Lesson 6 - Tournament Play & Officiating
Tactical Mastery & Team Dynamics
•Year 6
•Football
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How can we demonstrate the School Games Values whilst competing fairly and officiating ourselves?
Learning Objectives
- To cooperate, communicate and collaborate with others to achieve shared goals in competitive situations
- To officiate games fairly and accept decisions made by others
- To demonstrate the School Games Values of passion, self-belief, respect, honesty, determination and teamwork
Key Outcomes
- Students will show understanding and interpretation of rules whilst accepting decisions given
- Students will compete with emotional control whilst maintaining School Games Values
- Students will officiate matches fairly when given the opportunity
Equipment & Resources Required
One ball per game, extras for warm-up progressions
Alternative: Size 4 footballs suitable for Year 6
10 of each colour for warm-up teams
Alternative: Team bands or coloured cones for identification
For area boundaries and end zones
Alternative: Markers or boundary markers
Small goals for multiple pitches
Alternative: Cone gates, benches turned over, or chalk lines
For self-assessment activity at end
Alternative: Coloured spots or markers
For timing warm-up and game durations
Alternative: Phone timer or whistle for time signals
Key Vocabulary
A competition involving multiple teams playing each other in organised rounds
Players making their own decisions about rule applications during games
Passion, self-belief, respect, honesty, determination and teamwork
Tournament format where every team plays every other team once
Managing feelings and reactions during competitive situations
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic football skills and techniques
- Understanding of fundamental game rules
- Experience in small-sided games
Current Skills
- Tournament play with multiple teams
- Self-officiating and decision acceptance
- Demonstrating School Games Values under competitive pressure
Next Steps
- Advanced tactical understanding
- Leadership in sports situations
- Mentoring younger students in games
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Self-officiating requires honesty and integrity - model this consistently throughout
- School Games Values are more important than winning - celebrate character over results
- Tournament format ensures everyone gets equal opportunities to play and succeed
- Emotional control during competition is a vital life skill being developed
- Peer recognition builds positive sporting culture and community values
- Links to community football help sustain engagement beyond school
- Assessment focuses on process and character development, not just football ability
Common Misconceptions
- That winning is more important than demonstrating School Games Values - emphasise process over outcome
- That self-officiating means being lenient with own team - stress importance of fairness and honesty
- That competition should reduce cooperation - show how working together enhances competitive performance
- That only the most skilled players can succeed in tournaments - celebrate effort, improvement and character
- That rules are optional in competitive situations - reinforce that rules ensure safety and fairness for all
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Build in regular movement breaks between rounds, provide clear, repeated instructions for tournament format, use peer buddies for support
dyspraxia
- Allow extra time for equipment organisation, provide simplified tournament tracking sheets, focus on effort and improvement over absolute performance
autism spectrum
- Provide clear written schedule of tournament rounds, create quiet zones for breaks if needed, use visual supports for School Games Values
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured equipment, provide verbal commentary during demonstrations, pair with sighted buddy for tournament navigation
hearing impairment
- Use visual signals for game management, ensure clear sight lines for lip reading, provide written fixture lists and rule reminders
physical disability
- Adapt rules for wheelchair users or reduced mobility, modify pitch sizes as needed, focus on tactical understanding and officiating roles
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Communication skills during self-officiating, vocabulary development around sporting terms, persuasive language when encouraging teammates
Maths
Tournament fixture calculations, timing games accurately, scoring and results recording, statistical analysis of team performance
Citizenship
Fair play and democratic decision-making, respect for rules and decisions, taking responsibility for personal actions and choices
PSHE
Emotional regulation during competition, leadership skills development, conflict resolution through self-officiating, community engagement through local football opportunities
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central position between three pitches for maximum visibility, circulate to provide specific feedback on School Games Values
Observation Focus
Self-officiating accuracy, demonstration of School Games Values under pressure, football skill application in competitive context
Intervention Points
Step in if self-officiating breaks down, support emotional regulation during competitive pressure, ensure fair fixture management
Demonstration Notes
Model positive responses to decisions, show specific examples of School Games Values in action, demonstrate how to give constructive feedback to peers
Verbal Cues
- •'Excellent self-officiating - that's real honesty!'
- •'I can see brilliant teamwork in your communication'
- •'Show me those School Games Values even when it's tough!'
- •'Remember, how you play matters more than the result'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large hall or outdoor area with space for three small football pitches (minimum 40m x 30m total)
Surface Check
Dry, even surface free from hazards, appropriate for running and ball skills
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Footballs checked for correct inflation and condition
- •Goals or targets stable and appropriately sized
- •Cones positioned safely to mark boundaries clearly
- •Bibs clean and appropriate sizes available
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during competitive play
- •Overexertion during tournament format
- •Emotional responses to competitive pressure
- •Ball strikes to head or body
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear pitch boundaries established with adequate space between playing areas
- •Self-officiating emphasises safety as well as fairness
- •Regular breaks between tournament rounds
- •Teacher circulation to monitor both safety and sporting behaviour
- •Emphasis on controlled contact and safe challenging
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe all three pitches simultaneously
- •Monitor for signs of fatigue affecting safety
- •Watch for escalating emotions during competitive play
- •Ensure self-officiating maintains safety standards
Emergency Procedures
Stop play immediately if injury occurs, assess with appropriate first aid, clear communication with other games to maintain safety focus