Mastering Passing Moves

Overview

Welcome to Lesson 3 of 6 in the "Hockey Skills in Action" unit for Year 5 students. This detailed and dynamic 60-minute session focuses on passing and receiving techniques. Pupils will engage in progressive, skill-building activities designed to develop forehand and backhand passing, as well as effective ball control and teamwork. All activities are underpinned by the Key Stage 2 Physical Education curriculum for England, encouraging not only individual proficiency but also collaborative play, communication, and tactical awareness.

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🌟 Curriculum Links

National Curriculum for Physical Education (Key Stage 2 – England)

• Perform dances using a range of movement patterns.
• Play competitive games, modified where appropriate, and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending.
• Use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination.
• Develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance.
• Compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement.

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🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:

1. Demonstrate control and accuracy when making forehand and backhand passes.
2. Receive the ball with appropriate body positioning and stick control.
3. Communicate effectively with teammates when passing and receiving.
4. Understand when to use different types of passes in-game scenarios.
5. Apply learned skills within fun competitive environments and mini-games.

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🧠 Prior Knowledge

Pupils should already be familiar with:

• How to hold a hockey stick correctly.
• Basic dribbling technique.
• Safe movement and spatial awareness during gameplay.

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🕒 Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 25 Year 5 pupils
Location: Indoor sports hall or level astro turf pitch
Equipment Needed:

• 25 plastic sticks (KS2 size)
• 15 lightweight hockey balls
• 25 cones or flat markers
• 8 bibs (4 in each colour)
• 8 small targets/goals
• Whiteboard & dry erase pen (for tactical sketches)
• Optional: Whistle and stopwatch

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⏱️ Lesson Breakdown

⬜️ 1. Introduction & Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Warm-Up Game: "Pass the Pulse"

• Pupils form a large circle, each with a stick and ball.
• On teacher’s signal, they pass their ball clockwise using a forehand push pass.
• After one minute, reverse direction and switch to backhand passing.
• Challenge: How many successful consecutive passes can your circle make?

📍 Focus: Getting comfortable with forehand and backhand techniques in a fun, whole-class environment. Increases hand-eye coordination and builds early teamwork.

Stretch & Mobilise

• Joint rotations (wrists, shoulders, knees).
• Dynamic hockey-specific movements (lunges with stick stretch, side shuffles, toe touches with stick).

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🔍 2. Skill Development Drills (20 minutes)

Drill 1: “Forehand Flick & Freeze” (10 min)

• Pupils pair up and stand 5m apart.
• Using forehand push passing, they pass back and forth with control.
• After 5 passes, partners freeze – teacher inspects hand position, posture, and control.
• Progression: Increase distance and precision by adding a cone "goal" between.

🎯 Focus:

• Stick angle (pass not slap).
• Eye on the ball.
• Communication: name-calling before pass.

Drill 2: “Backhand Bounce” (10 min)

• Repeat above structure, now using a backhand push pass.
• Use coloured markers as zones that the backhand must pass through – gamifies accuracy.

🎯 Focus:

• Hip movement to support pass.
• Practising balance during ball approach.
• Emphasise safety and control.

🎓 Teacher Role:

• Offer real-time guidance and correct form.
• Keep the energy playful and encouraging — praise attempts, not just success!
• Use mini-whiteboard to sketch pass angles if needed for visual learners.

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🎯 3. Guided Practice Activity (15 minutes)

Activity: “Pass & Move Grid”

Divide space into 3 x 3 zones (like a tic-tac-toe grid).

• Split class into 5 small groups (5 pupils each).
• 3 pupils operate inside the zone, with 2 acting as defenders or observers.
• Teammates must pass and move within their zone.
• Every successful 3-pass exchange earns a 'goal' and prompts movement to a new zone.

🔄 Rotate groups every 3 minutes.

💡 Differentiation:

• Support: Larger zones, walking pace, designated passers.
• Challenge: Add a "shadow" defender to mimic pressure without intercepting.

🎯 Focus:

• Reinforce movement after passing.
• Create space and use both types of passes.
• Communication – eye contact, calling names.

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⚔️ 4. Mini Matches: “Zone Blitz” (10 minutes)

Set up 2 mini pitches (6v6 and 6v7)

Rules:

• Games last for 4 minutes with 1-minute swap rotations.
• Points for: successful pass/receive (1), goal (3), backhand use (bonus +1).
• Rotate captains to encourage leadership development.

📌Coach’s Tips:

• Call time-outs to freeze play and error-spot positively.
• Ask players to suggest better pass options post-play – builds reflective learning.

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🧘 5. Cool Down & Close (5 minutes)

Cool Down Activity: "Stick Stretch & Story"

• Pupils spread into a semicircle, sitting with sticks across their laps.
• Gentle stretches: toe touch with stick, shoulder rolls, slow upper body twists.
• Teacher-led reflection: “What pass did you improve the most today?” “Who showed great teamwork and why?”

Plenary Questions:

1. What’s the difference between a forehand and backhand pass?
2. When might you choose to use a backhand?
3. How can we help our teammates when we are receiving a pass?

📸 Optional: Video a short group explaining a pass for future lesson recap or display.

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📋 Assessment Opportunities

Skill Area	Observation Criteria	Notes
Forehand Passing	Stick angle, direction, follow-through	Peer & teacher notes
Backhand Passing	Balance, aim, appropriate timing	Formative feedback
Receiving & Control	Stick placement, movement to ball	During drills & games
Communication	Calling for ball, visual cues	Evident in team play
Team Collaboration	Supporting passes, space awareness	Teacher observation sheet

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📌 Teacher Tips

• The lesson is fast-paced but flexible – don’t feel rushed. If a group responds well to a drill, extend it.
• Be mobile – walk between groups and stations to provide real-time feedback.
• Use encouragers like “pass like pros” or “control like champions” to keep energy up.
• Consider an “MVP” (Most Valuable Passer) recognition at the end – can also celebrate fair play!

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🔄 Extension Ideas

• Introduce curved runs into receiving drills.
• Blindfold partner pass (one communicator, one receiver) to test communication in focused warm-up.
• Set up a "Power Play" drill where certain zones give extra points for passing combinations.

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📚 Next Lesson Preview

🟢 Lesson 4: Tackling & Defensive Work
Pupils will begin to learn low-body positioning, stick placements and tackle types appropriate at KS2 level – especially block and poke tackles.

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Designed to uplift and ignite love for physical activity through immersive skill-building, this session aims to build the foundations of hockey excellence—forehand and backhand—while celebrating communication and team identity on the pitch.

Let’s pass it on! 🏑