Lesson 3 - Hand-offs and Evasion
Teamwork & Tactics
•Year 5
•Flag Football
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How can precise hand-offs and quick evasive movements help us outmanoeuvre opponents in invasion games?
Learning Objectives
- Develop secure hand-off technique between quarterback and running back
- Master evasive footwork including feints and sidesteps
- Apply tactical decision-making in competitive game situations
Key Outcomes
- All students will demonstrate basic hand-off receiving position
- Most students will execute feints and evasive movements with control
- Some students will combine multiple skills fluently in game situations
Equipment & Resources Required
Check all clips work properly, have spares available
Alternative: Bibs tucked into waistbands, coloured bands
Ensure proper inflation, suitable size for Year 5 hands
Alternative: Tennis balls for smaller hands, foam balls for safety
Mark boundaries, defensive zones, and practice areas clearly
Alternative: Chalk lines, existing court markings
Place behind defensive lines for invasion game
Alternative: Bean bags, coloured cones, hoops
Key Vocabulary
The transfer of the ball from quarterback to running back
The arm position created by running back to receive the ball safely
A deceptive movement to mislead the opponent about your intended direction
The player who receives the ball from the quarterback and runs with it
The player who initiates play by handing off or throwing the ball
A quick lateral movement to avoid an opponent
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic running and stopping safely
- Simple ball catching and carrying
- Understanding of team games and rules
Current Skills
- Creating proper hand-off receiving position
- Executing controlled evasive footwork
- Applying skills under game pressure
Next Steps
- Combining hand-offs with complex running patterns
- Advanced tactical play calling
- Flag football tournament application
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Emphasise secure hand-off technique with proper pocket formation throughout lesson
- Focus on convincing feints using full body weight shift before direction changes
- Reinforce safe flag pulling technique to prevent injuries and equipment damage
- Encourage tactical thinking and team communication during game situations
- Connect evasion skills from practice activities to competitive game applications
- Maintain high expectations for fair play and positive sportsmanship
- Use questioning to develop students' tactical understanding and decision-making
Common Misconceptions
- That hand-offs should be thrown rather than placed - correct by emphasising gentle placement
- That louder feints are better - teach that convincing body movement is more effective than noise
- That individual skill is more important than team strategy - emphasise tactical cooperation
- That faster always means better - focus on controlled, accurate technique first
- That being tagged means failure - reframe as learning opportunity and reset chance
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity bursts with clear breaks, specific roles and responsibilities, regular positive feedback
dyspraxia
- Extra practice time for motor skills, simplified movement patterns initially, step-by-step skill breakdowns
autism spectrum
- Clear routine structure, visual timetable of activities, quiet reflection zones available when needed
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured equipment, verbal descriptions of demonstrations, buddy system for spatial awareness
hearing impairment
- Clear visual demonstrations, hand signals for game instructions, written tactical planning sheets
physical disability
- Modified flag positions for wheelchair users, adapted hand-off heights, alternative evasion techniques
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Vocabulary development of sports terminology, communication skills during team planning
Maths
Calculating team scores, measuring distances for games, angles of movement during evasion
Science
Forces and motion during direction changes, friction between shoes and surface, body systems during exercise
Geography
Spatial awareness and mapping of field positions, directions and orientations during play
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, resilience when facing challenges, respect for opponents and officials
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move between activities to ensure clear sight lines to all students, position near central areas during simultaneous activities
Observation Focus
Watch for correct hand-off technique, safe evasion movements, fair play and positive teamwork
Intervention Points
Step in if flag pulling becomes rough, technique errors persist, or tactical discussions become unproductive
Demonstration Notes
Use student volunteers for demonstrations when possible, exaggerate movements for visual clarity, repeat key demonstrations as needed
Verbal Cues
- •'High elbow, low pocket!' for hand-off positioning
- •'Lean and explode!' for convincing feints
- •'Safe hands, quick feet!' for ball security and movement
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 20m x 30m clear space, ideally marked court or field area
Surface Check
Even, dry surface free from holes, debris or hazardous markings
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Flag belts checked for secure clips that release safely
- •Balls properly inflated and appropriate size for Year 5 students
- •Cones stable and visible, no sharp edges or damage
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during simultaneous running activities
- •Tripping over equipment or uneven surfaces
- •Rough flag pulling causing injuries or equipment damage
- •Overexertion in competitive game situations
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries and running lanes established with cones
- •Progressive build-up from controlled to competitive activities
- •Emphasis on fair flag pulling technique throughout
- •Regular breaks and hydration opportunities
- •Teacher positioning for maximum visibility of all activities
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe central meeting areas during Run the Line
- •Monitor game intensity and intervene if play becomes too rough
- •Watch for students showing signs of fatigue or distress
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately, assess injury, apply first aid as appropriate, seek additional help if needed