Football - Lesson 5

In the fifth lesson of a Year 5 football unit, the aim is for pupils to apply attacking and defending skills within the context of small-sided games. They are expected to carry over the skills they have learned from previous lessons into a game setting. The lesson begins with a warm-up where pupils move around in groups of three, with two as attackers and one as a defender. The defender's goal is to gain possession of the ball, and roles are rotated to ensure every pupil experiences defending. To increase the challenge, attackers are limited in the number of touches they can take before passing the ball.

The main part of the lesson is dedicated to small-sided games, where pupils are encouraged to think strategically about how to outmaneuver opponents one-on-one. They discuss tactics like feints or quick changes in direction before putting these into practice. Games are set up on pitches suitable for four-versus-four play, including goalkeepers, and children are given numbers to indicate when they should enter the game as called by the teacher. This creates dynamic scenarios ranging from one-on-one to three-versus-three situations. The lesson concludes with a cool-down session that includes a variety of stretches such as arm circles, side stretches, and hamstring stretches, allowing pupils to reflect on the effectiveness of their attacking and defending techniques.