Lesson 8 - Officiating and Performing Skills
Technique & Teamwork Focus
•Year 5
•Athletics
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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- Complete activity instructions & timing
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- Assessment guidance & success criteria
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How can working together as officials and performers help us achieve our personal best in athletics?
Learning Objectives
- To develop officiating skills by accurately measuring and timing athletic performances
- To improve performing skills across multiple athletic disciplines
- To demonstrate teamwork and supportive behaviour when working in groups
Key Outcomes
- Students will be able to officiate accurately using proper measuring techniques
- Students will show improvement in their personal best times and distances
- Students will demonstrate effective teamwork and encouragement skills
Equipment & Resources Required
Distribute around stations for marking distances and boundaries
Alternative: Markers, chalk lines, rope markers
Store safely at javelin station, check for damage before use
Alternative: Pool noodles, tennis balls in socks
Age-appropriate weight for Year 5 students
Alternative: Bean bags, tennis balls, soft medicine balls
One per group for recording results
Alternative: Pens, clipboards with attached pens
Digital display preferred for clear reading
Alternative: Mobile phone timer, multiple stopwatches for larger groups
Place at each station for reference
Alternative: Laminated instruction cards, digital display
One per group, include previous personal bests
Alternative: Individual recording sheets, digital recording app
For more accurate measuring at jumping stations
Alternative: Trundle wheel, marked rope
Key Vocabulary
The act of supervising and ensuring fair play by measuring, timing and recording results
Your own best time or distance achieved in an athletic event
High-intensity exercise that doesn't rely on oxygen from breathing
The exact location where an object first touches the ground
The marked line from which all measurements begin
A system where groups rotate between different activity stations
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic throwing and running techniques from previous athletics units
- Understanding of turn-taking and fair play
- Experience with measuring and timing activities
Current Skills
- Accurate officiating and measuring techniques
- Advanced performance in multiple athletic disciplines
- Leadership and peer coaching abilities
Next Steps
- Competition officiating roles
- Advanced athletic techniques and tactics
- Inter-school athletics competition preparation
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Always measure from the start line to where object or performer first lands
- Work together fairly - everyone gets equal turns to perform and officiate
- Use proper throwing technique - sideways on for javelin, chin-knee-toe alignment for shot put
- Encouragement from teammates directly impacts performance improvement
- Accurate officiating is as important as good performing
- Safety first in all throwing events - clear area before throwing
- Personal improvement is more important than comparison with others
Common Misconceptions
- That the furthest thrower or fastest runner is automatically the best official - accuracy matters more than athletic ability
- Measuring from where the object stops rather than where it first lands
- That encouragement doesn't really help performance - research shows positive support improves outcomes
- That officiating is less important than performing - both roles require skill and concentration
- That you can't improve in one lesson - many students will see immediate improvements with proper coaching
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Clear, short instructions at each station, regular positive reinforcement, movement between stations helps maintain focus
dyspraxia
- Simplified measuring techniques, extra practice time for coordination, peer support for complex movements
autism spectrum
- Provide clear visual schedule of station rotations, offer quiet space if overstimulated, use consistent timing signals
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured cones and equipment, provide clear verbal descriptions of distances, use tactile markers for measuring
hearing impairment
- Use clear visual signals for station changes, provide written instruction cards at each station, ensure face-to-face communication
physical disability
- Provide seated throwing options, modify distances for wheelchair users, use lighter equipment where needed
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Using precise vocabulary to describe techniques, giving clear instructions as officials, recording accurate descriptions
Maths
Measuring distances in metres and centimetres, calculating improvements, recording data accurately, understanding time in minutes and seconds
Science
Understanding forces in throwing events, effects of exercise on body, air resistance in javelin flight
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, showing determination and resilience, supporting others through encouragement
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Circulate systematically between stations, spending more time at throwing events for safety
Observation Focus
Monitor officiating accuracy, technique improvement, and positive team interactions
Intervention Points
Step in for safety concerns, support struggling officials, encourage quiet participants
Demonstration Notes
Use students as positive examples where possible, demonstrate measuring techniques clearly, model encouraging language
Verbal Cues
- •'Measure from the start line to first landing point'
- •'Great encouragement - that really helped their performance'
- •'Check your technique - sideways on for javelin'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large outdoor space or sports hall with separate areas for each athletic station
Surface Check
Ensure non-slip surfaces for running and jumping, clear of debris for throwing events
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check foam javelins for damage before use
- •Ensure shot puts are appropriate weight for Year 5
- •Verify cone placement doesn't create trip hazards
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during running activities
- •Improper throwing technique causing injury
- •Slips during jumping events
- •Equipment strikes from thrown objects
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear throwing safety zones with no crossing during activities
- •Supervised technique demonstrations before throwing events
- •Adequate spacing between stations to prevent interference
- •Proper warm up and cool down procedures
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for clear sight lines to all throwing events
- •Regular circulation between stations during activities
- •Monitor fatigue levels during 4-minute stations
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately on emergency signal, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid response