Lesson 6 - Athletics Sports Day Competition
Competitive Athletics: Technique, Tactics and Personal Excellence
•Year 5
•Athletics
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How can we apply our athletic skills and knowledge to compete fairly and achieve our personal best?
Learning Objectives
- To apply running, jumping and throwing techniques in competitive situations
- To demonstrate good sportsmanship and fair play during competition
- To work effectively as part of a team whilst pursuing individual excellence
Key Outcomes
- Students will have participated in multiple athletic events using correct technique
- Students will have demonstrated leadership, encouragement and fair play throughout the competition
- Students will have achieved personal goals and contributed to team success
Equipment & Resources Required
Mark boundaries and event areas clearly
Alternative: Markers, bean bags
One per event station for accurate timing
Alternative: Mobile phone timers, wall clock
For measuring throwing and jumping distances
Alternative: Metre sticks, marked areas
Age-appropriate weights and sizes for Year 5
Alternative: Individual items: javelins, shot puts, hurdles
Pre-prepared with team names and events
Alternative: Digital recording devices, clipboards
One per event station for clear signals
Alternative: Air horns, voice commands
Positioned centrally and easily accessible
Alternative: School medical support
Key Vocabulary
Your own best performance or achievement in a particular event
Fair and generous behaviour or treatment of others in sport
The way of performing a particular athletic skill correctly and efficiently
The structure and rules that govern how the sports day events are organised
Respect for opponents, officials and rules of the sport
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Students can perform basic running, jumping and throwing techniques
- Students understand the concept of fair play and following rules
- Students have experience working in teams and small groups
Current Skills
- Applying technical skills under competitive pressure
- Demonstrating leadership and sportsmanship in challenging situations
- Managing emotions and maintaining focus during competition
Next Steps
- Inter-school athletics competitions
- Advanced technique refinement in specialist events
- Taking on officiating and coaching roles
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Maintain focus on personal best efforts rather than just winning positions
- Use competitive pressure as opportunity to reinforce technique under challenge
- Create inclusive atmosphere where all achievements are celebrated equally
- Connect individual efforts to team success and school community values
- Emphasise sportsmanship and fair play as equally important as athletic performance
- Provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate different strengths and abilities
Common Misconceptions
- Only the fastest/strongest students can be successful in athletics - address by showing multiple ways to achieve and contribute
- Competition means you must beat others to be successful - emphasise personal improvement and effort
- Technique doesn't matter in competition, only results - demonstrate how good technique leads to better performance
- Sports day is only about winning - show how participation, support and sportsmanship are equally valued
- You need natural talent to enjoy athletics - highlight how practice and effort lead to improvement for everyone
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Frequent active roles, clear short-term targets, regular positive feedback, movement between events as natural breaks
dyspraxia
- Simplified movement patterns, extra practice time, focus on participation over performance, peer support systems
autism spectrum
- Clear schedule of events provided in advance, quiet retreat area available, predictable routine with visual supports
visual impairment
- Bright markers for lane boundaries, verbal descriptions of events, buddy system for navigation around events
hearing impairment
- Visual signals for starts and transitions, written instruction cards, clear sight lines to demonstrations
physical disability
- Modified events appropriate to ability, alternative roles such as scoring or officiating, adapted equipment where available
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Using vocabulary to encourage others, describing performances, listening to instructions in noisy environments
Maths
Recording and comparing athletic performances, calculating team scores, measuring distances and timing events
Science
Understanding forces in throwing, body systems during exercise, physics of running and jumping
Geography
Mapping event layouts, understanding directions for field events, spatial awareness in competitive situations
PSHE
Building resilience under pressure, managing emotions in competition, celebrating diversity of achievements
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move between event stations to maintain overview while allowing station leaders autonomy
Observation Focus
Monitor safety adherence, competitive pressure responses, and inclusive participation
Intervention Points
Step in for safety issues, excessive competitiveness, or students needing encouragement
Demonstration Notes
Demonstrate sportsmanship throughout, show genuine appreciation for all efforts, model appropriate competitive behaviour
Verbal Cues
- •'Technique first, then power!'
- •'Celebrate everyone's efforts!'
- •'This is your personal best moment!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large outdoor field or multiple indoor halls, minimum 100m x 60m for full sports day setup
Surface Check
Dry, level grass or appropriate indoor surface free from holes, debris or hazards
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •All throwing implements age-appropriate weight and condition
- •Landing areas for jumping events properly prepared and marked
- •Starting blocks and hurdles positioned safely with adequate run-up space
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Throwing event equipment striking participants or spectators
- •Collisions during running events or relay changeovers
- •Overexertion in competitive atmosphere
- •Trips and falls from excitement and rushing between events
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear throwing areas with designated retrieval procedures
- •Adequate spacing between events and supervised transitions
- •Regular hydration breaks and monitoring of student fatigue levels
- •Clear boundaries and movement procedures between stations
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Minimum one adult per event station with throwing events requiring extra supervision
- •Roving supervision to monitor overall safety and student welfare
- •First aid trained adult immediately available with clear access routes
Emergency Procedures
Clear access routes for emergency vehicles, established communication system between stations, immediate first aid protocols for common athletics injuries