Lesson 4 - Football Formations
Mastery in Individual & Team Play
•Year 6
•Football
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
How can we create and execute effective attacking and defending formations to outplay our opponents?
Learning Objectives
- Create, organise and apply formations when defending and attacking in game situations
- Learn how to manage teams by selecting players for specific positions based on skills and attributes
- Consolidate understanding of attacking and defending tactics through strategic play
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate refined understanding of passing, dribbling and moving to score against opponents
- Students will switch fluidly between attacking and defending as possession changes
- Students will create effective attacking and defending tactics and apply them in games
Equipment & Resources Required
One ball per game plus spares for when balls go out of play
Alternative: Size 4 footballs, soft-touch footballs for less confident students
Position goals 20-30 metres apart depending on space available
Alternative: Cones as goalposts, playground markings, bench goals
Mark pitch boundaries, goals and formation positions
Alternative: Markers, spots, chalk lines
Clearly distinguish teams and identify managers
Alternative: Different coloured tops, team bands, numbered bibs
For managers to plan tactics and record observations
Alternative: Whiteboards, tactical boards, paper sheets
Track game time and half-time intervals
Alternative: Phone timer, whistle for time signals
Key Vocabulary
The way players are positioned and organised on the field
Planned strategies to achieve success in attack or defence
When a team has control of the ball
The moment when a team switches from attacking to defending or vice versa
The skills and qualities needed for different positions
The person responsible for team selection, formation and tactical decisions
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic passing, dribbling and shooting techniques
- Understanding of simple attacking and defending concepts
- Experience playing small-sided football games
- Knowledge of basic positions in football
Current Skills
- Creating and implementing tactical formations
- Team management and player selection
- Advanced attacking and defending strategies
- Fluid transitions between attack and defence
Next Steps
- Advanced tactical variations and adaptations
- Leadership skills in competitive situations
- Analysis and evaluation of opponent tactics
- Development of specialised positional skills
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Formations provide structure but must be flexible based on game situations
- Manager communication should always be positive and encouraging to build team confidence
- Tactical understanding develops through practice - allow time for concepts to develop
- Different players suit different positions based on their individual strengths and attributes
- Quick transitions between attack and defence are crucial for tactical success
- Team cooperation is more important than individual technical ability in tactical games
- Managers must observe carefully and make decisions based on evidence from the game
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: 'Formations never change during a game' - Correction: Good teams adapt formations based on game situations
- Misconception: 'The best technical players should always be attackers' - Correction: Different positions require different attributes
- Misconception: 'Managers should constantly shout instructions' - Correction: Quality guidance at key moments is more effective
- Misconception: 'Tactics only matter for advanced players' - Correction: Basic tactical understanding benefits all players
- Misconception: 'Individual skills don't matter in tactical games' - Correction: Tactics work best when combined with good technique
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter game segments with frequent breaks, clear manager role with specific responsibilities, movement breaks between tactical phases
dyspraxia
- Simplified formation patterns initially, extra practice time for positional changes, visual formation guides and supports
autism spectrum
- Clear visual schedule of lesson phases, consistent manager partnerships, quiet planning zones available for tactical discussions
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured balls and bibs, provide verbal tactical descriptions, buddy system with sighted partners for formations
hearing impairment
- Visual formation cards for managers, hand signals for tactical changes, written tactical plans on clipboards
physical disability
- Modified manager role focusing on tactical planning, adapted formations for wheelchair users, reduced pitch sizes
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Communication skills for managers, vocabulary development through tactical terms, presenting tactical ideas clearly
Maths
Calculating team formations, measuring pitch dimensions, timing game segments, analysing tactical statistics
Science
Understanding forces in passing and shooting, teamwork as system interactions, energy transfer during play
Geography
Spatial awareness and positioning, understanding of field layout and directions, mapping tactical movements
PSHE
Leadership skills, team cooperation, managing emotions during competition, respect for different abilities
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central position allowing supervision of all games, move between groups to support managers and provide guidance
Observation Focus
Watch for tactical understanding, team cooperation, positive leadership from managers, safety awareness
Intervention Points
Step in if manager guidance becomes negative, support struggling teams with tactical suggestions, manage any conflicts
Demonstration Notes
Demonstrate: Clear formation shapes using students as examples, model positive manager communication, show tactical concepts visually
Verbal Cues
- •'Managers, remember positive encouragement!'
- •'Look for the space in your formation!'
- •'Quick transition - attack to defence!'
- •'Use your tactical plan!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 40m x 60m for multiple 6v6 games, clear of obstacles and hazards
Surface Check
Dry, even grass or artificial surface free from holes, debris and dangerous objects
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check footballs are correctly inflated and undamaged
- •Ensure goals are stable and safely positioned
- •Confirm cones have no sharp edges or damage
- •Check bibs are clean and in good condition
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between players during intense tactical games
- •Trips and falls on uneven surfaces
- •Ball strikes to players or managers
- •Overexertion during prolonged game play
Risk Mitigation
- •Establish clear pitch boundaries to prevent collisions between games
- •Ensure adequate space between simultaneous matches
- •Manager positions chosen for safety and optimal viewing
- •Progressive intensity building through lesson structure
- •Regular hydration breaks during extended game play
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all games simultaneously
- •Monitor manager areas for safety and appropriate behaviour
- •Watch for signs of fatigue or overexertion in players
- •Ensure substituted players remain engaged and safe
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid support, contact school procedures if required