PEVOLVE
← Football: Attack & Defend
FreeLower KS2Year 3, Year 437 mins

Football · Lesson 6 of 6

Small-Sided Festival

Learning objective: To apply attacking and defending skills in small-sided games, showing fair play.

Success criteria

  • I can make good decisions about when to pass or dribble.
  • I can defend goal-side with my team.
  • I can show respect to teammates, opponents and the referee.

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

Three 4v4 pitches. Teams rotate between pitches. Pupils take turns as referee and coach.

PupilDefenderCone→ Movement / pass

Warm-up: Team Warm-Up

7 mins
  1. Teams lead their own warm-up using activities from the unit.
  2. Teacher checks every pupil is included.

Skill introduction & demonstration

4 mins

Recap the key attacking and defending principles. Teams agree one target, e.g. 'three passes before we shoot'.

Spread outPass and moveGoal-sideFair play

Skill development 1: Team Talk

3 mins
  1. Each team agrees roles and one tactic.

Main activity: Round-Robin Festival

18 mins
  1. Three 5-minute games.
  2. Teams score 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 1 bonus fair-play point.
  3. Rotate referees each game.

Coaching points & teaching cues

  • Make good choices
  • Spread out
  • Goal-side
  • Respect

Common mistakes & corrections

  • One player dominates: Rule: every player must touch the ball before a goal counts.
  • Disputes over decisions: Pupil referee's decision is final; discuss calmly afterwards.

Easier challenges

  • Overload the team if needed; allow 'free zones'.

Harder challenges

  • Two-touch games.

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

  • Use unit descriptors to make an end-of-unit judgement.
  • Peer assessment: name one strength of a teammate.

Plenary & reflection questions

  • What tactic worked for your team?
  • What did you improve most in this unit?
  • How did you show fair play?