Skills To Strategy
•Year 5
•Hockey
•Check all sticks for damage before lesson, replace any with splinters or cracks
Alternative: Unihoc sticks for indoor use
Use appropriate balls for surface - harder for astroturf, softer for indoor
Alternative: Softer training balls for safety
Use bright colours for visibility, ensure no sharp edges
Alternative: Markers or spots
Position randomly around warm-up area
Alternative: Two cones 1m apart
Secure goals to prevent tipping
Alternative: Cone goals 2m wide
Clean bibs for hygiene
Alternative: Coloured bands or sashes
Essential for safety - check fit before activity
Alternative: Foam padding
The strategic arrangement of players on the pitch to optimize attacking and defensive play
Using the wide areas of the pitch to stretch the opposition and create space
Having more players than the opposition in a particular area or situation
A supporting run made outside and beyond the player with the ball
A supporting run made inside and behind the player with the ball
Defenders staying close together to reduce space between them
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Technical vocabulary development, clear communication skills, giving and receiving feedback effectively
Angles of passes and shots, calculating numerical advantages (6v4), measuring distances for formations, timing of tactical movements
Forces in ball movement, physics of stick impact, body position and balance, effects of exercise on heart rate
Spatial awareness and positioning, use of grid references for formations, understanding of directional language
Teamwork and cooperation, resilience when facing numerical disadvantages, leadership in tactical situations
Rotate between playing areas during games, central position during demonstrations for maximum visibility
Watch for tactical understanding, appropriate use of technical language, and safe play throughout
Step in when safety rules are broken, when tactical concepts need reinforcement, or when students need encouragement
Use students as demonstrators when possible, exaggerate movements for clarity, ensure all can see and hear explanations
Full hockey pitch or equivalent space minimum 50m x 30m with clear run-off areas
Level surface free from holes, wet patches, and debris that could cause slips
Stop signal established, first aid kit accessible, emergency contacts available, clear procedure for serious injury management
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