Advanced Decision Making

Overview

In this sixth lesson of “Mastering Kicking & Touch”, students use active defenders in small-sided play to make faster, smarter choices about when to pass or dribble. They practise reading space, protecting the ball, and using kicking/touch skills under pressure.

Learning intentions

• Students will be able to make appropriate passing or dribbling decisions in a kicking and touch game with an active defender.
• Students will be able to communicate using simple calls and body positioning to support teammates.
• Students will be able to apply fair play and safety rules while staying active and engaged.
• Students will be able to explain (with a partner) one reason for a decision they made.

Success criteria

• I can choose to pass or dribble by looking at my teammate and the defender’s position.
• I can use a controlled kick/touch to keep the ball moving with intent.
• I can use space and timing (move, wait, or go) to beat the defender or find a teammate.
• I can show teamwork and safety (no reckless kicks, respect roles, and fair play).

Curriculum links

• Movement and physical activity: practise and apply fundamental movement skills and simple strategies in games.
• Health and wellbeing: demonstrate safe participation, respect, and fair play during activities.
• Skill acquisition and decision-making: use cues, rules and tactical thinking in game contexts.
• Communication and teamwork: contribute to group plans and share ideas with peers.

Lesson structure (50 minutes)

1. 5:00 Retrieval – Kicking & Touch Flow (mini-game)

• Set up 3 short lanes with cones. Students in pairs complete quick “touch then kick” sequences while a partner calls directions in English and Spanish (e.g., “Izquierda / Derecha”, “adelante”).
• Teacher checks for last lesson cues: controlled touch, looking up before striking, and gentle power.

2. 3:00 Goals – WALT

• WALT: “We are learning to decide when to pass or dribble when a defender is close.”
• Show 3 success criteria as “I can” statements. Ask: “What do you look at first—your teammate or the defender?”

3. 12:00 I Do – Decision cues + modelling

• Teacher models a 1v1: attacker has ball, defender is active but safe distance.
• Use a simple decision routine:
• “Look up” (scan teammates and defender)
• “If teammate is free, pass”
• “If defender blocks passing, dribble to create a new passing lane”
• Model 2 clear outcomes (pass option vs dribble option) and verbalise cues: “My pass has space” / “No pass space yet—touch and go”.

4. 8:00 We Do – Guided 1v1 decision drills

• In pairs, rotate through 3 stations: Pass Lane, Dribble Lane, and “Choose” Lane (teacher calls “PASS!” or “DRIBBLE!” then removes/changes a cone to influence decisions).
• Teacher uses questioning: “What did the defender do?” “How did your position help your teammate?”
• Quick reteach moment after 3–4 minutes for common errors (kicking too hard, not scanning, waiting too long).

5. 15:00 You Do – 2v2/3v3 with active defenders (game-based)

• Create two small fields or indoor grids. Teams play possession games where each attacker must make a decision under pressure.
• Rules (simple and consistent):
• Attacker who has the ball must either pass to a teammate in the zone or dribble past a marker before a set time.
• Defender must stay in their half/zone for safety and to support fair play.
• Points: +1 successful pass to a teammate in the target area; +1 dribble past marker; turnover on loss of control.
• Teacher roams using a quick feedback loop: “I noticed you scanned—great decision” / “Next time, try to pass earlier when the defender steps toward you.”
• Include minimal downtime: use quick rotations (30–40 seconds transition) and keep all students moving.

6. 5:00 Show Me What You Know – Decision explain + quick reflection

• Students pair up for 30 seconds each during a pause in play: one asks, “Did you pass or dribble? Why?”
• Teacher listens for correct reasoning using sentence starters (in English, with Spanish support if helpful): “I passed because…” “I dribbled because…”

7. 2:00 Close – Safety + fair play reminder

• Students line up by grid edge. Teacher asks one safety question: “What do we do before we kick?” Students answer: “Look, control our distance, and kick safely.”

Resources

• Soft foam ball or size-appropriate ball (easy to control)
• Cones and flat markers (zones, lanes, targets)
• Bibs (attackers/defenders or teams)
• Whistle or timer for rotations
• Small goal targets (optional) or gate markers for dribble points
• Stopwatches or a visible timer
• Visual “pass/dribble decision cards” (teacher-led, no printing required if using markers)
• HPE space set-up: clear boundaries and non-slip floor awareness (if indoors)

Assessment

• Teacher observation checklist during gameplay: scanning, decision quality (pass vs dribble), control of touch/kick, teamwork.
• Peer discussion at the end: students state one reason for their decision using the routine (look up → space → action).
• Formative feedback delivered immediately during rotations, with one specific next step.

Differentiation

• Support:
• Reduce defender pressure (semi-active defender: defender moves only after a scan cue).
• Increase target size (bigger zones) and allow shorter time limits to succeed.
• Provide sentence starters and decision routine prompts on teacher cards.
• All students:
• Use same rule language and consistent zones so choices are clear.
• Encourage “quiet scanning” (head up) before touching.
• Extension (advanced learners):
• Add a constraint: first touch must be a touch to the side, then pass/kick within 2 seconds.
• Defenders can change zones mid-play, forcing quicker decisions.
• Require a second pass within the target zone for extra points.
• EAL/SEN (including Spanish bilingual clarity):
• Teach key words once and repeat: “mirar arriba / look up”, “pasar / pass”, “driblar / dribble”, “defensor / defender”, “espacio / space”.
• Use gestures (point to eyes for “look up”, arm to teammate for “pass”, body feint for “dribble”).
• Keep instructions short; demonstrate before running.

Extension (optional)

No optional extension requested.