1v1 Hockey Skills

Overview

This 30-minute lesson is designed for Year 8 students (11-12 years old) and focuses on developing 1v1 hockey skills. It emphasises technical ability, tactical understanding, and decision-making in line with the National Curriculum for Physical Education (England). The session is structured to be clear, progressive, and observable, with opportunities for formative assessment through questioning and peer feedback, ideal for performance observation.

---

National Curriculum Links

• Key Stage 3 PE Programme of Study (Years 7-9)
• Pupils should be taught to:
  • Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games (Hockey).
  • Develop their technique and improve their control and consistency.
  • Analyse and comment on skills and techniques used by themselves and others, suggesting ways to improve.
  • Understand the need to play by the rules and keep to them.

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Confidently perform basic 1v1 hockey dribbling and tackling under pressure.
2. Understand spatial awareness and use feints to beat an opponent.
3. Demonstrate improved decision-making in attack and defence during 1v1 scenarios.
4. Reflect on own and peers’ performances to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

---

Equipment Needed

• Hockey sticks (one per student)
• Balls (one per pair)
• Cones (for marking grids and goals)
• Bibs (to distinguish attackers and defenders)
• Stopwatch or timer

---

Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction & Warm-Up (5 mins)

Objective: Prepare students physically and mentally; introduce 1v1 hockey focus.

• Gather students in a circle; explain key objectives and relevance to gameplay.
• Warm-up activity: "Mirror Dribble" – In pairs, one leads dribbling slowly inside a marked grid, other mirrors movements, encouraging controlled stick work and quick reactions.
• Teacher asks: “Why is control important when dribbling in hockey?” to stimulate thinking and verbalise learning intentions.

Transition: From warm-up movement to skill-focused drills, explain the importance of close control and defender awareness.

---

2. Core Skill Drill – 1v1 Progression (20 mins)

Part A: Basic 1v1 Dribbling & Attacking (7 mins)

• Set up multiple 5x3 metre grids, pairs at each grid. One attacker, one defender per grid.
• Attacker’s task: dribble past defender using controlled stick work, no fixed pattern allowed. Defender tries to stop them gaining "goal" behind line.
• Repeat 3 times each, swapping roles after every attempt.

Teacher focus:

• "Watch how the attacker uses feints or speed changes."
• “Defenders, how do you position to make it harder for the attacker?”
• Observe and give immediate corrective feedback.

Progression: Ask attackers to attempt a "drag flick" or quick change in direction before accelerating.

---

Part B: Adding Tactical Awareness (8 mins)

• Increase grid size slightly (6x4 metres).
• Now attackers must try to maintain possession for at least 5 seconds or get past defender to score by crossing a small cone “goal.” Defenders aim to intercept or push attacker outside grid.
• Introduce a “3-touch rule” for attacker to encourage quick decision-making and passing options.
• Encourage attackers to scan the space and defenders to anticipate moves.

Teacher prompts:

• "What cues tell you the defender is about to tackle?"
• "How can you use your body to protect the ball?"
• Scatter questions during drill to check understanding of tactics.

---

Part C: Competitive Game Scenario (5 mins)

• Small sided 1v1 mini-tournament format. Each pair competes; winners progress.
• Set rules for fair play and encourage positive communication.
• Score points for successful dribbles past defender or forcing defender to lose ball.

Teacher role:

• Act as referee, encourage fairness and rule adherence.
• Highlight good examples of skill and sportsmanship observed.
• Use observation to provide instant peer and self-assessment prompts.

---

3. Cool Down & Reflection (5 mins)

• Gentle group stretching with focus on legs and upper body.
• Circle discussion: each student states one thing they improved on and one target for next hockey session.
• Teacher reinforces key learning points: skill, tactics, decision making and fair play.

---

Assessment and Differentiation

• Formative Assessment:

  • Ongoing questioning during drills to assess tactical understanding (e.g., “How did you decide when to dribble or pass?”).
  • Teacher observation checklist noting skill control, defensive positioning, and decision making.
  • Peer feedback encouraged during and after 1v1 matches, focusing on positive reinforcement and suggestions to improve.

• Differentiation:

  • Support weaker players with smaller grids and simplified rules (e.g., no 3-touch rule).
  • Challenge stronger students by increasing speed, adding a second defender or limiting touches.
  • Provide verbal or visual prompts for students struggling with spatial awareness.

---

Safety and Behaviour Management

• Remind students of safety regarding stick height and contact.
• Emphasise respect for others and equipment.
• Ensure clear boundaries for drill areas to avoid collisions.

---

Notes for Observer

• Observe clear progression in skill difficulty.
• Note clear instructional language and purposeful questioning.
• Watch student engagement and application of taught tactics.
• Look for effective feedback cycles (teacher-peer-self).

---

This structured, progressive 1v1 hockey lesson aligns with the National Curriculum and provides a strong balance of skill development, tactical ideas, and formative assessment, ensuring a high-quality, observable experience.