Lesson 5 - Space Awareness & Movement
Ball Control & Team Tactics
•Year 2
•Invasion Games
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
How can we outsmart defenders by moving cleverly into empty spaces?
Learning Objectives
- To move into space showing an awareness of defenders
- To understand the role of defenders in invasion games
- To demonstrate effective passing and receiving skills in game situations
Key Outcomes
- Students will move intelligently into spaces away from defenders
- Students will understand and explain the defender's role
- Students will pass accurately to teammates in space
Equipment & Resources Required
Used for marking boundaries and start positions
Alternative: Markers, bean bags, or chalk circles
Scattered around playing area as goals
Alternative: Chalk circles, flat markers, or small mats
Size 3 balls suitable for Year 2 hands
Alternative: Foam balls, tennis balls, or bean bags for control practice
To distinguish defenders from attackers
Alternative: Coloured bibs, different coloured balls, or arm bands
Key Vocabulary
An empty area on the playing field where no defenders are positioned
A player who tries to stop the other team from scoring
A player who tries to score goals for their team
When a defender catches or stops a pass meant for the other team
Passing the ball by bouncing it once on the ground to a teammate
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic sending and receiving skills
- Understanding of personal space
- Simple team games experience
Current Skills
- Moving into space with purpose
- Awareness of defenders and opponents
- Tactical passing decisions
Next Steps
- Creating space for teammates
- More complex invasion game tactics
- Defending strategies and positioning
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Spatial awareness is key - always look for empty spaces before moving
- Communication between teammates makes attack much more effective
- Defenders can only succeed by watching the ball and positioning well
- Quality passing is more important than rushed attempts
- Teamwork means supporting each other even when not touching the ball
- Following rules makes games fair and safe for everyone
- Practice makes perfect - every attempt helps improve skills
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking you can move while holding the ball - emphasise 'planted feet' rule
- Believing defenders can chase attackers around - clarify interception-only rule
- Assuming louder is better for communication - teach clear, helpful calling
- Thinking individual skill is more important than teamwork - highlight cooperation
- Believing speed is more important than accuracy - emphasise controlled movements
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments, provide clear boundaries, use more equipment to reduce waiting
dyspraxia
- Start with larger balls and targets, provide extra practice time, simplify movement patterns initially
autism spectrum
- Provide clear routine structure, use visual schedule of activities, offer quiet observation time if needed
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured balls and equipment, provide verbal descriptions of spatial layouts, assign sighted buddy for guidance
hearing impairment
- Use visual signals and demonstrations, provide written instruction cards, ensure clear sight lines for lip reading
physical disability
- Modify to seated play where appropriate, use larger/lighter balls, adjust distances and court sizes
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting points scored, measuring distances for game setup, recognising shapes (hoops, cones)
Science
Understanding forces when bouncing ball, body systems during exercise, gravity and ball movement
Geography
Directional language (towards, away, left, right), spatial concepts and mapping movement
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, managing emotions during competition, resilience when facing challenges
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around perimeter to observe all groups, position near highest activity areas
Observation Focus
Watch for spatial awareness, passing accuracy, and teamwork behaviours
Intervention Points
Step in if safety rules broken, if students struggling with concepts, or if behaviour issues arise
Demonstration Notes
Use students to demonstrate when possible, exaggerate key teaching points for visibility, pause action to highlight good examples
Verbal Cues
- •'Look for space!'
- •'Plant your feet!'
- •'Call to your teammate!'
- •'Where are the defenders?'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 15m x 20m clear area, ideally indoor hall or playground
Surface Check
Non-slip surface, free from obstacles and hazards
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check balls are properly inflated and not damaged
- •Ensure hoops are flat and stable when placed down
- •Verify cones have no sharp edges or cracks
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between students during movement
- •Slips when changing direction quickly
- •Ball strikes to face or body
- •Trips over equipment
Risk Mitigation
- •Establish clear boundaries and movement rules
- •Emphasise controlled movement over speed
- •Ensure adequate spacing in all activities
- •Reinforce 'planted feet' rule when holding ball
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to see all students during activities
- •Monitor high-activity areas around hoops
- •Watch for students following safety rules
- •Be ready to intervene if play becomes too physical
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately with whistle, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid or support