Lesson 3 - Tactical Awareness and Overloading
Strategic Individual to Team Play
•Year 5
•Invasion Games
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How can we create tactical advantages through intelligent movement and positioning?
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate overlap and underlap running techniques to support attacking play
- Show tactical awareness by making runs that overload the opposition's defence
- Apply knowledge of when to attack and when to hold position in game situations
Key Outcomes
- Students will execute overlap and underlap runs effectively in practice drills
- Students will demonstrate specific tactical awareness in game situations across multiple sports
- Students will create space for teammates through intelligent movement and positioning
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed to group leaders
Alternative: Size 4 balls for easier handling
Available at rotation stations
Alternative: Foam rugby balls for safety
Properly inflated for bouncing
Alternative: Size 5 balls for Year 5 hands
Set 20m away, 3m apart
Alternative: Markers or spots
Different colours for each group
Alternative: Coloured bands
Key Vocabulary
Running around the outside of a teammate who has the ball to create an additional attacking option
Running on the inside of a teammate to create an attacking option through the middle
Creating more attackers than defenders in a specific area of play
Understanding when and how to move to create advantages for your team
A short movement to lose a marker before making the main run
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic ball handling and passing skills
- Understanding of attacking and defending roles
- Fundamental movement patterns in invasion games
Current Skills
- Overlap and underlap running techniques
- Creating overload situations through movement
- Tactical awareness and decision-making
Next Steps
- Advanced tactical combinations and set plays
- Counter-attacking strategies
- Complex game understanding and leadership
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Tactical awareness is about thinking strategically to create advantages
- Overlap runs create width and stretch defences
- Underlap runs exploit space through the middle
- Check runs help lose markers before making the main movement
- Overload means having more attackers than defenders in one area
- Movement creates problems for defenders - don't stay static
- Skills transfer across different invasion games
Common Misconceptions
- Running too early before the pass is made - timing is crucial
- Not running wide enough on overlap - needs to create clear width
- Forgetting to communicate - calling for the ball is essential
- Thinking tactics only apply to football - same principles work across sports
- Believing fast running is more important than smart running
- Assuming defenders can't react - need to be unpredictable
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Frequent activity changes, clear boundaries, regular positive feedback, leadership opportunities
dyspraxia
- Simplified movement patterns initially, extra practice time, larger equipment for easier handling
autism spectrum
- Clear routine structure, visual timetable for rotations, quiet reflection areas available
visual impairment
- Bright coloured balls and equipment, verbal descriptions of positioning, buddy system for spatial guidance
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstration emphasis, hand signals for tactical instructions, written key points
physical disability
- Modified running distances, seated tactical role options, adapted ball sizes and weights
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting players in overload situations, measuring distances for tactical positioning, angles of running lines
Science
Forces in ball travel, acceleration and deceleration in movement, physics of different ball types
Geography
Spatial awareness and positioning, mapping movement patterns, directions and orientation
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, decision-making under pressure, leadership and communication skills
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central location allowing observation of all three activity areas, move between groups during practice
Observation Focus
Tactical decision-making, timing of runs, creation of overload situations, transfer between sports
Intervention Points
Step in when students struggle with timing, provide additional demonstration for complex concepts
Demonstration Notes
Use students as positive examples, film key moments for assessment evidence, ensure all can see demonstrations clearly
Verbal Cues
- •'Check your run first!'
- •'Create that overload!'
- •'Think tactically!'
- •'Get wide and support!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large hall or outdoor area, minimum 40m x 30m for 3 concurrent activities
Surface Check
Dry, level surface free from hazards, suitable for running and changing direction
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Balls properly inflated and age-appropriate
- •Cones positioned safely with no sharp edges
- •Regular equipment checks for damage
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during crossing movements in warm-up
- •Ball contact injuries during game phases
- •Slips and falls during direction changes
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries established between activity areas
- •Progressive speed increase in warm-up
- •Emphasis on controlled movements and spatial awareness
- •Adequate rest periods between high-intensity activities
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for visibility of all three activity areas
- •Monitor fatigue levels during game rotations
- •Watch for appropriate contact levels
Emergency Procedures
Stop signal established, first aid kit accessible, clear evacuation route identified