This unit develops Year 6 students into confident, tactical football players by systematically building technical skills before integrating them into competitive match play. The progression from individual ball mastery through to tournament application ensures students develop both the physical competence and tactical awareness needed for invasion games at upper Key Stage 2. By dedicating specific lessons to specialist roles (defending, goalkeeping), the unit ensures all students understand positional responsibilities and team dynamics.

Lessons in This Unit

8 lessons in this unit

Lesson 1

Dribbling with Control
45 min

Big Question:

How can I keep control of the ball while moving at speed and under pressure?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop dribbling the ball with increasing control under pressure
  • To use different parts of the foot effectively when changing direction

Lesson 2

Dribbling Under Pressure
45 min

Big Question:

How can we maintain control of the ball when defenders are challenging us?

Key Objectives:

  • To be able to dribble the ball with increasing control under pressure
  • To understand when and how to use different parts of the foot for ball control

Lesson 3

Accurate Passing to Targets
42 min

Big Question:

How can we use accurate passing to maintain possession and create opportunities in football?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop accurate passing technique using the four S's method
  • To demonstrate consistent ball control when passing to both stationary and moving targets

Lesson 4

First Touch Control
45 min

Big Question:

How can mastering first touch control transform your football game and help you stay ahead of defenders?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop first touch control using different parts of the body
  • To control the ball with increasing precision under pressure

Lesson 5

Drag Back & Hook Turns
45 min

Big Question:

How can mastering different turning techniques help us maintain possession and create attacking opportunities in football?

Key Objectives:

  • To demonstrate and apply drag back, inside hook and outside hook turning techniques with control
  • To select appropriate turning techniques based on game situations and defender positioning

Lesson 6

Defensive Skills & Tactics
45 min

Big Question:

How can defenders use positioning and timing to control the game without diving into tackles?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop effective jockeying and tracking techniques in defensive situations
  • To understand when to tackle versus when to delay and contain attackers

Lesson 7

Goalkeeping Skills and Positioning
45 min

Big Question:

How can a goalkeeper's positioning and quick reactions be the difference between victory and defeat?

Key Objectives:

  • To develop goalkeeping skills including positioning and shot-stopping
  • To understand and apply defensive positioning principles

Lesson 8

Football Tournament Application
45 min

Big Question:

How can we apply all our football skills and knowledge of tactics to compete fairly and effectively in a tournament setting?

Key Objectives:

  • To apply the rules and tactics learnt to play in a football tournament
  • To demonstrate leadership skills when refereeing and warming up teams