Mastering Skills & Team Play
•Year 8
•Hockey
•Distributed around perimeter before students enter, checked for damage
Alternative: Ensure mix of left and right-handed sticks available
Stored in basket, distributed during warm-up
Alternative: Foam balls for students with reduced confidence or SEND needs
Used for grid boundaries, zone markers, and passing stations
Alternative: Marker spots or floor tape for indoor surfaces
One colour for sharks (5), different colours for battleships teams (6 teams)
Alternative: Coloured bands if bibs unavailable
Positioned at ends of battleships grids
Alternative: Cone goals (2 cones 1.5m apart)
For timing battleships game rounds
Alternative: Phone timer or visible clock
A defensive technique where the tackler steps forward with left foot and extends the stick quickly to dislodge the ball when it's clear of the opponent's stick
Protecting the ball from an opponent by keeping your body between the defender and the ball whilst maintaining control
Reading the play to position yourself to block or collect a pass intended for an opponent
A defensive strategy where each defender is responsible for a specific area rather than marking individual players
The ability to judge the perfect moment to execute a skill, particularly when the ball is vulnerable during opponent's movement
The strategies and decisions made to gain advantage in competitive situations
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Technical vocabulary development: learning, using and explaining terms like jab tackle, shielding, intercepting, zone defence. Communication skills during tactical discussions: articulating ideas clearly, listening to others, building on peers' contributions. Evaluation using descriptive language when assessing peer performance. Following complex verbal instructions requires listening comprehension. Expressing reflections on learning during plenary develops speaking skills.
Understanding forces applied during push pass (force, direction, friction affecting ball movement). Body systems during exercise: cardiovascular response to high-intensity activities, increased heart rate and breathing rate, oxygen delivery to muscles. Muscle contraction (quadriceps, hamstrings) during movement. Physics of ball motion: speed, trajectory, impact. Recovery processes during cool-down: lactic acid dispersal, muscle repair, temperature regulation.
Counting points during Battleships develops number skills. Calculating team scores across multiple rounds applies addition. Understanding zone divisions (3 equal zones from 18m court = 6m per zone) reinforces division concepts. Estimating distances when passing to targets. Spatial geometry concepts through court layouts and angles of passing.
Teamwork and cooperation during Run the Gauntlet and Battleships develops collaborative skills. Resilience when skills are challenging or when losing competitive games builds mental strength. Managing emotions in competitive situations practices emotional regulation. Encouraging others demonstrates empathy and social awareness. Fair play and sportsmanship embody core values. Self-assessment develops self-awareness and honest self-evaluation. Respecting others' abilities and contributions builds inclusive mindset.
Vary position throughout lesson for optimal supervision: corner position during grid-based activities for 180-degree visibility; central position during skill stations to rotate attention efficiently; circulating position during game applications to provide close observation and immediate feedback. Never turn back on active play. Position to see all students always.
Primary focus on safety throughout: stick heights, spatial awareness, controlled movements. Secondary focus on technique: jab tackle foot positioning, shielding body alignment, passing accuracy. Tertiary focus on tactical elements: communication, decision-making, teamwork. Balance observation across all students not just most/least able. Use scanning technique - sweeping gaze across whole group every 10-15 seconds.
Immediate intervention required for: unsafe stick work (above knee height or swinging), physical contact beyond incidental, any student in distress or injured, dangerous play, bullying or unkind language. Brief pause intervention for: technique errors affecting whole group, clarifying rules causing confusion, providing encouragement to disengaged students. Post-activity intervention for: individual technique refinement, tactical discussions, specific praise and constructive feedback.
Demonstrate: All new skills before student practice - jab tackle technique shown in slow motion then match speed, repeated 3 times minimum. Use competent student as partner to show realistic scenarios. Exaggerate key points (left foot lunge, jabbing motion) for visibility. Show both correct technique and common mistakes for contrast. Position demonstration so all students can see without moving from safe positions. Verbal commentary during demonstration: 'Watch my left foot stepping forward like a lunge... see the quick jab with my stick... and recover back to ready position.' Invite questions after demonstration before practice begins.
Minimum 30m x 20m for full lesson activities. Warm-up grid 20m x 20m. Skill development requires 6 circles with 8-10m spacing. Run the Gauntlet needs 4 courts of 18m x 8m. Battleships requires 3 grids of 15m x 10m. Total space: full sports hall or outdoor area equivalent to half a hockey pitch minimum.
Dry, even surface essential - no wet patches (slip risk), no uneven areas (trip/ankle risk), no debris or stones (ball deflection and trip hazards). Indoor: check for dust/moisture making surface slippery. Outdoor: grass must be even height, no holes or divots. Mark any unavoidable hazards with cones and exclude from playing area.
If injury occurs: immediate STOP signal (whistle and raised hand). All students freeze and place sticks and balls down. Assess injured student - if minor (slight knock, trip with no injury), brief pause then resume; if moderate (potential sprain, significant ball impact), send reliable student for first aider while you stay with injured student and keep others calm and seated; if serious (head injury, suspected fracture, unconscious), send TWO students for immediate help, do not move injured student, keep area clear, provide reassurance. First aid kit location known before lesson. Emergency contact protocols followed per school policy. Accident report completed same day for all injuries requiring first aid attention.
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.