Hockey - Lesson 5

In the fifth lesson of a hockey series for Year 5 students, the objective is to develop appropriate tactics for gameplay. The success of this lesson is measured by students' ability to demonstrate awareness of their teammates' and opponents' positions and actions on the field. The lesson utilises equipment such as a class set of hockey sticks, balls, and cones. It begins with a warm-up where students dribble the ball while avoiding defenders who aim to knock their balls off the pitch. An extension of the warm-up includes adding cones for the players to dribble around, increasing the challenge by knocking out players who hit a cone.

The main part of the lesson, lasting 30 minutes, is dedicated to recapping and applying previously learned skills. Students demonstrate good technique and participate in a game of Quicksticks with different focuses, such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending, with bonus points awarded for specific achievements during the game. The game is periodically paused for tactical discussions, and team captains are assigned to lead decision-making and communication. The lesson concludes with a 10-minute cool-down consisting of gentle jogs and stretches targeting various muscle groups, including arm circles, active eights, side stretches, quadriceps, calf stretches, and groin and hamstring stretches. These activities are accompanied by reflective questions encouraging students to think about space creation and leadership qualities.