Football
Invasion Games | Years 3–4 | 6 Lessons
Football Sessions
These football sessions focus on developing passing, movement, attacking space, and defending within small-sided games. Lessons are progressive and suitable for indoor or outdoor delivery.
Lesson Plans
Lesson 1: Dribbling In Spaces
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objective:
- To be able to find and move into spaces available
- To be able to maintain control of the ball
Success Criteria:
- I can keep the ball close while moving.
- I can change direction to avoid others.
- I can dribble into empty space without colliding.
Key Words:
- Dribble
- Control
- Space
Equipment:
- Footballs
- Cones
- Bibs
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Looking for spaces
Children will spread out in the area that has been set up. When “go” is signaled, they will jog around the area trying to avoid bumping into others. They should be looking to exploit spaces within the area. If they find the space, they should look to sprint into that area.
Progressions:
>Change traveling action to side steps and backwards movements. When moving sideways, children should look to move with slightly bent knees, crouched down for a low center of gravity. When moving backwards, children should be checking their shoulders. Same with the first activity (jog), when the children find a space, they should sprint into it
Skill Development
Remote control game
This game works by thinking of a remote control. Commands are:
>Play – Children will jog and dribble with the ball around the area
>Rewind – Children will dribble backwards, using the top of their foot to roll the ball behind
>Fast forward – Children will look to move quicker whilst dribbling the ball
>Pause – Children will stop the ball by putting their foot on top. They will then to toe taps on top of the ball (one foot standing on the ball, alternating feet)
Progressions:
>Change the channel – Children will stop the ball and tap the ball between each foot by using the insides of their feet.
>Volume down – Same as the toe tap but use their knees rather than their feet
>Volume up – Flick the ball up and then control and continue to dribble. For those who struggle, the easiest way is by squeezing the ball in between the feet and then jump, keeping the ball in between the feet
>Magic button – Allow the children to be creative and come up with a skill of their own
Game – Through the Gates
In the area, create a series of gates using 2 cones (around 2m apart from one another).
Ask the children to dribble around the area, maintaining control of their ball, and look to dribble through as many gates as they can in the time given (this could be anywhere from 60 seconds to 3 minutes). How many gates can they dribble through whilst maintaining control of the ball?
Progressions
>Make this game into a competitive game to see who can dribble through the highest number of gates in the time
>If their ball goes outside of the playing area, their score returns to 0. This will encourage them to keep close control of the ball
>Add 3-4 defenders. The defender’s job is to move around the area and intercept any ball. If the defender touches your ball, your score returns to 0. If you need to, you can increase or decrease the number of defenders.
Teaching Points:
- We want to encourage the children to always be looking for space when moving with and without the ball. To do this, we want the children to always keep their heads up whilst moving, always looking for the spaces to move into. When they see a space to move into, we want them to move quickly into that space.
- When dribbling with the ball, we want the children to keep close control. This means keeping the ball close to them at all times. Explain to them if they don’t keep close control, either a defender will intercept the ball or, if they are looking up and see a space, if they don’t have their ball close to them, it will take them longer to move quick into the space before someone else does
Key Questions:
- How can we find spaces when moving in the lesson?
- What do we mean by the term close control?
- How can we keep control of the ball in the lesson? What will this allow us to do?
National curriculum links:
- Use running in isolation and combination
- Develop control, balance and technique through playing football
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing listening skills
- Developing confidence in trying new skills
- Showing creativity in their work
Lesson 2: Basic Passing
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objective:
- To pass the ball accurately to a partner.
- To receive a pass using control.
Success Criteria:
- I can perform a pass using the correct technique
- I can stop the ball when it comes to me.
- I can choose a teammate to pass to.
Key Words:
- Instep
- Accuracy
- Technique
Equipment:
- Footballs
- Cones
- Bibs
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Germs & Medicine
Pick 3-4 tagger (germs) and the same number of releasers (medicine).
Germs will have bibs on whilst the medicine will have a ball each. When tagged by a germ, you must stand still. To get back into the game, the medicine will pass the ball to you (by throwing the ball from the hands), which you have to catch.
You will then become the medicine and will have to release someone else who has been tagged by the germs.
Skill Development
Pair passing
Get the children into pairs. Each pair should have 1 ball and 2 cones. Place the children around 5m apart from one another. They should place their cone on the floor and be stood behind it.
Children to practice passing to each other using their instep to pass the ball. We want the person receiving the ball to be stood either side of the cone. When they receive the ball, we want to see them either cushion the ball with their instep or to place their foot on top of the ball. They must then move the ball to the other side of the cone before passing the ball back to their partner. We want to see accurate passing throughout.
Progressions
>Increase the distance of the passing
>Get the children to use both feet when passing. Whichever side they decide to move to, get them to use that foot to complete the pass
Passing through the gates
Get the children into pairs and give them a ball between 2. Set up a range of gates using 2 cones (same as previous week). This time, the partner with the ball will dribble around the area, whilst the partner without the ball will be looking to find a free gate. When they find a free gate, they stand in the gate and their partner with the ball will pass the ball to them, making sure they don’t hit any traffic. They then swap roles and the game continues
Progression
>Make this activity into a competitive game. Which team can pass the ball to each other the highest number of times
Game – 10 Pin Football
Split the class into even teams of around 5 per team. Set up pins around 8m away (to do this you can use any type of target including cricket wickets, small balls on top of cones, bowling pins if available).
The idea is for each team member to take it in turns to pass the ball and try to knock over the target. Depending on what type of target you set up, you may award points for each target that is knocked over or just 1 point for hitting the target.
Allow the children to have a practice and then turn into a competitive game between the groups.
Which team can reach a target score first or which team after 1-2 turns each has the highest score
Teaching Points:
- When passing, encourage the children to use their instep. This is the largest part of the foot and is flat, so will increase their accuracy when passing. Place the standing foot just to the side of the ball making sure it is pointed towards our target. Swing the foot back and then through the back of the ball.
- We are looking for good accuracy when passing so talk to the children about the power and aim of their pass. We want to swing the foot back and through enough to reach our partner, but not too much to make if difficult for them to control the ball. We also want to make sure our standing foot is pointed towards our target when passing to increase the aim of our pass.
- To control the pass, we can use the instep as a block to cushion the ball. When we do this, we don’t want the ball traveling too far in front. We would use this if we think the ball is travelling more quickly. We can also use the top of the foot to control the ball which we can use if the ball is travelling a little slower
Key Questions:
- What do we mean by the term accuracy?
- What two things do we need to think about when passing the ball to ensure our pass is accurate?
- How can we stop the ball and when would we use each of the techniques?
- How can we increase the power in our pass?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, sending and receiving in isolation and combination
- Develop control and technique through playing football
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing creativity in their work
- Showing resilience in their work
Lesson 3: Dribbling & Passing Combinations
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To be able to combine the passing and dribbling skills in attacking play
Success Criteria:
- I can combine dribbling and passing
- I can move into space after passing.
- I can keep the ball with my team.
Key Words:
- Combine
- Decision
- Teamwork
Equipment:
- Footballs
- Cones
- Benches/football goals if available
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Shield steal
Children to be in pairs for the activity with one ball. We are going to have a 1v1 duel in their playing area (make sure there is space). One person attacking and one person defending.
The attacker must shield the ball from the defender who will try to win the ball back. If the defender wins the ball, they become the attacker. Whoever has the ball at the end of the time is the winner
Skill Development
Team tag
Split the class into two teams. If possible, you want to have two areas set up to have 2 games running at the same time. Each player will have a ball. One team will be the attacking team and one the defending team.
The job of the attacking team is to pass their ball to try to strike their opponents ball (a bit like a cue ball in snooker/pool). If they strike the opponent player’s ball, they get a point.
The job of the defending team is to dribble and try to protect their ball from being hit.
Allow teams to swap roles and then play again to see if they can beat each other’s score
Progression
>Allow both teams to attack one another to see how many strikes they can get as a team. Team with the highest number of strikes on their opponents are the winners
Game – 2v1
Split the class into teams of 4-5 and have different areas set up, 2 teams per area.
Have a goal set up at either end of the area (a football goal, 2 cones or a bench lay sideways). The aim of the game is simple, attack v defence
One team attack with 2 players at a time whilst the defending team sends out 1 player. The attacking team need to try to dribble and pass their way past the defender before passing the ball against the bench or into the goal.
After 3 minutes of play, teams swap roles and the new attacking team try to score more goals than their opponents
Teaching Points:
- Shield – body sideways, with your arm out against the defender (as if you are holding a shield). We want to ensure that our body is between the ball and the defender at all times. To maintain control of the ball, we can place our foot on top and roll the ball as we move. We could also just use the big toe and little toe to keep the ball moving away from the defender.
- When playing team tag, the attacking team should be passing the ball along the floor to try and hit their opponent’s balls. We do not want to see any passes being lifted into the air. The defending team we want to see use the shield and close dribbling to stop their opponent’s balls hitting theirs
- When playing 2v1, we want to see the attacking team work as a team. The player without the ball should look to find space away from the defender so they are an option to pass to from their partner. The player on the ball we want to see make good decisions. Do they dribble the ball close to the goal and shoot, or is their partner in a better position and should they pass to them.
Key Questions:
- How can we protect the ball from a defender?
- When attacking as a team, what should the person without the ball do?
- When passing the ball in team tag, how do we want you to pass the ball?
- What decisions did you have to make during the games?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, sending and receiving in isolation and combination
- Develop control, balance and technique through playing football
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
Social/environmental skills:
- Develop team work and collaboration skills
- Develop good communication skills
- Develop good decision making skills
- Show creativity in their work
Lesson 4: Defending With Patience
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objective:
- To understand about patience and reactions when defending in football
Success Criteria:
- I can stay between the attacker and the goal.
- I can slow an attacker down and time my tackle
- I can try to win the ball without fouling.
Key Words:
- Patience
- Jockey
- Reactions
Equipment:
- Footballs
- Cones
- Bibs
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – The Reactions Game
Get the children into pairs and have a middle line where they will place down a ball and stand either side. Have an end zone line behind each player (around 4-5m away from them). Both players must start with both feet on the floor. On the coach’s whistle or signal, each player must perform a drag back. If you successfully take the ball, you dribble back to your end zone, if you are unsuccessful, your job is to win the ball back before your partner reaches their end zone line.
If the defender gets a touch on the ball before the attacker reaches the end zone, the defender is awarded a point. If the attacker successfully reaches the end zone, they win the point.
Skill Development
Jockey dribble
Get the children into pairs and have them lined up on the start line. The player without the ball will be stood opposite the one with the ball. The job of the player with the ball is to dribble with the ball, whilst their partner, the defender, can practice a jockey technique.
In the beginning, we do not want to see the dribbler looking to get past the defender, we simply want to see the defender improve their jockeying technique
Progression:
>Allow the attacker to try and get past the defender, but they can only try once. The job of the defender is to try and tackle (poke) the ball away from the attacker but again, they only get one attempt to do this
Game – 2v2 defend the end zone
Split the children into teams of 6 (this will allow teams to be roll on roll off taking turns). Have areas set up with an end zone at one end. The job of the attacking team is to try and dribble the ball over the end zone. The job of the defending team is to win the ball back through an interception or kicking the ball out of play. Allow the attacking team 5 attempts to dribble the ball over the end zone, scoring one point per dribble over, swapping team members over after each attempt, before the teams swap roles and see if they can beat their opponent’s score
Progression:
>If one team is struggling, allow them an extra member to play each time, turning the game into a 3v2 or 2v3 (depending on if they are attacking/defending)
>Make the areas larger – this will mean more space for the attacking team to work in, making it more difficult for the defending team
>Swap over teams to play in other areas against other teams
Teaching Points:
- Jockey technique – we want to be side on with one foot in front of the other (whichever the children feel more comfortable with – normally the stronger foot is behind). Knees slightly bent, crouching down slightly for a low centre of gravity so we can push off and react either way the attacker goes. We are then going to shuffle backwards, keeping the attacker in front of us.
- When jockeying, the tackle/interception is all about timing. Talk to the children about waiting until the attacker loses control of the ball before attempting a tackle. If we don’t, we may mistime a tackle and the attacker may get past us.
- In the 2v2 game, we don’t want to see both defenders being drawn towards the ball. We want to see them working as a team to stop the attacking team getting to the end zone, using good communication. One person marking the player with the ball and one person marking the space and the other free attacking player. Can we make it as difficult as possible for the attackers to get past us by using the jockey and good, tight marking.
Key Questions:
- Can anyone demonstrate a jockey technique?
- Why do we need to be low when jockeying?
- What other things do we need to think about when jockeying/defending?
- When defending as a team against 2 people, how can we see you are working well as a team?
National curriculum links:
- Use running in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing football
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing creativity as the attacker
- Showing patience in our work
Lesson 5: Attacking & Defending Play
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objective:
- To understand how to attack and defend in football
- To make good decisions throughout the session
Success Criteria:
- I can help my team attack when we have the ball.
- I can help defend when the other team has possession.
- I can make good decisions when both attacking and defending
Key Words:
- Attack
- Defend
- Teamwork
- Decisions
Equipment:
- Footballs
- Bibs
- Cones
- Benches/football goals if available
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Knockout
Divide the class into 2 and have 2 areas set up. Everyone starts with a ball.
Your job is to keep control of your ball, whilst trying to intercept another player’s ball and kick it out of the playing area. When your ball goes out, you must do 20 toe taps to return to the game.
1 point per ball you knock out
1 point taken away each time your ball goes out
Add up your score at the end
Skill Development
Capture the football
Split the class into even teams (we want teams of 4-5 people). In the area, have 2 end zones at either end with a line of footballs in the middle (6-8 footballs). Each team lines up alongside their end zone.
When go is called, the teams must move to the middle and try to get as many balls as possible and take them back to their end zone. Once there, the teams have a choice. Do they look to defend the balls they have or try to steal balls from the opposing side.
You cannot block players from reaching balls in the end zone, but you can tackle the ball away from them and return them to your end zone. At the same time, you can steal a ball from the opposing team’s end zone and dribble it back to your end zone. When time is called, the team with the most balls in their end zone are the winners.
Game – Numbers Game
Split the class into 4 teams and have 2 games going on simultaneously. Have a bench/goal set up at either end of a playing area.
Each player on both teams labels themselves with a number from 1-however many is on their team. The ball begins with one team and when a number is called, that numbered player goes and competes 1v1 with the opposing player of the same number. The aim is to strike the ball off the other team’s bench/score in their goal.
Team with the most points at the end are the winning team. If you have more than one area set up, allow the teams to swap
Progressions:
>You can call several numbers to make a 2v2 or 3v3 game.
>Add a math element by creating different scenarios. This may be through subtraction/division to get to a number. Or it may be through an addition or multiplication to get to a 2 digit number e.g. 4×3=12, so number 1 & 2 would come out.
Teaching Points:
- When playing knockout, the children have to be mindful of keeping close control and protecting their ball (potentially using a shield) whilst trying to tackle and intercept another player’s ball. It’s a fine balance between the two and will depend on the player. What we don’t want to see is them abandoning their ball to attack another player’s.
- In capture the football, teams need to think about both attacking and defending. They may want to give themselves roles in the team, as defenders of the end zone and attackers of the opposing team’s end zone. They may also want to switch throughout the game. What we don’t want to see is all of the team either attacking or defending.
- In the numbers game, can the children use dribbling skills/tricks to get past defenders. Can they use the shield to protect the ball. Can the defenders try to win the ball back effectively and if we have multiple people playing, can the attackers without the ball find space to receive a pass.
Key Questions:
- How can we effectively keep the ball away from a defender?
- When playing in games today, what roles did we have to give ourselves?
- What would happen if all of our players attacked in capture the football?
- How can we help our team mate who has the ball?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, sending and receiving in isolation and combination
- Develop control, balance and technique through playing football
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing creativity in their work
- Showing resilience in their work
- Showing good sportsmanship when competing against others
Lesson 6: Football Games
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To apply skills in a competitive game situation.
- To follow rules and play fairly.
- To demonstrate teamwork and respect.
Success Criteria:
- I can play football following the rules.
- I can show fair play and respect to others.
- I can use dribbling, passing and defending in a game.
Key Words:
- Rules
- Respect
- Sportsmanship
Equipment:
- Footballs
- Bibs
- Cones
- Football Goals if available
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Creative Team Warm Up
Depending on the size of the class, split the children into even teams (of 5-6 max per team)
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
Game – Football Games
Depending on the size of the space you have and staff members available, set up one or two football areas (around half size basketball court). You could use goals with keepers outside. If indoor, you can use bench laid sideways as the goal.
Split the class into 4 even teams.
Children who are not playing can be used as referees or assistants if wanted. Roles can include:
Time keeper
Score keeper
| Court 1 | Court 2 |
| 1 v 2 | 3 v 4 |
| 1 v 3 | 2 v 4 |
| 1 v 4 | 2 v 3 |
Teaching Points:
- No slide tackles if indoors. We want to see children staying on their feet to tackle as much as possible
- We want to see attacking teams spreading and finding space if they do not have the ball. Are the able to find the space to receive the ball from the ball carrier.
- For the defending team we want to see only one player trying to close down the person with the ball. The rest need to either be marking another player or a space
- If teams start to be magnetised towards the ball, we can have a timebomb that goes off. Count down from 5 and we want to see all attacking players find a space in the area.
Key Questions:
- Can someone name a rule in football?
- If your team mate has the ball, how can we help them? – Look for space in front of them to receive the ball
- When defending, what should be the first thing that we do? – Look for an opponent to mark and head towards our own goal
- How do we show respect to others in the game?
National curriculum links:
- Using throwing, sending and receiving in combinations
- Playing competitive games against others, applying principles for both attacking and defending.
Social/environmental skills:
- Learning to respect others
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing encouragement & compassion
- Being able to follow instructions and rules
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