Lesson 5 - Overloads and Tactical Awareness
Tactical Mastery & Team Dynamics
•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 use numerical advantages and tactical awareness to create more goal-scoring opportunities?
Learning Objectives
- To combine skills effectively to create goal-scoring opportunities
- To understand and apply overload, overlap, and underlap tactics
- To demonstrate leadership skills in attacking and defending situations
Key Outcomes
- Students will successfully execute overload tactics in small-sided games
- Students will show understanding of overlap and underlap movements
- Students will demonstrate improved decision-making under pressure
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed at each small pitch area
Alternative: Size 3 or 4 footballs depending on student ability
One goal per small pitch area
Alternative: Cones or markers to create goal areas
Used to mark pitch boundaries and lines
Alternative: Flat markers or spots
For distinguishing teams in final game
Alternative: Pinnies or team bands
Key Vocabulary
Having more attacking players than defending players in a specific area of the pitch
A supporting player running from behind to overtake the player with the ball
A supporting player running from behind on the inside of the ball carrier
Movement by a player without the ball to create space or distract defenders
Getting the ball behind the defensive line into dangerous areas
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic football skills - passing, dribbling, shooting
- Understanding of space and movement
- Ability to work in small teams
Current Skills
- Tactical awareness and decision-making
- Creating and exploiting overload situations
- Understanding overlap and underlap movements
- Leadership in game situations
Next Steps
- Advanced tactical formations
- Set piece strategies
- Complex team coordination patterns
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Numerical advantage must be actively exploited through movement and passing
- Overlap and underlap timing is crucial for effectiveness
- Communication is essential for successful tactical play
- Space is more important than speed in tactical situations
- Leadership can be shown through organisation and encouragement
- Defending requires discipline and teamwork to overcome numerical disadvantage
- Quick decision-making improves with practice and understanding
Common Misconceptions
- More players automatically means easy success - students must learn to use advantage wisely
- Overlap and underlap are the same movement - clear distinction needed
- Only the ball carrier makes decisions - all players must think tactically
- Faster play is always better - controlled, thoughtful play often more effective
- Leadership means being loudest - demonstrated through actions and support too
- Defending with fewer players is hopeless - smart defending can overcome numbers
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Frequent position changes, clear immediate feedback, break complex instructions into smaller steps
dyspraxia
- Extra practice time for movement patterns, simplified tactical instructions, partner support for complex movements
autism spectrum
- Clear routine structure, predictable activity patterns, quiet reflection time if needed
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured equipment, clear verbal instructions for all movements, buddy system for spatial awareness
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations of all tactics, hand signals for game instructions, written tactical diagrams
physical disability
- Modified roles such as tactical advisor, adapted equipment if needed, focus on decision-making aspects
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Numerical advantages and understanding ratios (3v1, 4v2, 6v4), angles of passing and movement
Science
Forces and motion in passing and shooting, understanding momentum and direction changes
Geography
Spatial awareness and map reading skills through pitch positioning and tactical understanding
PSHE
Leadership skills, teamwork, resilience under pressure, and fair play values
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central location with view of all practice areas, move between groups during activities
Observation Focus
Watch for tactical understanding, safe play, and leadership behaviours
Intervention Points
Step in when students show confusion about tactics, safety concerns arise, or to highlight good examples
Demonstration Notes
Use clear, exaggerated movements when showing tactical concepts, pause games to highlight good examples
Verbal Cues
- •'Find the space!'
- •'Support your teammate!'
- •'Communicate!'
- •'Use your advantage!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 40m for multiple small pitches, plus additional space for warm-up activities
Surface Check
Dry, even grass or artificial surface free from debris and hazards
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check footballs are properly inflated and in good condition
- •Ensure goals are stable and safe with no sharp edges
- •Cones positioned safely to avoid tripping hazards
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during dynamic warm-up activities
- •Aggressive challenges during competitive games
- •Trips and falls during quick directional changes
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries established for all activities
- •Emphasise controlled movements during warm-up
- •Referee games closely to prevent over-physical play
- •Adequate spacing between practice areas
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all practice areas
- •Move between groups during skill development
- •Close monitoring during competitive game situations
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately if injury occurs, assess severity, provide appropriate first aid, contact school first aider if needed