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Overview

A high-energy, skill-focused 40-minute session designed for 22 Year 7 students (KS3), aligned with the National Curriculum for England Physical Education programme of study. The lesson develops core netball skills: footwork, passing, shooting, and defending, culminating in a short competitive game. Leadership is embedded through a small coaching group of four pupils.

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Curriculum Links

National Curriculum KS3 PE programmes of study:

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities.
  • Use tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team games (e.g., netball).
  • Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports.

Relevant Learning Objectives:

• Apply footwork rules to maintain possession (netball footwork rule).
• Demonstrate accurate passing techniques under pressure.
• Develop shooting accuracy and decision-making in game situations.
• Apply basic defensive techniques to restrict opponents’ options.
• Work collaboratively in teams, demonstrating leadership and communication.

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Learning Outcomes

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

• Correctly perform and apply footwork in controlled and game settings.
• Demonstrate a range of accurate passes (chest, bounce, shoulder) in drills.
• Execute effective shooting technique with improved accuracy.
• Use defensive positioning to intercept or delay the attacker.
• Cooperate effectively in teams with leadership support.

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Equipment

• 4 netballs
• 8 cones (for drill boundaries)
• 4 bib sets (differentiated colours)
• Netball posts (or adjustable basketball posts if netball posts unavailable)
• Whistle
• Stopwatch or timer

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Class Organisation

• Total pupils: 22
• Divide into four teams: Two teams of 6, Two teams of 5
• 4 pupils in Leadership Group: Each assigned roles such as equipment manager, drill demonstrator, timekeeper, referee assistant.

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Session Plan

Time	Activity	Structure	National Curriculum Focus
0-5m	Introduction & Warm-up	Brief theory + dynamic warm-up.	Understanding rules, health & fitness aspects
	- Quick overview of netball court & positions	Leadership group introduces key rules & safety	Master basic rules & respect in sport
	- Dynamic warm-up: jogging, skips, high knees	Whole class involvement	Promote physical and mental warm-up
5-10m	Footwork Drill	Stationary and moving pivot drills.	Apply footwork rules, improve balance and control
	- Partner practice: catch, pivot, land, pass	Leadership group demonstrates correct footwork	Develop technique for possession retention
10-17m	Passing Drill	Triangle passing drill + pressure cone gate passes	Accurate passing in team contexts
	- Chest, bounce & shoulder passes practice	Small groups rotate for high reps	Improve passing, teamwork, communication
17-24m	Shooting Drill	Shooting relay in 2 lanes (close to goal post)	Refine shooting technique aligned with roles
	- Two pupils shoot alternately while others rebound	Emphasise balance, accuracy, follow-through	Develop precision & confidence in shooting
24-30m	Defending Drill	1v1 shadowing and intercept games.	Learn defensive stance, timing, and positioning
	- Focus on foot positioning, hand placement to block passes	Pairs rotate roles attacker/defender	Tactics and strategies to overcome opponents
30-40m	Mini Game (Modified Netball)	Two simultaneous games (6v6 & 5v5) on half-courts	Apply skills under game conditions, teamwork
	- Pupils implement skills & leadership group assists with refereeing and time keeping	Leadership group manage substitutions/refereeing	Competitive play with strategy application

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Detailed Activity Breakdown

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Leadership group explains netball court zones and player positions briefly (Goal Shooter, Wing Attack, etc.)
• Quick recap of footwork rule (no stepping with the ball, landing principle).
• Discuss importance of communication and teamwork in netball.
• Lead whole group through dynamic warm-up targeting agility and coordination.

Footwork Drill (5 minutes)

• Form pairs. One pupil holds ball; other practices receiving, landing on one foot, pivoting correctly, then passing back.
• Leadership members model pivots and foot placement errors to correct.
• Emphasise staying ‘on the balls’ of the feet with quick, controlled pivots.

Passing Drill (7 minutes)

• Organise into groups of 3 or 4 for triangle passing.
• Practice chest passes followed by bounce and shoulder passes through ‘cone gates’ simulating defenders’ space.
• Leadership members time groups, encourage quick passing and communication.

Shooting Drill (7 minutes)

• Form lines near the netball post.
• Pupils take turns shooting from a marked spot using proper netball shooting technique: hand positioning, extending arms, follow-through.
• Focus on accuracy over speed.
• Rebounders retrieve balls to keep drill flowing smoothly.

Defending Drill (6 minutes)

• Pairs face off 1v1. Defender’s objective is to ‘shadow’ attacker while staying on toes, arms up, and attempt to intercept passes.
• Emphasise anticipation and positioning rather than aggressive contact.
• Rotate roles frequently.

Mini Game (10 minutes)

• Two games run concurrently on half courts: one 6v6, one 5v5.
• Encourage use of all taught skills: controlled footwork, crisp passing, accurate shooting, and smart defending.
• Leadership group act as referees and timekeepers, supporting fair play and encouraging positive communication.

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Assessment & Feedback

• Informal assessment during drills: peer and leadership group feedback focusing on foot placement, pass accuracy, shooting form, and defensive stance.
• Teacher observes and notes pupils demonstrating excellent understanding of footwork rules and successful execution of skills.
• Encourage pupils to give peer feedback during mini game to develop self and social skills in line with NC goals.

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Differentiation

• Support reluctant movers in warm-up with simpler movements.
• Challenge more able with tighter passing gates or extended shooting distance.
• Leadership group to assist less confident pupils with continuous praise and targeted coaching tips.

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Safety Notes

• Remind students of space awareness to prevent collisions.
• Ensure safe landing in footwork practice to reduce injury risk.
• Check footwear and playing surface before session starts.

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Reflection for Next Session

• Gather feedback from leadership group on how well tasks were explained and managed.
• Identify pupils needing further practice in specific skills for follow-up lessons.

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This plan is designed to not only teach key netball skills thoroughly and progressively but also powerfully engage young pupils through peer leadership and active game scenarios, fully aligned with the National Curriculum's PE aims.