Passing Skills Focus

Curriculum Alignment

Curriculum Area: Health and Physical Education
Level: Curriculum Level 3 (Year 6) – aligned with NCEA Learning Matrix for Physical Education
Big Idea: "Movement is integral to hauora and helps us interact with others and our environment."
Achievement Objective: Demonstrate motor skills and movement patterns in increasingly complex situations.

Lesson Overview

Unit: Football Fundamentals Fun – Lesson 3 of 30
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes
Class Size: 30 students
Lesson Title: Passing Fundamentals
Focus: Developing accurate short and long football passes through engaging activities that cater to a range of learning needs, including dyslexic students.

Learning Intentions

• Learn the correct technique for short (push pass) and long passes.
• Understand why accuracy and control are essential in passing.
• Build confidence and teamwork in a supportive learning environment.

Success Criteria

• Students can demonstrate a controlled short pass with the inside of their foot.
• Students can attempt a long pass using correct body positioning.
• Students support and encourage peers during passing challenges.

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Lesson Flow

1. Warm-Up Game – “Island Hopping” (5 mins)

Objective: Activate footwork, spacing awareness, and quick reactions.
How to Play:

• Place small cones around the field. These act as "islands."
• Students jog around the space and, when the coach calls "Tidal Wave!" they must find and balance on the nearest cone.
• Gradually remove cones so students must share "islands," encouraging communication and teamwork.

✅ Dyslexia Support: Use colour-coded cones so students can associate memory cues with colours rather than just auditory instructions.

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2. Passing Demonstration & Guided Practice (8 mins)

Teacher Demo:

• Show students both a short pass (inside of the foot) and a long pass (instep drive). Model body posture, foot placement, and follow-through.
• Use clear visual cues—stand side-on, plant non-kicking foot next to the ball, strike with inside or instep.

Partner Activity:

• Students group in pairs, standing 3 metres apart for short passes.
• Progressively increase the distance to 6–8 metres for long passes.

✅ Dyslexia Support: Use physical demonstrations, slow motions, and easy-to-remember phrases like “Step – Swing – Follow-through.”

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3. Fun Challenge – “Pass the River” (10 mins)

Objective: Improve accuracy under pressure in a game-based setting.
How to Play:

• Mark two parallel lines 5 metres apart with cones ("the river").
• One partner stands on opposite sides of the "river." They must pass the ball over without it "falling into the water" (rolling outside the cones).
• Gradually widen the river to challenge their long-pass ability.
• Award fun points for consecutive successful passes.

✅ Dyslexia Support:

• Keep instructions simple and consistent.
• Use playful storytelling (e.g. "Imagine the ball is a fish—you need to pass it safely!").
• Provide verbal encouragement to reinforce success instead of focusing on mistakes.

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4. Mini-Game – “Target Passing” (5 mins)

Objective: Reinforce passing accuracy in a more dynamic situation.
How to Play:

• Set up several large targets (hula hoops, cones, or markers).
• Students must pass their ball to hit or land inside the target for points.
• Rotate targets for different passing angles.

✅ Dyslexia Support: Use oversized, bright-coloured targets to help with focus and visibility.

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5. Cool-Down & Reflection (2 mins)

• Students walk slowly in a large circle while passing the ball lightly to a partner.
• Teacher-led group reflection using open-ended questions:
  • "What made a short pass more accurate?"
  • "What was the hardest part about a long pass?"

✅ Dyslexia Support: Use think-pair-share instead of written reflections to reduce reading/writing anxiety.

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Equipment Needed

✔️ Footballs (1 per pair)
✔️ Cones (15–20)
✔️ Hula hoops or extra cones for target games
✔️ Whistle (optional)

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Teacher Tips for Engagement

🔥 Keep energy high with enthusiastic instructions.
👏 Provide lots of positive reinforcement—small wins matter!
🎨 Use demonstrations over long verbal instructions to support diverse learning needs.
🎶 Consider using rhythmic cues like "1-2-kick" to improve coordination.

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Next Lesson Preview (Lesson 4 – Game Awareness)

• Students will integrate passing skills into small-sided games.
• Focus on decision-making—when to use short vs. long passes during play.

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Assessment & Feedback

• Informal observation: Are students demonstrating control in their passes?
• Student self-check-in: Thumbs up/down/middle on confidence in passing.
• Peer feedback: Encourage them to highlight something positive about their partner’s passing.

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Why This Lesson Plan is Unique

✅ Full curriculum alignment with NZ Physical Education standards
✅ Dyslexia-friendly with multi-modal learning strategies
✅ Game-based, engaging approach promoting teamwork and skill improvement
✅ Clear progression towards future PHYSICAL EDUCATION lessons

This lesson ensures that all Year 6 students—regardless of learning challenges—can develop confidence and enjoyment in football skills.