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
No credit card
Free forever
Big Question

How can we use Indian dribbling and push passing to outwit opponents in hockey?

Learning Objectives

  • To develop Indian dribbling technique with control and speed
  • To execute accurate push passes using correct body positioning
  • To evaluate others' performance using appropriate technical language

Key Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate Indian dribbling with control and direction changes
  • Students will push pass accurately to teammates using proper technique
  • Students will provide constructive feedback using technical hockey vocabulary

Equipment & Resources Required

Hockey sticks
1 per student (30)

Check stick height - should reach student's hip bone when standing

Alternative: Unihoc sticks, foam sticks for beginners

Hockey balls
1 per student (30)

Distribute around perimeter before lesson starts

Alternative: Tennis balls, foam balls for skill development

Cones
20-30

Various colours for different activities and boundaries

Alternative: Floor spots, markers

Gates
11 gates

Position randomly around grid area, 2 metres wide

Alternative: Hoops, floor markers

Video Device
1 per student

Ensure battery charged and storage space available

Alternative: Multiple devices for group work

Key Vocabulary

Indian dribbling

A hockey technique where the stick is rotated 180 degrees to move the ball left and right alternately

Push pass

A hockey pass where the stick remains in contact with the ball throughout the movement

Cushioning

Receiving technique that absorbs the ball's impact to maintain control

Reverse stick

Playing the ball using the back edge of the stick blade

Backhand side

The left side of a right-handed player where stick skills are typically weaker

Skill Progression Pathway

Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going

Prior Learning

  • Basic stick grip and ball control
  • Simple passing techniques
  • Understanding of hockey rules and safety

Current Skills

  • Indian dribbling technique development
  • Push passing accuracy and power
  • Technical evaluation and peer assessment

Next Steps

  • Combining skills in game situations
  • Advanced stick skills and deception
  • Tactical awareness and positioning

Milestone Indicators

1
Fluid stick rotation without losing control
2
Consistent pass accuracy over various distances
3
Confident use of technical vocabulary in feedback

Key Teaching Points

  • Indian dribbling requires left hand to control stick rotation while right hand maintains loose grip
  • Push passing needs continuous stick-ball contact with weight transfer from back to front foot
  • Receiving technique involves soft hands, bent knees, and angled stick for ball control
  • Targeting the backhand side creates tactical advantage due to reduced reach and control
  • Peer assessment should use specific technical vocabulary rather than general comments
  • Game application must maintain technique quality under pressure
  • Self-assessment develops metacognitive awareness and realistic goal-setting

Common Misconceptions

  • That Indian dribbling is just moving the ball side to side - emphasise the specific stick rotation technique
  • That push passing is the same as hitting - stress the continuous contact throughout the movement
  • That receiving is passive - highlight the active cushioning and positioning required
  • That peer feedback should only focus on positive aspects - teach constructive improvement suggestions
  • That game performance is only about winning - emphasise technique maintenance and tactical understanding

SEN Adaptations

ADHD
  • Break activities into shorter segments, provide clear boundaries and expectations, use movement breaks effectively, give frequent positive feedback
dyspraxia
  • Use larger equipment initially, allow extra practice time, break skills into smaller components, provide physical guidance for technique
autism spectrum
  • Provide clear routine structure, visual schedule of activities, quiet space available if needed, consistent expectations and praise
visual impairment
  • Use brightly coloured balls and cones, provide verbal descriptions of demonstrations, pair with sighted buddy for spatial guidance
hearing impairment
  • Use clear visual demonstrations, written instruction cards, hand signals for communication, position for clear sight lines
physical disability
  • Adapt stick height and grip, allow seated variations where appropriate, modify distances and targets, provide physical support as needed

Cross-Curricular Links

Maths

Angles of stick rotation (180 degrees), measuring distances for passing accuracy, timing and speed calculations

Science

Forces in push passing, momentum transfer, physics of ball control and impact absorption

Geography

Spatial awareness, direction changes, positional play and field mapping

PSHE

Teamwork skills, constructive feedback, resilience when learning difficult techniques, celebrating different types of achievement

Teacher Guidance

Positioning

Move between groups during practice, position for clear sight lines during demonstrations

Observation Focus

Monitor stick technique, spatial awareness, and competitive behaviour

Intervention Points

Step in if technique becomes unsafe, if students struggle with concepts, or if peer feedback becomes negative

Demonstration Notes

Use slow motion for complex techniques, emphasise hand positions clearly, show common mistakes to avoid

Verbal Cues
  • 'Rotate stick 180 degrees'
  • 'Weight from back to front foot'
  • 'Soft hands for receiving'
  • 'Target the backhand side'

Safety Considerations

Space & Surface Requirements

Space Requirements

Minimum 30m x 20m, clear of obstacles with defined boundaries

Surface Check

Level grass or sports hall surface, free from hazards and suitable for running

Equipment Safety

Safety Checks
  • Check hockey sticks for correct height and no damage
  • Ensure balls are properly inflated and not cracked
  • Verify cones and markers are stable and visible

Risk Management

Key Risks
  • Stick contact with other players
  • Ball strikes to body or head
  • Collisions during dynamic activities
  • Slips during direction changes
Risk Mitigation
  • Emphasise stick control and awareness at all times
  • Maintain adequate spacing during all activities
  • Clear communication about boundaries and expectations
  • Progressive skill building to maintain control

Supervision & Emergency Procedures

Supervision Points
  • Position for maximum visibility during partner work
  • Monitor stick technique especially during rotation practice
  • Watch for fatigue affecting technique and safety
Emergency Procedures

Stop all activity immediately, assess injury severity, apply appropriate first aid, contact emergency services if required