Tactical Awareness in Invasion Games
•Year 9
•Teaching Games for Understanding
•Distribute to clearly identify teams
Alternative: Coloured bands or pinnies
Mark playing area, centre line, and special zones
Alternative: Chalk lines on hard surfaces
Place in designated flag zones at opposite ends
Alternative: Bean bags, tennis balls, or coloured objects
Create clearly defined jail areas on each side
Alternative: Rope or chalk to mark jail areas
For timing game rounds and activities
Alternative: Smartphone timer or whistle intervals
The area of play that a team is trying to invade or defend
Understanding when and how to make strategic decisions during gameplay
Working together as a team with timing and communication
Avoiding being caught by changing speed, direction, or using deception
Organised positioning of defenders to prevent opponent advancement
Teammates positioning to help with attack or defence
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Communication skills, tactical vocabulary development, analysis and evaluation of strategies
Spatial geometry in tactical formations, timing and probability in strategic decision-making, data analysis of game statistics
Physics of movement and momentum, reaction times and decision-making, cardiovascular responses to exercise
Territorial concepts, map reading skills, spatial awareness and navigation principles
Historical development of territorial conflicts and strategic thinking, evolution of team sports and tactics
Leadership development, conflict resolution, teamwork under pressure, resilience in competitive situations
Move actively between teams and games to provide tactical feedback and ensure safety oversight
Watch for tactical decision-making, team communication, safe play, and inclusive participation
Step in immediately for unsafe play, provide tactical prompts when teams struggle, mediate any disputes fairly
Use students to demonstrate tactics, highlight good examples during gameplay, model positive language and sportsmanship
Minimum 40m x 30m for full game, clear boundaries with 2m safety margin from walls/obstacles
Level playing surface free from holes, debris, or wet areas that could cause slipping
Stop signal (loud whistle blast), immediate assessment of situation, appropriate first aid response, clear evacuation routes maintained
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