Lesson 6 - Tactical Awareness & Attack
Tactical Mastery & Team Strategy
•Year 6
•Invasion Games
•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 attackers use movement and communication to outthink defenders?
Learning Objectives
- Develop tactical awareness through diagonal runs and position rotation
- Apply communication skills to coordinate attacking play
- Demonstrate mobility and fluidity in attacking positions
Key Outcomes
- Students will make effective diagonal runs to create space
- Students will communicate effectively with teammates during attacking phases
- Students will show tactical awareness by rotating positions and exploiting space
Equipment & Resources Required
Use different colours for different activities and assessment
Alternative: Markers, bibs
Half for football activities, half for netball-style catching
Alternative: Tennis balls, playground balls
For optional third game choice
Alternative: Hockey sticks and balls
For handball option in game session
Alternative: Size 1 footballs, rugby balls
To distinguish teams during games
Alternative: Coloured bands
For recording assessment evidence
Alternative: Mobile phone camera
Key Vocabulary
Running at an angle to create space and confuse defenders
Players changing positions during play to maintain attacking threats
Understanding when and how to make decisions that benefit the team
Constant movement to create opportunities and maintain pressure
Creating numerical advantage in specific areas of play
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic passing and receiving skills
- Understanding of attacking and defending roles
- Experience in small-sided games
Current Skills
- Diagonal running techniques
- Position rotation in attack
- Tactical communication
Next Steps
- Advanced tactical formations
- Counter-attacking strategies
- Leadership in game situations
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Diagonal runs create more space and options than straight runs
- Tactical awareness is about thinking ahead and making smart decisions
- Communication with teammates is essential for effective attacking play
- Position rotation keeps defenders guessing and maintains attacking threats
- Unselfish play creates more opportunities than individual brilliance
- Defensive understanding improves attacking decision-making
- Movement without the ball is as important as ball skills
Common Misconceptions
- Running fast is more important than running smart - emphasise timing and direction over speed
- Individual skill is more valuable than team tactics - highlight collective success stories
- Defenders just chase attackers - explain tactical defending principles
- Good players don't need to communicate - demonstrate how even skilled players benefit from talking
- Tactical awareness is too complex for Year 6 - show how they naturally make tactical decisions
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Regular position changes, clear visual boundaries, immediate feedback, short activity bursts with variety
dyspraxia
- Larger targets and equipment, simplified movement patterns initially, extra practice time, clear step-by-step instructions
autism spectrum
- Clear structure with visual timetable, defined boundaries for activities, sensory break options, predictable rotation patterns
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured equipment, verbal descriptions of movements, tactile boundaries for activity areas, buddy system for navigation
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations of all movements, hand signals for tactical instructions, written instruction cards, clear visual boundaries
physical disability
- Seated versions of movement patterns, modified equipment (larger/softer balls), adapted passing distances, wheelchair-accessible pathways
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Tactical vocabulary development, communication during games, describing and explaining tactical decisions
Maths
Angles and direction in diagonal runs, spatial reasoning in tactical positioning, data collection through self-assessment
Science
Forces and angles in movement, physics of ball flight paths, reaction time in defensive responses
Geography
Spatial awareness and mapping movement patterns, understanding coordinates and positioning
PSHE
Communication skills, teamwork and cooperation, self-assessment and honest reflection
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central position during demonstrations, rotate between activity areas during practice, position for maximum game visibility during application
Observation Focus
Tactical decision-making, communication between players, application of diagonal running principles, unselfish team play
Intervention Points
Stop for teaching moments when excellent tactical play occurs, intervene if activities become too competitive at expense of learning
Demonstration Notes
Use students as positive examples whenever possible, emphasise decision-making over athletic ability, connect all examples back to tactical awareness theme
Verbal Cues
- •'Think diagonal, not straight!'
- •'Talk to your teammates!'
- •'Where's the space?'
- •'Make the defender choose!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 40m for multiple activity areas with clear separation between invasion games
Surface Check
Dry, level surface free from obstacles, adequate space for crossing movement patterns
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check balls are correctly inflated and suitable for age group
- •Ensure cones are visible and stable
- •Verify unihoc sticks are appropriate length and condition
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions during crossing runs in warm-up
- •Contact during defensive activities
- •Ball strikes in multi-game environment
Risk Mitigation
- •Practice warm-up at slow pace before increasing speed
- •Emphasise no physical contact rule in defensive practice
- •Clear boundaries between different game activities
- •Progressive skill building from practice to game application
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for visibility of crossing patterns during warm-up
- •Monitor defensive activities for appropriate contact levels
- •Circulate between game areas during application phase
Emergency Procedures
Stop all activity immediately, assess situation, provide appropriate first aid or support as required