Lesson 2 - Positioning & Interception
Tactical Awareness in Invasion Games
•Year 9
•Teaching Games for Understanding
•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 positioning and communication transform a team's ability to maintain possession and create attacking opportunities?
Learning Objectives
- Develop tactical understanding of positioning to maintain possession in territorial games
- Apply communication skills to coordinate team movements and passing sequences
- Demonstrate defensive principles through effective interception techniques
Key Outcomes
- Students will successfully maintain possession for extended periods using strategic positioning
- Students will communicate effectively to support teammates and create passing opportunities
- Students will apply defensive positioning to intercept passes and regain possession
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed around activity areas for quick access
Alternative: Basketballs, footballs, or any balls suitable for throwing/catching
One colour per team, extras available for substitutions
Alternative: Coloured bands or pinnards
Used to mark corners of activity areas - bright colours preferred
Alternative: Tall cones or markers
For timing activities and rest periods
Alternative: Mobile phone timer
For marking boundaries and player positions
Alternative: Disc markers
Key Vocabulary
Strategic placement of players to maximise attacking opportunities or defensive coverage
Defensive technique to gain possession by reading and cutting off opponent's passes
Verbal and non-verbal signals used to coordinate team movements and tactics
Area where it's difficult to pass or receive due to defensive pressure
Creating numerical advantage in a specific area of the playing space
Turning movement while keeping one foot planted to change direction
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic throwing and catching techniques
- Understanding of teamwork in games
- Fundamental movement skills and spatial awareness
Current Skills
- Strategic positioning for possession maintenance
- Communication during game situations
- Defensive interception techniques
Next Steps
- Advanced tactical formations in territorial games
- Transition between attack and defence
- Game-specific tactical applications
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Positioning creates opportunities - teach students to think about where they stand and why
- Communication is crucial for team success - model and encourage clear, positive communication
- Defensive principles: press the ball, cover space, work as a unit
- Attacking principles: create angles, move the ball quickly, support the ball carrier
- Transitions between attack and defence happen instantly - mental adjustment is key
- Individual technique supports team tactics - accurate passing enables tactical success
- Spatial awareness development through progressive challenges and decision-making opportunities
Common Misconceptions
- Good positioning means standing still - actually requires constant adjustment and movement
- Defending is just about getting the ball - also about denying space and forcing poor decisions
- Communication means shouting - effective communication is clear, timely and specific
- Individual skill is separate from team tactics - actually they work together to create success
- TGFU games are just modified sports - they're designed to develop transferable tactical understanding
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter activity bursts, clear boundaries and rules, regular movement opportunities, positive reinforcement system
dyspraxia
- Simplified movement patterns, extra practice time, peer support systems, equipment modifications (lighter balls, closer distances)
autism spectrum
- Clear, consistent routines, visual activity schedules, quiet zones available, structured roles within teams
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured equipment, verbal descriptions of positioning, buddy system for guidance, larger activity areas
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstrations, hand signals for communication, written instruction cards, ensure face-to-face communication
physical disability
- Seated or supported versions of activities, adapted equipment (larger balls, shorter distances), modified rules for accessibility
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Communication skills, vocabulary development, articulating tactical ideas clearly
Science
Forces and motion in ball flight, body systems responding to exercise, physics of interception angles
Geography
Spatial awareness and mapping of field positions, directions and movement patterns
Mathematics
Geometry and angles in positioning, counting passes and scoring, timing and measurement in activities
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, leadership development, managing competition and emotions
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Stand at corner of area for maximum visibility, move between groups during activities to provide individual coaching
Observation Focus
Watch for tactical understanding, communication effectiveness, skill application under pressure, and safety
Intervention Points
Step in to clarify rules, provide tactical hints, ensure safety, or facilitate discussion
Demonstration Notes
Use students as positive examples whenever possible, demonstrate tactical concepts using simple formations, emphasise key teaching points through exaggerated movements
Verbal Cues
- •'Scan before you receive!'
- •'Create angles for your teammate!'
- •'Communicate - call for the ball!'
- •'Work as a defensive unit!'
- •'Quick transitions when possession changes!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 30m x 40m outdoor area or large sports hall, clear of obstacles
Surface Check
Level surface free from hazards, appropriate footwear for surface type
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •All balls checked for proper inflation and no damage
- •Cones positioned safely with no sharp edges
- •Bibs in good condition with no tears
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Collisions between players during dynamic activities
- •Falls when changing direction quickly
- •Ball strikes to head/face area
- •Overexertion in competitive game situations
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundaries established and maintained
- •Progressive introduction of contact and pressure
- •Regular breaks to prevent fatigue
- •Emphasis on controlled movements and spatial awareness
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to observe all activity areas simultaneously
- •Move between groups during activities to provide close supervision
- •Monitor intensity levels and intervene if necessary
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately on injury, assess and provide appropriate first aid, contact emergency services if required