How can we throw the ball with greater accuracy?
- Where should we aim when throwing the ball at an opponent in dodgeball, and why?
- What tactics/strategies did we use in jailbreak in order to win the game?
National Curriculum Links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for both attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing dodgeball.
- Compare our performance against a previous attempt and look for improvements to our personal best
Social/environmental skills:
- Develop team work and collaboration skills
- Develop good communication skills
- Show creativity in their work by coming up with tactics
- Showing resilience in their work by looking to improve
- Making good decisions throughout the session
Lesson 2: Defending With The Ball
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To use blocking technique, controlled catches and agility to defend effectively.
Success Criteria:
- I can use a ball to block safely and effectively.
- I can choose when to block or catch.
- I can stay balanced and ready after defending.
Key Words:
- Dodge
- Evade
- Block
Equipment:
- Dodgeballs
- Bibs
- Cones
- Benches
- Hoops
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Broken Windows
Split the class into groups of 6-8 people. Have them create a circle with their feet spread to shoulder width apart, creating a gap between the legs. Their feet should be touching the next person, allowing no gaps in between each player.
Starting with 1 ball, you must look to defend your ‘window’ (the gap between your legs) and strike the ball through another player’s ‘window’.
The ball cannot be stopped, you can only strike the ball away from your window. You cannot get your neighbour and you cannot close the gap between your legs.
If the ball goes through your ‘window’, you lose lives:
1st time – lose your strongest hand
2nd time – lose your other hand. This will mean you can only block the ball by dropping 1 knee to block the ball
3rd time – you play on your knees. You cannot win the game, but you can strike the ball to get others out
Skill Development
Block ball
Split the class into teams of 4 and give each group 2 dodgeballs.
Have the two players with the balls stood around 5m apart. One player is going to be the thrower, with the other being the blocker. Have the other two team members stood either side of the player throwing the dodgeball.
Player 1 will throw the dodgeball, using an underarm throw, to player 2. Player 2 will then block the ball, looking to block it towards either player 3 or 4 stood either side of player 1, who will then collect the ball. Each player to block the ball 5 times, before each player will swap roles.
Progressions:
>Can player 2 block the ball so that player 3 or 4 can catch the ball. Make this a competition between teams to see how many times they can catch the ball.
>Player 1 can now throw overarm. This will increase the power, meaning that player 2 will need to react faster to block the ball towards the other 2 players.
Game – Castle Dodgeball
Split the class into 4 even teams, with two teams playing at a time. One team will be the defending team, whilst the other is the attacking team. A normal dodgeball court will be used, with targets being set up on the defending team’s side (this can be hula hoops arranged in a castle, cricket stumps or any other type of target. We want a minimum of 3 targets set up at the back of the defending team’s court)
Each member of the defending team starts with a ball, with another 3 balls placed on the middle line. When go is signaled, as in normal dodgeball each team will look to collect the remaining balls from the middle line.
The job of the defending team is simple, protect the targets. They can do this by using their ball to block the oncoming ball or by catching the ball. If they are hit, as in normal dodgeball, they are out of the game.
The job of the attacking team is simple, strike all the targets down. As in normal dodgeball, if the defending team catch their ball or they are struck by a defending team member, they are out of the game.
There is a 4 minute limit to this game. The defending team must only have 1 ball per member on their side. When the attacking team throw their balls, they have to return 3 balls back to the attacking side (by trying to get them out). There is a 10 second time limit on this. After the 10 second limit, an extra ball is given to the attacking team, meaning one defending team member loses their ball to protect.
There are 3 scenarios in this game:
>The attacking team strike all targets down or the defending team are all struck, meaning hitting the targets is a lot easier, which will most likely result in them winning the game.
>The defending team manage to catch and strike all attacking team members, meaning their targets have been protected and they win the game.
>The time runs out for the attacking team. If any targets are still standing when the time runs out, the defending team win.
Teaching Points:
- When shielding and blocking using the dodgeball, it is important that the children position themselves in a way to ensure all of their body is behind the ball, making it easier to protect. Make sure they have the ball out in front of their body to block.
- When dodging and evading, being constantly on the move is key. A moving target is a harder target to hit than a standing target. Encourage the children to always be on the move in order to make it more difficult for them to be struck with the ball.
- Good decision making will be key in the end game. The defending team need to know when to attempt to block the ball, and when the opportunity is there to catch the ball and remove an attacking player.
- The attacking team need to try to use tactics to strike all targets down. Do they look to target 1 specific target at a time or split themselves and go for multiple targets at once? They need to be accurate with their throws and ensure they do not give the defending team a chance to catch their ball.
Key Questions:
- How can we make ourselves harder to hit when defending?
- Why is it important to keep the ball out in front of us when using it as a shield?
- What decisions/tactics did we use as the attacking team in castle dodgeball?
- What decisions/tactics did we use as the defending team in castle dodgeball?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for both attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing dodgeball
Social/environmental skills:
- Develop team work and collaboration skills
- Develop good communication skills
- Show creativity in their work by coming up with tactics
- Displaying good leadership skills in trying to lead the team/give roles out.
- Making good decisions throughout the session.
Lesson 3: Decision Making
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To be able to make good decisions throughout the session
Success Criteria:
- I can decide when to throw, pass, dodge or hold.
- I can react quickly to changes in the game.
- I can explain why I made a decision.
Key Words:
- Decision making
- Timing
Equipment:
- Dodgeballs
- Bibs
- Cones
- Spots
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Lily pad tag
Place spots all around the area. As many as there are pupils in the class. Pick 3-4 people to be taggers. They cannot stand on a spot (lily pad). Everyone starts off the spots. The game is a simple tag game. Every time someone reaches and stands on a spot for at least 3 seconds, they receive one point. When standing on a spot, you cannot be tagged but to gain another point, you need to move to another spot. When you are running in between spots, you can be tagged. If you are tagged, your score returns to 0.
Progression:
>Add more taggers
>Remove spots to make the game more difficult.
Skill Development
Foxes and rabbits
Split the class into groups of 6-7 per group. They will be working in a small area within the playing area. Pick 2-3 people in the group to put a bib on, they will be the rabbits in the game. The aim of the team who has possession of the ball is to tag the rabbits. Once they have been tagged, they are out of the game. The only rule of those who have the ball (foxes), is that if you have the ball in your hand you cannot move.
The aim is for their team mates to work together to get close to those with the bibs on, so that if they receive the ball, they can tag that person without having to move.
Progression:
>Increase the size of the space in the area.
>We can also increase the number of rabbits throughout. You may want to start with 1-2 but increase that number to make it more difficult
Game – Capturing treasure
Split the class into 5 even teams. Spread 4 cones, around 4-5m apart from one another on one side of the hall and ask 4 of the groups to line up one behind the other behind their cones. These teams be given a ball for their group which they can place on the cone at the front.
The final team will be lined up behind a cone on the opposite side of the area. There will be a cone placed around 10m away from that group on the opposite side of the area to them. This is where they need to run to, to begin the game.
There will be 3 different coloured sets of cones placed in between the dodging team and the throwing teams and each of the cones have different points associated with them e.g.:
>Red cones – closest to the dodging team – 1 point
>Yellow cones – In the middle of the dodging and throwing teams – 2 points
>Green cones – Closest to the throwing teams – 3 points
One at a time, the dodging team will run to the start cone and touch it with their foot, signalling the start of the game. Their job is to then enter the playing area, collect a cone and take it back to their team, without being hit by one of the 4 throwing teams. The throwing teams can only throw their dodgeball once, and only when the dodging team’s player had touched the start cone.
Once you have thrown your dodgeball, you need to wait until the end of the round, before retrieving the dodgeball.
If the dodging team’s player successfully retrieves a cone and gets it back to their team without being hit, they are awarded the number of points selected for that coloured cone. If they are hit anywhere, including the head, they must return the cone to its spot and will go back to their team with 0 points.
Each player from each team should have a turn either throwing or dodging. Once all team members have been, add up the number of points collected by the dodging team and swap the teams over.
Once all teams have had a turn dodging, the game ends and the teams with the highest points win.
Progression:
>Set a time limit for the dodging team to collect a cone.
>Give the dodging team a dodgeball which they can use as a shield.
Teaching Points:
- When playing foxes and rabbits, it is important that the foxes work as a team and use good communication to capture the rabbits. We want to see accurate throws and catches, and for them to make good decisions as to whether to attempt to tag the rabbit, or whether they need to throw the ball to a team mate who is closer.
- When they are a throwing team in capturing treasure, we want the children to be patient. Can they wait for the correct time to throw the ball and strike the dodging team’s player. We want to see good accuracy in their throws, ensuring they are using the correct technique for the overarm throw.
- When they are the dodging team, again we want the children to be patient. Can they tempt the throwing team into throwing their ball, and dodging them, before collecting a cone. Remember when dodging, a moving target is a hard target to hit and a standing target is an easy target to hit. They have to be on the move at all times.
Key Questions:
- When you were in the dodging team, how can we make it more difficult to be hit?
- What decisions did we have to make as the dodging team, and how did it help us to be successful?
- When the throwing team, how can we ensure our throws were accurate?
- What decisions did we have to make as the throwing team, and how did it help us to be successful?
National curriculum links:
- Using running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
- Developing control and technique through playing dodgeball
Social/environmental skills:
- Develop team work and collaboration skills
- Develop good communication skills
- Show creativity in their work throughout the session
- Making good decisions throughout the session
Lesson 4: Tactics & Strategies
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To understand the need for tactics and can identify when to use them in different situations.
- To be able to work as part of a team and show some leadership in decision making
Success Criteria:
- I can work cooperatively in a team in small sided games
- I can show creativity and come up with tactics to win the game
Key Words:
- Tactics
- Strategies
- Teamwork
- Leadership
Equipment:
- Cones
- Dodgeballs
- Bibs
- Hoops
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Tic Tac Toe
Split the class into teams of 4. For this game, you may want to have 2-3 different games going on at the same time.
Set up 9 hula hoops in a 3×3 grid. Each team will be given 3 bibs each. The aim of the game is to run out to the hoops, place a bib inside of one hoop and returning to their team to give their team mate a hi 5. The next player can only go when they have been given a hi 5
The aim of the game is to have 3 in a row of your bibs, whether vertical, horizontal or diagonal. If the 3 bibs are out and the game has not finished, the next player can come out and move one of their bibs into a free hoop, before returning to their team.
Skill Development
Chaos tag (pairs) –
Everyone will be a tagger, if you are tagged you and your partner will be out until the person who tagged you is tagged. If two people tag each other at the same time you must do rock paper scissors winner stays in.
After the first round allow the class to discuss with their partners any tactics they could use in this game to help them be more successful. At the end of the game allow some of the class to share their tactics.
Progression:
>You could allow one partner to be the leader and make decisions for the pair?
Game – Doctor Dodgeball
Split the class into 4 even teams. Set up a normal dodgeball court and the rules applied will be those of normal games of dodgeball.
Each team will select 1 doctor for their team, in secret. If you are hit by a dodgeball, or if someone catches your throw, you sit down on the floor where you have been hit or caught. The doctor can revive players who have been hit, by tapping them on top of the head. Once tapped, players can return to the game. However, the doctor can also be struck and once they are, they are out of the game, meaning that all players who are out after that, will remain out of the game.
The idea of the game is to try to keep your doctor a secret for as long as possible, protect your doctor from being hit, work out who the doctor of the opposition is and try to get them out as quickly as possible, meaning players who are hit afterwards, remain permanently out of the game.
Allow the teams to pick their own doctor, and only you as the referee can know the identity of the doctor.
Teaching Points:
- Can the teams come up with tactics and strategies pre game, to try to protect the identity of the doctor. This may be by deceiving the opposition team into thinking another player is the doctor, or any other creative way they can think of.
- They also want to come up with a strategy for how to keep the doctor in the game for as long as possible. Minimizing the number of throws the doctor completes and remaining towards the back of the court, may be two ways of keeping the doctor in the game. The team may also come up with other creative ways of keeping the doctor in the game.
- Can the teams come up with tactics of how to identify the opposition doctor. They may want to give someone the role of being the detective, whose job it is to identify the doctor and let the others in the team know.
Key Questions:
- What tactics and strategies did we come up with in the games today?
- Why is it important to have good communication with team mates when playing the games?
- How can we improve our accuracy in the game, allowing us to strike the doctor successfully?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for both attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing dodgeball
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing creativity in their work, coming up with tactics
- Developing leadership skills
Lesson 5: Refereeing & Rules
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To be able to show respect and fairly follow the rules
- To understand the rules of dodgeball and implement them as a referee
Success Criteria:
- I can explain and apply the rules consistently.
- I can referee fairly and confidently.
- I can show respect for decisions.
Key Words:
- Respect
- Rules
- Communication
Equipment:
- Dodgeballs
- Cones
- Bibs
- Small sponge balls
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Chaos Dodgeball
Everyone is a tagger and can tag anyone. To tag, you must throw a sponge tennis ball off another player. If you get tagged with the ball, you move out to the side of the room. You can re-enter the game when the person who tagged you gets tagged. If the children are out too long you can give them ways to buy their way back into the game (sit ups, star jumps, standing sprinting etc…)
Talk to the children about respectfully following the rules of the game and how it is important when playing dodgeball, to be honest and fair when you have been struck.
Skill Development
Setting the rules and expectations
Split the children into teams of 5. If this is not possible, make sure that we have 6 teams of at least 4 players per team.
Talk to the class about the dodgeball rules (see dodgeball rules sheet). You may want to hand out a sheet to each class. From there, go through each rule and discuss different scenarios with the children, and whether the player would be out with any of the rules, with each team having a whiteboard and pen to write out or not out for each answer. Scenarios to use:
>A player attempts to catch a ball, but the ball drops to the floor after the attempted catch. What decision should be made?
>A player catches the ball successfully, what decision is made?
>The ball bounces up from the floor and hits a player, are they out?
>The game starts, player 1 runs to the middle to collect a ball and immediately throws and strikes player 2. Is player 2 out?
>A player uses the ball to successfully shield and block the ball from hitting them. Are they out?
Game – Refereeing Games
Set up 2 dodgeball courts, with 3 teams playing on each court. We will have two teams playing at a time, with the third team refereeing the games. Normal dodgeball rules apply and have a time limit of 5 mins per game. Have each of the 3 teams wearing different coloured bibs to differentiate when playing.
Referee roles:
Player 1 and 2 – Stood on opposite sides of one side of the court. Their job is to watch out for anyone being hit out on their team, or anyone catching the ball from the opposition team. Player 2 is also responsible for returning players to the game if there is a successful catch.
Player 3 and 4 – Have the same jobs as player 2 and 3, but for the opposite team. Player 3 is responsible for returning players to the game if there is a successful catch
Player 5 – If a team has 5 players, player 5 stands on the centre line of the court. Their job is to watch out for anyone stepping over the middle line. They are also responsible for time keeping.
Teams to switch roles after each game, with players in the teams taking up different roles each time their team referees. You may also want to switch up teams playing in different areas to allow teams to play against others.
Teaching Points:
- Make sure that each team fully understand the rules of the game before refereeing. This is why the first part of the main session is so important. Can we see the teams, discuss as a team, the answers for each scenario.
- We want to see the refereeing team use good, clear communication, not only with themselves as a team, but also with the two teams playing, to avoid any confusion as to whether a player is out or not out. We want to hear a clear name and ‘OUT’ when giving instructions to those playing the game.
- When playing in the game of dodgeball, we want the children to be respectful of the refereeing decisions, not questioning whether they are or are not out. Can we show that respect to the referees and follow their instructions to keep the game flowing.
Key Questions:
- Can we name a rule in dodgeball?
- When we are refereeing, why is it important to have good, clear communication with those playing the game?
- How can we show respect to the referees throughout the game?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for both attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing dodgeball
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing communication skills
- Developing leadership skills
- Showing respect to others throughout the session
Lesson 6: Dodgeball Games
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To apply skills, rules, and tactics in competitive dodgeball games.
Success Criteria:
- I can use skills taught in previous weeks within games.
- I can follow rules independently.
- I can work positively with my team.
Key Words:
- Compete
- Respect
Equipment:
- Dodgeballs
- Cones
- Bibs
- Benches
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Team Warm Up
Give each group a ball and allow them to go and create their own warm up. This should include a dynamic movement (jog, shuttle), a stretch (1 stretch per person in the group) and practice passing the ball in the group
We also want to see the group come up with tactics they are going to use in their games.
Recap basketball rules to the class
Game – Dodgeball games
Split the class into 4 different teams of similar ability level. Have the children come up with team names they can compete as. Each team will play everyone once. Then there will be a semi-final and final. Each team will be given time to create tactics and strategies before each game is played or in between games when they are not playing. Each game will last 5 mins or until 1 team wins. If there is the same amount in the game when the time is up. A 1v1 will be played like we done in previous weeks.
Dodgeball rules:
- Run to the middle to collect a ball and return to the start line before throwing
- No headshots
- If you catch the ball, the thrower is out and one person from your team returns
- The ball must strike you without touching the floor first for you to be out
- You cannot cross over the middle line – if you do, you are out
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | |
| 1. | ||||
| 2. | ||||
| 3. | ||||
| 4. |
You will get 3 points for a win, 1 point for a loss. Draws (same people at the end of the time) will be decided by 1v1 chosen by each team.
>Semi final 1 – 1st vs 4th
>Semi Final 2 – 2nd vs 3rd
>FINAL!
Complete the presentation with a winner and order of placement.
Use any children who are not playing as referees or referee helpers so they are engaged in the lesson.
Teaching Points:
- Encourage teams to come up with small tactics and strategies that may help them to win the game. These can be altered as a team as they are sat out waiting for their next game
- Reiterate rules with the teams before each game. If there is a contentious decision made, stop the game and ask the children to explain their reasoning for either giving the decision or disagreeing with the decision
- Encourage fairness and respect throughout the session. Ask the children how they think they can be respectful to others throughout the session.
Key Questions:
- How can we be respectful to and show respect to others through the session?
- Can you name and explain a dodgeball rule?
- Can we explain a tactic that was used in the game?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
- Developing control and technique through playing dodgeball
- Comparing their own and their team’s performance against a previous attempt and looking for improvements
Social/environmental skills:
- Showing good sportsmanship to others
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing creativity in their work by coming up with tactics
- Showing and developing leadership skills
- Showing resilience in their work by looking for improvements
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