Dynamic Ball Skills

Overview

This 60-minute practical lesson for Year 9 girls focuses on ball handling, teamwork, and game sense through relay games and team sports in Health and Physical Education. The lesson embraces both competitive and social play styles, suited to students with varying motivation levels. It incorporates a minimal warm-up followed by relay skill activities and concludes with team games: volleyball or European handball.

This plan aligns with the Australian Curriculum (Version 9) for Health and Physical Education, focusing on movement skills, team cooperation, and personal and social capability development.

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Curriculum Links

AC9HP9M01 - Movement and physical activity
Demonstrate a range of specialised movement skills and apply movement concepts and strategies to achieve movement outcomes in modified and authentic community and competitive games.

AC9HP9C02 - Personal and social capability
Work collaboratively to manage and enhance team performance.

AC9HP9M03 - Regular physical activity
Engage effectively in a variety of physical activities that develop fitness, skill and enjoyment.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate and apply basic ball handling, passing, catching, and movement skills in relay games.
• Collaborate effectively with teammates in both competitive and social play settings.
• Differentiate between competitive and social styles of team sports in volleyball or European handball.
• Reflect on personal participation and demonstrate respect for all classmates’ abilities and levels of engagement.

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Success Criteria

• Perform ball handling skills (passing, catching, dribbling) accurately within relay games.
• Work cooperatively in pairs and small groups to complete relay tasks.
• Participate actively and respectfully in either competitive or social game group.
• Show awareness of game rules and fair play principles in volleyball or European handball.
• Reflect on their effort and contribution during the lesson.

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Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes total)

1. Minimal Activation Warm-Up (8 minutes)

• Purpose: Activate muscles gently and prepare for ball handling skills.
• Activity: Dynamic stretches and light jogging (3 minutes)
  Students jog gently around the space once; perform arm circles, ankle rolls, torso twists.
• Activity: Basic ball toss and catch (5 minutes)
  In pairs, toss a ball using two hands from short distances, then one hand, moving progressively further apart. Keep it simple to engage both active students and those less motivated.

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2. Relay Games for Ball Skills (20 minutes)

• Purpose: Practice fundamental skills in an engaging, social format.
• Setup: Divide class into four teams (approx. 5 per team). Use cones to mark relay lanes.
• Relay 1: Chest pass relay (volleyball style)
  Students pass the ball chest pass style down the lane and back.
• Relay 2: Bounce pass relay (European handball style)
  Students use bounce pass techniques down the lane and back.
• Relay 3: Dribbling relay
  Students dribble a ball (volleyball with hands if suitable, or handball dribble) weaving cones.
• Emphasise skill accuracy before speed; allow students to encourage teammates.

Differentiation:

• For less engaged students: assign roles like thrower, receiver to reduce pressure; focus on enjoying participation rather than precision.
• For more active students: encourage increasing speed and precision, add time pressure element.

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3. Team Division and Game Explanation (5 minutes)

• Split the class into two groups (10 students each):
  • Competitive group: Play competitively, focusing on scoring and tactics.
  • Social group: Play socially, focus on safe participation, supportive coaching, and fun.
• Decide group preference with students to enhance engagement.
• Briefly explain rules for volleyball (basic serving, passing, rotating) or European handball (passing, dribbling, scoring).

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4. Competitive and Social Games (25 minutes)

• Game 1 (12 mins): Volleyball or European Handball
  Competitive group: standard game with referee calls and score keeping.
  Social group: adapted rules to encourage maximum participation and positive feedback.
• Swap roles and teams if time permits for exposure to both play styles.

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5. Cool-Down and Reflection (2 minutes)

• Light stretching focusing on arms, shoulders, and legs.
• Quick verbal reflection: “What skill did you enjoy? How did your team work together?”
  Encourage respect and celebrate effort.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Engagement: Choice of competitive or social group to meet motivation needs.
• Skill level: Relay stations allow individual pacing; supportive peer or teacher encouragement.
• Physical needs: Modified drills for injury or lower fitness students with less movement or seated roles.
• Feedback: Use positive, specific feedback tailored to individual skill or effort.

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Equipment Needed

• Volleyballs or suitable balls for European handball (20 balls for relays and games).
• Cones for marking relay lanes.
• Whistle and scoreboard for competitive games.

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Teacher Notes

• Use positive reinforcement to engage less active students without pressure.
• Monitor social group to maintain inclusivity and ensure everyone is involved.
• Scaffold instructions with demonstrations using peer role models.
• Use peer feedback to foster personal and social capabilities.

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This lesson prioritises engagement for a mixed-motivation Year 9 girls class, building fundamental ball skills through relay activities and fostering teamwork through adapted games, fully aligned to Australian Curriculum Health and Physical Education standards. This balance aims to "wow" teachers by combining solid curriculum alignment, practical differentiation, and a clear focus on inclusivity and student choice.

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References:

• Australian Curriculum Version 9: Health and Physical Education — Movement and physical activity, Personal and social capability
• Australian Curriculum Version 9: Health and Physical Education — Participation and engagement in physical activity