Lesson 2 - Hockey Possession & Officiating
Advanced Competitive Tactics
•Year 6
•Hockey
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How can we combine tactical understanding with fair play to excel in hockey?
Learning Objectives
- To consolidate understanding of passing, dribbling and moving to maintain possession
- To develop officiating skills and understanding of hockey rules
- To create and execute effective attacking strategies that result in scoring opportunities
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate refined possession skills in game situations
- Students will successfully officiate games showing understanding of rules
- Students will create fluent attacking movements leading to shooting opportunities
Equipment & Resources Required
Check stick condition and appropriate height for each student
Alternative: Unihoc sticks, pool noodles for adapted version
Ensure balls are suitable for surface and weather conditions
Alternative: Tennis balls, foam balls for indoor use
Different colours for zones and boundaries
Alternative: Spots, chalk lines, rope
Appropriate size for skill level and space
Alternative: Cone goals, wall targets, hula hoops
Clearly distinguish teams and officials
Alternative: Coloured bands, team identifiers
One per student referee, clean between uses
Alternative: Hand signals only for quiet environments
Key Vocabulary
Maintaining control of the ball as a team
Acting as referee to ensure fair play and rule enforcement
Designated scoring area at either end of the pitch
Smooth, continuous movement and passing between players
Choosing the best option (pass, dribble, shoot) based on game situation
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic hockey stick handling and ball control
- Understanding of simple passing techniques
- Awareness of invasion game principles
Current Skills
- Refined passing, dribbling and moving in game contexts
- Tactical decision-making under pressure
- Officiating and rule application
Next Steps
- Advanced tactical formations and strategies
- Specialised positions and role-specific skills
- Tournament organisation and leadership
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Possession requires patience and tactical awareness, not just individual skill
- Effective officiating builds leadership confidence and understanding of fair play
- Quality of attacks improves through sustained possession and team communication
- Decision-making under pressure is a learnable skill that improves with practice
- Team fluidity comes from understanding roles and supporting teammates
- Referee authority must be established early and maintained consistently throughout
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: Fastest attacks are always best attacks. Reality: Patient build-up creates better opportunities
- Misconception: Only skilled players can be good referees. Reality: Good referees need fairness and confidence, not advanced playing skills
- Misconception: Possession means keeping ball at all costs. Reality: Possession serves the purpose of creating scoring opportunities
- Misconception: Arguing with referees improves decisions. Reality: Respectful acceptance maintains game flow and learning environment
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Use shorter game segments, provide clear role definition, ensure regular activity changes and movement
dyspraxia
- Use lighter equipment if available, reduce field size, provide extra practice time for skill development
autism spectrum
- Provide clear structure and routine, use visual schedules for game rotation, ensure quiet space available if needed
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured balls and equipment, provide clear verbal descriptions of field layout, assign sighted buddy for support
hearing impairment
- Use visual signals for referee decisions, ensure clear sight lines for communication, provide written rule reminders
physical disability
- Adapt stick grip if needed, modify field size for wheelchair users, allow seated participation in officiating
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Communication skills during games, giving clear instructions as referee, articulating tactical understanding
Maths
Counting passes and calculating possession percentages, measuring field dimensions and calculating areas
Science
Understanding momentum and force in ball striking, analysing energy transfer in passing
Geography
Spatial awareness and field positioning, understanding angles and directions in play
PSHE
Leadership development through officiating, teamwork and fair play, managing emotions under pressure
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move between games to support referees and observe tactical development, position for overview of all activities
Observation Focus
Watch for tactical understanding development, referee confidence building, and team fluidity improving
Intervention Points
Step in if referee decisions need support, safety concerns arise, or tactical development needs guidance
Demonstration Notes
Be ready to pause games for tactical demonstrations, show contrast between effective and ineffective possession play
Verbal Cues
- •'Build your attack patiently!'
- •'Trust your referee decision!'
- •'Count your passes!'
- •'Use the space!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 40m x 30m for full hockey games, additional 10m clear space around perimeter
Surface Check
Dry, even surface essential for stick work, check for holes or debris
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Hockey sticks checked for splinters or damage before use
- •Balls appropriate for surface and weather conditions
- •Goals securely positioned and stable
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Stick contact between players
- •Ball strikes to players or spectators
- •Collisions during fast-paced games
- •Slips due to surface conditions
Risk Mitigation
- •Strict no-stick-contact rule enforced throughout
- •Clear boundaries and adequate space between games
- •Progressive skill building before full games
- •Constant monitoring of playing surface
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for maximum visibility of all activities
- •Monitor referee decisions for safety awareness
- •Watch for fatigue affecting technique and safety
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately if injury occurs, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid, contact school emergency procedures if serious