PEVOLVE
← Football: Attack & Defend
FreeLower KS2Year 3, Year 441 mins

Football · Lesson 3 of 6

Receive and Turn

Learning objective: To control the ball with the first touch and turn away from pressure.

Success criteria

  • I can get my body behind the ball to receive it.
  • I can cushion the ball with the inside of my foot.
  • I can take my first touch away from a defender.

Equipment

  • One size-3 or size-4 football per pupil
  • 30 cones / flat markers
  • Bibs in four colours
  • 4 pop-up goals or cone goals

Organisation & set-up

Groups of three: two servers 10 metres apart with a receiver in the middle.

PupilDefenderCone→ Movement / pass

Warm-up: Mirror Dribble

7 mins
  1. Pairs: leader dribbles and changes direction, follower copies.
  2. Swap roles.
  3. Dynamic stretches.

Skill introduction & demonstration

5 mins

Demonstrate receiving: on toes, get in line with the ball, cushion with the inside of the foot, first touch out of feet into space.

On your toesGet in lineCushionTouch into space

Skill development 1: Middle Player

8 mins
  1. Server passes to the middle player who receives and turns to pass to the other server.
  2. Rotate every 60 seconds.

Skill development 2: Passive Pressure

6 mins
  1. Add a passive defender behind the receiver.
  2. Receiver takes the first touch away from the defender.

Main activity: End Zone Game

10 mins
  1. 4v4 with an end zone at each end.
  2. Score by passing to a teammate who receives the ball in the end zone under control.
  3. Defenders may intercept but not tackle in the end zone.

Coaching points & teaching cues

  • On your toes
  • Cushion the ball
  • First touch into space
  • Check your shoulder

Common mistakes & corrections

  • Ball bounces away: Relax the foot, pull back slightly on contact.
  • Receiving square-on: Open the body to see the pitch.
  • Turns into the defender: Look over shoulder before the ball arrives.

Easier challenges

  • Server rolls the ball by hand.
  • No defender.

Harder challenges

  • Receive with the back foot and turn in one touch.
  • Add an active defender.

Inclusion & SEND adaptations

Adaptations

  • Use larger, softer or brighter balls (e.g. beanbags, balloons, sensory balls) for pupils who find tracking difficult.
  • Offer a seated or stationary version of each task; pair with a supportive peer.
  • Use visual cue cards and demonstrate rather than relying only on verbal instructions.

Maximising participation

  • Keep groups small (2-4) so every pupil has many turns.
  • Avoid elimination games; use points or personal bests instead.
  • Rotate roles (thrower, catcher, coach, scorer) so everyone has a purpose.

Assessment opportunities

  • Observe the first touch: is it controlled and into space?

Plenary & reflection questions

  • What does 'check your shoulder' mean?
  • How do you cushion a fast pass?
  • Where should your first touch go?