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 developing leadership skills and teamwork make us better basketball players and people?

Learning Objectives

  • Lead their own warm-up and demonstrate effective coaching techniques
  • Demonstrate and practice lay-up technique with correct footwork and shooting form
  • Apply refereeing skills and demonstrate fair play throughout all activities
  • Analyse what makes a successful team and contribute positively to team dynamics

Key Outcomes

  • Students will confidently lead warm-up activities using clear instructions and demonstrations
  • Students will execute lay-ups with improved technique and consistency
  • Students will demonstrate leadership qualities and positive sporting behaviour
  • Students will understand and articulate the key components of successful teamwork

Equipment & Resources Required

Basketball
1 per 2 students (15 balls for 30 students)

Pre-positioned around court perimeter for easy access

Alternative: Size 5 balls for smaller hands, playground balls for beginners

Coloured Bibs
15 of each colour (2 teams)

Sorted into team sets before lesson begins

Alternative: Different coloured cones to identify teams

Cones
20 cones

Used for drill markers and court boundaries

Alternative: Spots or markers for positioning

Clipboards
6 clipboards

One per team for analysis and feedback recording

Alternative: Tablets or notebooks for recording

Whistles
6 whistles

For student referees during matches

Alternative: Hand signals for quieter environments

Key Vocabulary

Lay-up

A close-range shot where the ball is gently released off the backboard into the basket

Leadership

The ability to guide, motivate and inspire others to achieve common goals

Sportsmanship

Fair and generous behaviour especially in competitive situations

Analysis

Detailed examination of performance to identify strengths and areas for improvement

Tactics

Planned strategies and methods used to achieve success in games

Communication

The clear exchange of information between team members

Skill Progression Pathway

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

Prior Learning

  • Basic basketball handling skills and rules knowledge
  • Understanding of personal space and movement
  • Previous experience working in teams
  • Basic shooting technique from close range

Current Skills

  • Leadership and communication skills in sporting contexts
  • Lay-up technique with correct footwork and follow-through
  • Refereeing skills and fair play application
  • Team analysis and tactical awareness

Next Steps

  • Advanced shooting techniques from different positions
  • Complex team tactics and set plays
  • Tournament organisation and management
  • Peer coaching and mentoring skills

Milestone Indicators

1
Confidently leading others without prompting
2
Scoring 7/10 lay-ups in practice drills
3
Making fair refereeing decisions under pressure
4
Contributing constructive ideas to team discussions

Key Teaching Points

  • Lay-up approach must be at 45-degree angle with correct footwork sequence for optimal shooting angle
  • Leadership roles should rotate throughout unit to develop different skills in all students
  • Fair play and sportsmanship are as important as technical skill development
  • Team analysis should focus on specific examples rather than general observations
  • Safety awareness must be maintained during all activities, especially around basketball hoops
  • Differentiation should recognise different types of contributions, not just basketball ability
  • Assessment should use Head/Hands/Heart framework to capture holistic development

Common Misconceptions

  • Students thinking leadership is only about being loud and giving orders rather than supporting others
  • Believing lay-ups are just about getting close to basket without understanding technique importance
  • Assuming successful teams only need skilled players rather than good communication and organisation
  • Thinking fair play means letting opponents win rather than competing fairly within rules
  • Believing assessment is only about basketball skills rather than personal development
  • Misconception that team roles are fixed rather than everyone having potential to develop leadership

SEN Adaptations

ADHD
  • Frequent activity changes, clear physical boundaries, regular movement breaks, immediate positive feedback systems
dyspraxia
  • Larger basketballs for easier handling, simplified footwork patterns, additional demonstration time, peer support systems
social anxiety
  • Smaller group participation options, observer roles initially, gradual leadership responsibility building
autism spectrum
  • Clear routine structure, visual schedule of activities, quiet reflection spaces, predictable role assignments
visual impairment
  • Use bright orange basketballs, verbal descriptions of all demonstrations, buddy system for navigation around court
hearing impairment
  • Visual demonstration emphasis, written instruction cards, hand signals for refereeing, vibrating whistle alternatives
physical disability
  • Wheelchair basketball adaptations, seated shooting practice, modified court dimensions, alternative role assignments
learning difficulties
  • Simplified language in instructions, visual prompt cards, peer mentoring, celebration of small improvements

Cross-Curricular Links

English

Developing communication skills through leadership roles, vocabulary expansion, presenting analysis to peers

Science

Understanding forces in shooting mechanics, physics of ball trajectory, human body systems during exercise

Geography

Spatial awareness and positioning, understanding court dimensions and movement patterns

Mathematics

Calculating shooting percentages, analysing statistical improvement, understanding angles for optimal shooting approach

PSHE

Leadership development, teamwork skills, resilience building, managing competitive emotions

Psychology

Understanding motivation, group dynamics, building confidence, dealing with pressure situations

Teacher Guidance

Positioning

Move between stations and courts to observe all students, positioning at corners for maximum visibility during games

Observation Focus

Monitor lay-up technique development, leadership behaviours, and sportsmanship throughout all activities

Intervention Points

["Step in if safety risks develop during games or drills", "Support students struggling with leadership roles through gentle prompting", "Address unsporting behaviour immediately to maintain positive environment"]

Demonstration Notes

Use students as demonstration models when they show excellent technique Demonstrate leadership behaviours explicitly - how to encourage, instruct, organise Show both correct and common incorrect lay-up techniques for comparison Model positive responses to both success and failure

Verbal Cues
  • 'Remember your footwork - outside foot, inside foot, jump!'
  • 'Great leadership - you're speaking clearly and demonstrating well!'
  • 'Excellent sportsmanship - helping your opponent up shows great character!'
  • 'Focus on the process not just the outcome - technique first!'

Safety Considerations

Space & Surface Requirements

Space Requirements

Full basketball court or large sports hall minimum 28m x 15m with 2m clear boundary

Surface Check

Non-slip surface, dry and clean, free from obstacles and hazards

Equipment Safety

Safety Checks
  • Basketballs properly inflated and in good condition
  • Basketball hoops securely attached and appropriate height
  • Cones positioned to mark boundaries without creating trip hazards
  • Whistle safety - avoid excessive use close to students' ears

Risk Management

Key Risks
  • Collisions during fast-paced games and lay-up drills
  • Falls when attempting lay-ups or during competitive play
  • Ball strikes from poor passing or shooting
  • Overexertion during high-intensity activities
Risk Mitigation
  • Clear court boundaries established and maintained throughout
  • Controlled progression from practice to game application
  • Adequate spacing between simultaneous activities
  • Regular hydration breaks especially in warm conditions
  • Proper technique teaching before allowing full-speed attempts

Supervision & Emergency Procedures

Supervision Points
  • Position for clear view of all activities simultaneously
  • Pay particular attention to lay-up areas for collision risks
  • Monitor referee decisions and player reactions for safety
  • Ensure equipment managers handle basketballs safely
Emergency Procedures

["Stop all activity immediately with whistle or clear verbal command", "Assess injury severity and provide appropriate first aid", "Ensure other students are safely positioned away from incident", "Follow school procedures for serious injuries or medical emergencies"]