Lesson 2 - Throwing Towards a Target
Tactical Awareness Skills
•Year 4
•Dodgeball
•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 improve our throwing accuracy to become more effective in target games?
Learning Objectives
- To develop throwing towards a target with increasing accuracy and consistency
- To understand tactical targeting in dodgeball gameplay
- To demonstrate honesty and fair play in competitive situations
Key Outcomes
- Students will throw with increasing accuracy and consistency at stationary targets
- Students will apply targeting strategies in game situations
- Students will demonstrate good sportsmanship and honest play
Equipment & Resources Required
For target practice in cross-the-line activity
Alternative: Large foam ball, medicine ball
Used for targets, boundaries, and scoring system
Alternative: Bean bags, markers, skittles
Soft balls essential for safety in dodgeball games
Alternative: Foam balls, soft volleyballs, bean bags
To mark team areas and boundaries clearly
Alternative: Rope, chalk lines, existing court markings
Key Vocabulary
An object or area you are aiming to hit with a thrown ball
How close your throw comes to where you were aiming
Being able to repeat good throwing technique over and over
The neutral area in the middle of a dodgeball court where balls are placed
Each team's home area in dodgeball where they start and collect cones
Playing honestly and following rules even when no one is watching
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic throwing and catching skills
- Understanding of simple game rules
- Basic spatial awareness and movement
Current Skills
- Accurate throwing towards targets
- Strategic targeting in game situations
- Honest play and sportsmanship
Next Steps
- Advanced dodgeball tactics and strategies
- Throwing while moving
- Leadership and officiating skills
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- One-handed throwing technique with follow-through pointing at target
- Strategic targeting of legs and feet in dodgeball for tactical advantage
- Honest self-regulation and calling yourself out when hit fairly
- Cooperative turn-taking and supporting teammates in game situations
- Progressive challenge through increasing distances while maintaining accuracy
- Understanding that accuracy is more important than power in target games
- Application of technique learned in practice to competitive game situations
Common Misconceptions
- Power is more important than accuracy - emphasise technique over force
- Players should aim for the head or chest - reinforce below-shoulder, low targeting
- It's okay to cheat if you don't get caught - promote intrinsic motivation for honesty
- Only throwing hard will be effective - demonstrate that controlled throws are more accurate
- Individual success is most important - emphasise team cooperation and collective success
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments, provide regular movement breaks, give specific roles in teams
dyspraxia
- Use larger targets initially, provide extra practice time, offer hand-over-hand support for technique
autism spectrum
- Provide clear routines for game changes, offer quiet area if overwhelmed, use visual schedule
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured balls and cones, provide verbal descriptions of court layout, pair with sighted buddy
hearing impairment
- Use visual signals for start/stop, demonstrate all instructions clearly, position for lip reading
physical disability
- Modify throwing distance, allow seated throwing, use larger/lighter balls as appropriate
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting scores and cones, measuring distances in metres, calculating team totals
Science
Forces and motion in throwing, trajectory and accuracy, understanding of impact and momentum
Geography
Spatial awareness and positioning, understanding of boundaries and territories
PSHE
Honesty and integrity, cooperation and teamwork, handling competition and disappointment
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around courts during games for maximum visibility, central position during demonstrations
Observation Focus
Watch for correct throwing technique, honest play, and positive team cooperation
Intervention Points
Step in if targeting goes above shoulders, if honesty breaks down, or if overcompetitive behaviour emerges
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated movements to show correct technique, always demonstrate safe play, model positive sportsmanship
Verbal Cues
- •'Point where you want it to go!'
- •'Aim low for best effect!'
- •'Great honest play there!'
- •'Take turns with your teammates!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large hall or outdoor area, minimum 20m x 30m with additional space for multiple courts
Surface Check
Non-slip surface, free from obstacles, dry conditions for outdoor use
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Soft dodgeballs only - no hard balls
- •Check balls are not over-inflated
- •Cones have rounded edges and stable base
- •Basketball properly inflated
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Ball strikes to head/face area
- •Collisions during ball collection
- •Slips and falls during quick movements
- •Overcompetitive behaviour
Risk Mitigation
- •Emphasise below-shoulder targeting only
- •Clear court boundaries and safe collection procedures
- •Warm-up adequately before game activities
- •Promote honest play and sportsmanship throughout
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for visibility of all courts during games
- •Monitor throwing technique and targeting
- •Watch for signs of overcompetitive behaviour
- •Ensure equipment collection is orderly
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess any injury, apply appropriate first aid, clear safe passage for support if needed