Lesson 1 - Passing and Dribbling with Movement
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 passing and movement to create opportunities and maintain possession in football?
Learning Objectives
- To demonstrate close control when dribbling with both feet
- To execute accurate passes using the inside of the foot with appropriate weight
- To understand and apply the principle of pass and move in game situations
Key Outcomes
- Students will show improved close control when dribbling under pressure
- Students will demonstrate accurate passing and intelligent movement off the ball
- Students will link multiple skills together in flowing sequences during game play
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed around practice areas, spare balls ready for quick restarts
Alternative: Size 4 footballs for better control, tennis balls for close control practice
Used to mark circle boundaries, central squares, and game area boundaries
Alternative: Markers, bibs, or spots
Three different colours for 5v5 games identification
Alternative: Coloured bands or pinnies
Positioned to create three separate 5v5 playing areas
Alternative: Tall cones, witches hats, or marked boundaries
For timing activity rotations and assessment periods
Alternative: Phone timer or whistle for time management
Key Vocabulary
Keeping the ball within playing distance while dribbling, using small touches
The principle of making a pass then immediately moving to a new position to receive the ball back or support teammates
The initial contact with the ball when receiving a pass, crucial for maintaining possession
Looking around to assess options before receiving the ball
A quick passing combination where player A passes to player B, who immediately returns the ball to player A who has moved into space
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic ball control using both feet
- Simple passing using the inside of the foot
- Understanding of space and positioning
Current Skills
- Close control dribbling with head up scanning
- Pass and move combinations
- Linking multiple skills in sequences
Next Steps
- Advanced passing techniques (through balls, long passes)
- Complex movement patterns and overlaps
- Tactical awareness in 11v11 situations
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Head up scanning is essential for both dribbling and passing situations
- Inside of foot provides accuracy for passing - follow through towards target
- Pass and move is fundamental - never pass and stand still
- First touch determines success of next action - prepare early
- Communication helps teammates understand your intentions
- Decision-making between passing and dribbling depends on situation
- Close control keeps ball within playing distance at all times
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking dribbling is always better than passing - explain when each is appropriate
- Believing harder passes are always more effective - demonstrate importance of weight
- Assuming first touch must always be a control - show when direct passing is better
- Thinking skills only work if performed perfectly - emphasise that practice leads to improvement
- Believing football is only about individual brilliance - highlight importance of teamwork
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments, provide regular movement breaks, use clear visual and verbal cues for transitions
dyspraxia
- Use larger, softer balls initially, provide additional practice time, break skills into smaller component parts
autism spectrum
- Provide clear structure and routine, use visual timetables, offer quiet zones if overwhelmed by group activities
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured balls and cones, provide verbal descriptions of demonstrations, establish buddy system for guidance
hearing impairment
- Use clear visual demonstrations, hand signals for instructions, written key points on whiteboard if available
physical disability
- Modify to seated or stationary versions where appropriate, use larger balls for easier handling, reduce distances for passing practice
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Communication skills during games, following and giving instructions, explaining tactical concepts
Maths
Calculating angles for passing directions, measuring distances for game areas, timing activities with stopwatch skills
Science
Understanding forces in ball movement, friction between ball and surface, body systems working during exercise
Geography
Spatial awareness and direction concepts, mapping movement patterns across playing areas
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation skills, resilience when techniques don't work first time, leadership during team activities
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Circulate between groups during skill work, position centrally during games to oversee all three areas
Observation Focus
Watch for technical development, decision-making improvement, and cooperation between students
Intervention Points
["Step in immediately if safety concerns arise", "Provide encouragement for students attempting new skills", "Offer specific technical corrections during skill development phases"]
Demonstration Notes
Use clear, exaggerated movements for technique demonstration. Involve confident students to demonstrate good examples. Always show both correct and incorrect technique for comparison.
Verbal Cues
- •'Head up when dribbling!'
- •'Pass and move immediately!'
- •'Use the inside of your foot for accuracy!'
- •'Look for space before you receive the ball!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 40m x 30m for full lesson, additional space for three separate 5v5 games
Surface Check
Dry, even surface free from holes, debris, or standing water
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check footballs are properly inflated to correct pressure
- •Ensure cones have no sharp edges or cracks
- •Verify goals are stable and properly positioned
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between students during circle activities
- •Ankle injuries from changes of direction
- •Ball strikes to face or body during passing practice
- •Fatigue-related injuries during game phase
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries established for all activities
- •Adequate spacing between students maintained throughout
- •Progressive warm-up to prepare muscles and joints
- •Regular water breaks during extended activities
- •Modified rules to reduce physical contact in games
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all three game areas
- •Regular circulation between groups during skill activities
- •Close monitoring during high-energy game phases
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid or summon additional support as required