Hockey - Lesson 1

The inaugural lesson in a Year 5 hockey series focuses on developing the fundamental skill of dribbling with a ball. The learning objectives are clear: pupils should be able to maintain a correct grip on their hockey sticks, dribble with control, and lift their heads to maintain awareness of their surroundings. The success criteria are designed to ensure that each pupil can demonstrate these key skills by the end of the lesson. The key vocabulary for this session includes terms like 'dribble', 'control', 'head', and 'awareness', which are integral to understanding and executing the game of hockey.

The lesson is structured into three segments, starting with a ten-minute warm-up game called 'Link Tag', which not only energizes the pupils but also enhances their agility and spatial awareness. The main section of the lesson, lasting thirty minutes, is dedicated to teaching the correct grip and dribbling technique, with pupils practising in a large area while avoiding cones and other pupils. This is complemented by a game that adapts Quicksticks rules to reinforce these skills. To cater to different abilities, more proficient players are challenged to focus on assisting others rather than scoring. The lesson concludes with a ten-minute 'Cool Down' activity called 'Tigers', a playful exercise where 'Fish' pupils try to evade bean bags thrown by 'Tigers', promoting dodging skills and quick reactions essential for hockey.