Lesson 4 - Passing and Moving
Foundational Skills & Challenges
•Year 3
•Football
•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 work together to keep the ball and create scoring opportunities?
Learning Objectives
- To develop passing accuracy and movement into space
- To understand the roles of attacker and defender
- To improve teamwork and communication during gameplay
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate improved passing control and spatial awareness
- Students will show understanding of attacking and defending roles
- Students will work cooperatively to maintain possession and create chances
Equipment & Resources Required
Used for marking goals and boundaries
Alternative: Marker spots, small obstacles
Distributed around playing area perimeter
Alternative: Size 3 footballs, slightly deflated for easier control
For creating moving goals at waist height
Alternative: Ribbon, rope, or tape
For team identification during games
Alternative: Coloured t-shirts, pinnies, or arm bands
Key Vocabulary
Sending the ball to a teammate using your feet
Running to an empty area where you can receive the ball safely
When your team has control of the ball
A player whose team has the ball and is trying to score
A player whose team doesn't have the ball and is trying to win it back
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic ball control with feet
- Simple passing over short distances
- Understanding of games with goals
Current Skills
- Passing with increasing accuracy
- Moving into space to receive passes
- Recognising attacking and defending moments
Next Steps
- Longer range passing
- Complex movement patterns
- Advanced tactical understanding
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Use inside of foot for accurate passing - demonstrate proper technique repeatedly
- Move immediately after passing - reinforce this concept throughout the lesson
- Look up before passing to see your target - emphasise awareness
- Control the ball with your first touch before passing - stress importance of good receiving
- Communicate with teammates - encourage talking during activities
- Celebrate good play and fair behaviour - build positive learning environment
- Work together as a team - emphasise cooperation over individual success
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking you should stay in the same position after passing - correct by showing movement creates new opportunities
- Believing only fast, hard passes are good - teach that accurate, controlled passes are more effective
- Assuming defenders should always rush toward the ball - explain positioning and patience in defending
- Thinking individual skill is more important than teamwork - emphasise how team play leads to success
- Believing you must always be moving - teach when to be stationary and when to move
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments, provide clear boundaries, offer leadership roles, use positive reinforcement frequently
dyspraxia
- Use larger equipment, provide extra practice time, break skills into smaller steps, offer wall/partner support for balance
autism spectrum
- Provide clear structure and routine, use visual timetables, offer quiet space if overwhelmed, maintain consistent rules
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured balls, provide verbal descriptions of space and movement, assign sighted buddy for guidance
hearing impairment
- Use clear visual demonstrations, hand signals for instructions, ensure student can see teacher's face during explanations
physical disability
- Adapt passing to seated position, use larger/lighter balls, modify distances and goals to suit mobility
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting passes, measuring distances between goals, calculating scores and time intervals
Science
Understanding forces in passing, effects of exercise on the body, friction between ball and surface
Geography
Spatial awareness, direction and movement, understanding of positioning and orientation
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, honesty and fair play, managing emotions during competition, inclusion of others
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Circulate between groups during activities, position centrally during demonstrations for maximum visibility
Observation Focus
Watch for passing technique, movement patterns, teamwork, and fair play behaviours
Intervention Points
Step in when students struggle with concepts, unsafe play occurs, or conflicts arise between teammates
Demonstration Notes
Use students to demonstrate good examples, emphasise key technique points with clear visual cues
Verbal Cues
- •'Pass and move!'
- •'Look up before you pass!'
- •'Well done for moving to space!'
- •'Great teamwork!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 20m for full class, clear of obstacles and hazards
Surface Check
Flat, dry grass or artificial surface, free from debris or holes
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check footballs are properly inflated and undamaged
- •Ensure cones have no sharp edges or cracks
- •Verify skipping ropes are in good condition with secure handles
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between students during movement
- •Trips and falls during quick direction changes
- •Ball strikes to face or body
- •Overexertion during intensive activities
Risk Mitigation
- •Establish clear boundaries and personal space awareness
- •Emphasise controlled movement and safe passing
- •Progressive skill building from static to dynamic activities
- •Regular water breaks and monitoring for fatigue
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for clear view of all activities
- •Move around groups during games to monitor behaviour
- •Watch for students showing signs of distress or fatigue
Emergency Procedures
Immediate stop signal established, first aid kit accessible, clear evacuation route identified