Lesson 5 - Footwork and Movement
Team Attack & Movement
•Year 4
•Netball
•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 effective footwork create fluid attacks that lead to successful shooting opportunities?
Learning Objectives
- Develop understanding of the footwork rule and its application in netball
- Apply effective footwork to increase speed and fluidity of movements
- Combine passing, moving and footwork to create shooting opportunities
Key Outcomes
- Students can apply correct footwork techniques when receiving and passing the ball
- Students can move fluidly from defence to attack using proper footwork
- Students can create and execute successful shooting opportunities in game situations
Equipment & Resources Required
Balls stored in mesh bag at court edge for easy access
Alternative: Size 4 footballs, playground balls
Posts positioned at opposite ends of each court area
Alternative: Basketball hoops, target zones marked with cones
One colour per team, distributed before main game
Alternative: Coloured bands, pinnies
Mark court boundaries and river zones
Alternative: Markers, chalk lines
Used for timing stops and signalling rule breaks
Alternative: Voice commands, hand signals
Key Vocabulary
The rule that states once you receive the ball, you cannot move your landing foot(s) unless you pivot, pass or shoot
Rotating around your grounded foot to change direction while maintaining possession
The foot that must remain in contact with the ground when you have possession
How your feet make contact with the ground when receiving the ball
The penalty awarded to the opposing team when the footwork rule is broken
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic netball passing techniques (chest pass, bounce pass)
- Understanding of basic netball rules
- Experience of passing and moving in invasion games
Current Skills
- Application of footwork rule in netball
- Effective pivoting and turning with the ball
- Combining footwork with passing and moving
Next Steps
- Positional play in netball
- Advanced attacking strategies
- Defending against skilled footwork
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Footwork rule applies from the moment you catch the ball
- Grounded foot cannot move once established - pivot around it
- Quick, accurate passes are better than rushing with poor footwork
- Team cooperation creates better shooting opportunities than individual play
- Understanding consequences (free pass) helps students remember the rule
- Consistent application of rules builds game fluency
- Footwork enables both attacking and defensive effectiveness
Common Misconceptions
- Students think they can move freely after catching - emphasise immediate stop required
- Confusion about which foot becomes grounded - demonstrate landing types clearly
- Belief that speed is more important than accuracy - show how good footwork creates faster play
- Assumption that footwork only matters for attackers - explain defensive applications
- Thinking pivot means jumping or lifting feet - demonstrate rotation around grounded foot
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity segments, clear boundaries, regular movement breaks between instruction
dyspraxia
- Extra practice time for footwork coordination, simplified rule explanations, peer support
autism spectrum
- Clear routine structure, visual rule cards, quiet space available for breaks
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured balls, verbal descriptions of court layout, buddy system for guidance
hearing impairment
- Visual signals for stopping, clear demonstrations, written rule reminders
physical disability
- Modified footwork rules for wheelchair users, adapted equipment heights, alternative roles
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting consecutive passes, measuring court areas, calculating team scores and statistics
Science
Understanding force and motion in stopping movements, balance and centre of gravity in landing
Geography
Spatial awareness and positioning, understanding of areas and boundaries
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, fair play and rule following, resilience when making mistakes
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move between activities to provide feedback, position at court edge during games for clear view
Observation Focus
Watch for consistent footwork application, note students struggling with rule, observe teamwork quality
Intervention Points
Step in when footwork rule consistently broken, support struggling students, manage game flow
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated movements to show correct technique, demonstrate common errors and corrections clearly
Verbal Cues
- •'Plant your feet like a tree!'
- •'Stop first, then pivot!'
- •'Quick passes, smart footwork!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 20m, indoor sports hall or outdoor netball court
Surface Check
Dry, even surface free from debris, appropriate grip for stopping activities
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Netballs properly inflated to regulation pressure
- •Posts stable and correctly positioned
- •Cones placed safely away from playing areas when not in use
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during movement activities
- •Falls during stopping and landing practice
- •Ball strikes during passing activities
- •Slips during pivot movements
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries established for all activities
- •Adequate spacing between students during individual work
- •Progressive skill building from walking to game pace
- •Emphasis on control over speed in all activities
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe both courts during game play
- •Monitor footwork compliance to prevent rule confusion
- •Watch for appropriate contact levels during games
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately, assess injury, provide appropriate first aid or seek medical support as required