Year 1 Attack Defend Shoot Unit 2 Lesson 3
Lesson Summary
Learning Intentions
- Bounce a ball with some control to myself
- Begin to bounce a ball to a partner
- Use bouncing skills in a small game (2 vs 1) to try and score a goal
Skill Development Bouncing the ball to self
Success Criteria
- I can bounce different balls myself.
- I can try and bounce a ball to somebody else.
- I can use bouncing skills to try and score at a goal.
We are Learning...
to bounce a ball with control to ourselves.
Curriculum Links
NC – Apply basic movement and ball-handling skills while taking part in simple team games.
L – Communicate with teammates using simple words and gestures to work together effectively.
N – Keep track of the team’s score during the game. Identify the shapes of equipment being used (e.g. sphere, circle, cone).
Equipment
- Range of different-sized balls that bounce e.g tennis balls, sponge balls, netballs, basketballs, footballs
- Cones
- Hoops
- Bibs
Key Questions
- Can you think of a sport where players bounce the ball to themselves? (Like basketball or handball)
- What do you need to remember when you bounce the ball to yourself?
- What helped you when you were bouncing the ball to your partner? What skills did you use?
Bouncing ball to self
Teaching Points
✔︎ Bouncing the ball to self
- Use your fingers, not the palm of your hand, to bounce the ball
- Try to bounce the ball so it stays around waist height
- Keep your eyes on the ball the whole time
Teaching Points
✔︎ Bouncing the ball to others
- The ball should bounce at a midway point between the two players, not too close to their feet, as the ball will bounce short.
- Do not bounce the ball too hard, so it bounces too high for a partner to catch, and not too softly, so the ball does not rise to their partner’s hands.
Lesson Content
Starter Activity
Ball Fun Movement – Each child has a ball and moves freely around a safe, designated area.
Teach the following commands:
- Bounce & Catch – Bounce the ball once and catch it.
- Swap! – Bounce your ball to a nearby player while they bounce theirs to you.
- Dribble 5 – Bounce the ball five times with one hand (or bounce and catch five times if needed), then carry on moving.
Extension:
- Change the way children travel between commands, such as jogging, side-stepping, or taking big strides.
Skill Development - Bouncing the Ball to Self
Set-Up: Spread out a variety of balls (e.g. tennis balls, sponge balls, netballs, basketballs) in different areas of the room. Make sure there is one ball per child.
Start Position: Children begin standing in their own space, not touching any equipment.
Action: On your command “Go,” children pick up a ball and begin practising bouncing it to themselves.
Encourage them to try:
- Bouncing and catching
- Dribbling continuously
- Passing the ball from one hand to the other
- Showboating (e.g. bouncing around the body or under the leg)
Switch Equipment: After a short time, say “Change,” and children place their ball down and choose a different type of ball to try.
Questions:
- What challenges are you having with this ball?
- Which ball is the easiest to bounce?
- What’s different about this ball compared to the others?
Activity - 2 vs 1 Bounce and Shoot Game
Set-Up: Place a hoop or target area about 5 metres away from the starting point. Divide children into groups of 3: 2 attackers (Team 2) and 1 defender (Player 1).
Team 2’s Objective (Attackers):
- Bounce the ball to move closer to the hoop and try to score by bouncing it into the target
- Players can bounce the ball to themselves or bounce-pass to their partner
- A player cannot move while holding the ball – they must pass or bounce again to reposition
Player 1’s Objective (Defender):
- Try to intercept the ball or block passes to stop Team 2 from scoring
Game Play:
- Play short rounds, then rotate roles so each child gets a turn as attacker and defender
- Encourage good teamwork, communication, and ball control
Extension: Add a time limit for Team 2 to score (e.g. 10 seconds), encouraging quicker decision-making and teamwork.