Lesson 6 - Attacking & Defending Skills
Attacking & Defensive Mastery
•Year 6
•Hockey
•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 strategic thinking and advanced skills like the Indian dribble to outmaneuver opponents in competitive hockey matches?
Learning Objectives
- To work cooperatively to implement attacking and defending strategies in game situations
- To master the Indian dribble technique and apply it effectively in competitive play
- To demonstrate confidence using a variety of hockey skills including push pass, block tackle, and set plays
Key Outcomes
- Students will successfully execute attacking and defending strategies with their team
- Students will perform the Indian dribble with control and apply it during game situations
- Students will demonstrate fluency in multiple hockey skills during competitive matches
Equipment & Resources Required
Check stick length is appropriate - should reach students' hip when standing upright
Alternative: Unihoc sticks, foam hockey sticks for younger students
Have spare balls around pitch perimeter for quick restarts
Alternative: Tennis balls, foam balls for skill development
Goals should be large relative to pitch width to encourage scoring
Alternative: Cones to mark goal areas, wall targets
Use to mark pitch boundaries, D zones, and skill practice areas
Alternative: Markers, bibs as boundary markers
Distribute to teams for easy identification during tournament
Alternative: Coloured bands, team pennants
For recording tournament results and match scores
Alternative: Paper scoresheets, whiteboard
Key Vocabulary
An advanced dribbling technique where the stick is rotated over the ball creating a zigzag pattern to deceive defenders
Planned movements and tactics used by a team to create scoring opportunities
Organised team approach to prevent the opposition from scoring including marking and positioning
Pre-planned movements from restarts such as long corners, hit outs, and sideline balls
The semicircular area around the goal where players must be positioned to score
A restart awarded when the defending team unintentionally hits the ball over their back line
A defensive technique where the stick is placed to stop or intercept the opponent's ball
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic hockey grip and stance
- Push pass and receiving techniques
- Simple dribbling and ball control
- Understanding of basic game rules
- Experience with small-sided games
Current Skills
- Indian dribble technique execution
- Strategic thinking for attacking and defending
- Set plays including long corners
- Competitive game application
- Team leadership and cooperation
Next Steps
- Advanced skill combinations in pressure situations
- Complex tactical formations and systems
- Leadership roles in competitive tournaments
- Officials and coaching responsibilities
- Inter-school competition preparation
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Indian dribble requires left hand rotation with right hand support
- Use Indian dribble when closely marked to create confusion
- Attacking strategies focus on creating space and support
- Defending strategies emphasise marking and positioning
- Set plays like long corners require organised team execution
- Teamwork and communication are essential for tactical success
- Maintain stick control and ball awareness throughout games
Common Misconceptions
- Both hands should rotate the stick equally - correct: left hand leads rotation
- Indian dribble should be used constantly - correct: use strategically when marked
- Faster movement always means better dribbling - correct: control and technique are priority
- Individual skill is more important than team strategy - correct: tactical awareness enhances individual performance
- Set plays are too complex for Year 6 - correct: simple organised plays are highly effective
- Defending means just trying to get the ball - correct: organised positioning and marking are key
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity segments with clear transitions, regular movement opportunities, specific roles and responsibilities
dyspraxia
- Simplified Indian dribble progression, larger equipment, extended practice time, focus on effort over perfection
autism spectrum
- Clear visual schedules for tournament format, quiet zones available, predictable team formations, social stories for competition
visual impairment
- Use bright coloured balls, verbal cues for spatial awareness, buddy system for navigation, audio signals for game events
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations of all skills, hand signals for game management, written strategy cards, vibrant visual cues
physical disability
- Adapted stick lengths and grips, modified Indian dribble using wheelchair movements, seated goalkeeping options
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Tournament scoring and league tables, measuring pitch dimensions, calculating goal differences and points totals
Science
Understanding forces in ball control, friction between stick and ball, biomechanics of rotation movements
Geography
Spatial awareness and positioning, mapping team formations, understanding tactical spaces and zones
PSHE
Leadership development, teamwork and cooperation, managing competition pressure and disappointment
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move between teams during strategy discussions, position centrally during demonstrations, circulate between pitches during games
Observation Focus
Watch for correct Indian dribble hand positioning, strategic decision-making in games, team communication effectiveness
Intervention Points
Step in if rules violations become frequent, provide support for struggling students, facilitate team discussions when needed
Demonstration Notes
Emphasise slow, clear technique demonstration for Indian dribble, model positive team communication, highlight strategic thinking examples during games
Verbal Cues
- •'Left hand leads the rotation!'
- •'Use the zigzag to confuse defenders!'
- •'Support your teammates with good positioning!'
- •'Remember your strategies!'
- •'Brilliant teamwork!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 40m x 30m for multiple small pitches, clear of obstacles and hazards
Surface Check
Even grass or artificial surface, free from holes, debris, or water patches
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check hockey sticks for splinters or damage before use
- •Ensure hockey balls are regulation weight and not cracked
- •Verify goals are stable and securely positioned
- •Confirm all cones are visible and not damaged
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Stick contact with other students during games
- •Ball strikes to body or head
- •Collisions during competitive play
- •Slips and falls on playing surface
- •Fatigue affecting coordination and safety
Risk Mitigation
- •Enforce no contact rules strictly
- •Maintain adequate spacing between pitches
- •Regular reminders about stick control
- •Monitor fatigue levels during tournament
- •Clear rules about appropriate stick height
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for visibility of all pitches during games
- •Monitor skill practice areas for proper technique
- •Watch for signs of frustration or fatigue
- •Ensure immediate response to rule violations
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately on whistle signal, assess situation, apply appropriate first aid, contact office if serious injury occurs