Dynamic Football Skills

Overview

Subject: Physical Education
Key Stage: KS5 (Year 12)
Curriculum Area: Techniques and Strategies in Football
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 60 students

Lesson Objectives

• To develop advanced dribbling techniques under pressure.
• To enhance strategic thinking in the context of gameplay.
• To refine teamwork and communication within a football setting.
• To assess and improve cardiovascular fitness through high-intensity interval practice.

Materials Needed

• 30 footballs
• 60 coloured bibs (2 sets of 30 in different colours)
• Cones for marking boundaries and drills
• 4 portable goals
• Stopwatch or timer
• Whistle

Lesson Structure

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Warm-Up: Conduct a dynamic warm-up routine including jogging, dynamic stretches, and mobility exercises (e.g. high knees, butt kicks, arm circles).
• Discussion: Brief the students on the session's objectives. Highlight the importance of teamwork, agility, and strategic thinking in football.

Skill Development Drills (15 minutes)

Dribbling Under Pressure

1. Two Cone Alley:

   • Setup: Arrange two parallel lines of cones, approximately 5 metres apart and 15 metres long.
   • Activity: Students dribble through the “alley”, chased by a defender, practising shielding the ball and quick directional changes.
   • Focus: Emphasise keeping the ball close, using both feet, and maintaining awareness of the defender's position.

2. Zigzag Dribble:

   • Setup: Set up cones in a zigzag pattern 3 metres apart.
   • Activity: Students dribble through the cones as fast as possible.
   • Challenge: As students improve, introduce a point system where successful dribbles through the entire zigzag without knocking over any cones earn points.

Main Activity (30 minutes)

Mini-Tournament and Strategy Session

1. Teams: Divide students into 6 teams of 10, ensuring mixed abilities.
2. Round Robin Matches: Each match lasts 5 minutes, with teams rotating after each match. Use 2 pitches with 3 games happening simultaneously.
3. Tactical Time Outs: Allow for quick, guided discussions between games. Encourage students to adapt their playing style and strategy based on observations from previous matches.

• Focus Areas:
  • Communication: Teach students to call for the ball effectively and use non-verbal cues.
  • Formation Understanding: Introduce basic formations, like 2-2-1, relevant for 5-a-side football. Discuss pros and cons.
  • Role of Positions: Briefly cover the roles within the team, emphasizing flexibility and adaptability.

Cool Down and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Cool Down: Lead the group through static stretching with an emphasis on key muscle groups used during the session (e.g. quadriceps, hamstrings, calves).
• Reflection and Feedback: Gather students for a circle time. Discuss what went well, what could be improved, and individual as well as team performances.
• Homework Task: Ask students to watch a professional football match, focusing on the formation and communication of players in similar positions to those they played today.

Assessment Opportunities

• Formative Assessment: Observe student engagement and ability to apply tactical advice during mini-tournament games.
• Peer Feedback: Encourage students to provide constructive feedback to each other during reflective discussions.

Health and Safety

• Perform checks on all equipment prior to the lesson to ensure safety.
• Ensure clear boundaries are set for each area to prevent collisions with adjacent activities.
• Monitor hydration and provide water breaks, especially after the high-intensity drills.

Teacher Notes

• Adjust the complexity of drills and tactical discussions based on the skill level and comprehension of students.
• Engage with students by participating in discussions to model strategic thinking and enthusiasm for learning.
• Encourage students to develop leadership skills by assigning a team captain for each group to assist with organisation and communication.