Year 5 Dodgeball

Develop more complex dodgeball skills, including accurate throwing, dodging using weave and leg lift, snatch catch, and defensive blocking for a teammate. Know more rules for dodgeball, including being able to play using varied rules in conditioned games.

Knowledge Organiser

Prior Learning

Increased confidence in a range of throwing, catching, blocking and dodging skills such as tunnel catch, duck dodge and blocking for a teammate. Developed team tactics such as a team throw and play to the return line.

Unit Focus

Develop more complex dodgeball skills, including accurate throwing, dodging using weave and leg lift, snatch catch, and defensive blocking for a teammate. Know more rules for dodgeball, including being able to play using varied rules in conditioned games.

We are learning...

  • to improve accuracy, aiming at different body areas
  • to use the snatch catch effectively
  • to develop smaller dodging movements like the weave and leg lift
  • to use the block-and-catch tactic
  • to use counter-attacking tactics in dodgeball
  • the hand up rule and using it in a game

Key Questions

  • When would you use a pick-up and throw in dodgeball
  • When would you use a lower-body weave? Upper body? Leg lift?
  • What happens if your teammate catches a ball you blocked?

Equipment

Foam dodgeballs, bibs, cones, hoops, benches, mats.

Vocabulary

Defence, snatch catch, counterattack, weave, conditioned game.

Rules

Lines

  • Stay within the court boundaries.
  • If you collect a ball off-court, return through your team’s backline.
  • Players must return from behind the back line when they have gone to collect a
  • Players may leave the court to collect balls (hand must be raised)

Assessment Overview

Head – Apply a range of rules, including rule variations in conditioned games

Hand – Attempt a counterattack as part of a team

Heart – As a team, work to bring eliminated players back on

Diagram

An image of Screenshot 2025-07-02 at 13.56.07

Lesson Overview

Year 5 Dodgeball Lesson 3

  • To develop smaller dodges, such as upper and lower body weaves and leg lifts.
  • To remember and use previous dodging skills, such as ducking and jumping.
  • Explain when and why the weave and leg lift are used.

We are learning: to develop smaller dodging movements like the weave and leg lift

Activity: 10 – second tag and ‘no catch’ dodgeball

Year 5 Dodgeball Lesson 1

  • Develop the ability to pick up and throw a ball quickly.
  • Apply the pick-up and throw technique to hit an opponent in a game.
  • To reflect on how an effective pick-up improves gameplay.

We are learning: to quickly pick up a ball from the ground and throw it accurately.

Activity: Assessment for learning

Year 5 Dodgeball Lesson 2

  • Use the snatch catch for catching rapid balls
  • Solidify the main catching rules for dodgeball
  • Use snatch catching skills in a game

We are learning: to use the snatch catch effectively

Activity: Snatch catch and dodgeball game

Year 5 Dodgeball Lesson 4

  • To practise blocking a ball so a teammate can catch it.
  • To apply the block-and-catch tactic in a game.
  • To understand and explain why blocking for a teammate to catch is a useful strategy in dodgeball.

We are learning: to use the block-and-catch tactic

Activity: Swamp ball

Year 5 Dodgeball Lesson 5

  • Use speed and quick reactions to throw a ball quickly
  • Apply counter-attacking tactics in dodgeball
  • Discuss the effectiveness of counter-attacking in dodgeball games

We are learning: to use counter-attacking tactics in dodgeball

Activity: Kickball Dodgeball

Year 5 Dodgeball Lesson 6

  • Apply new skills and use the hand-up rule in a competitive game.
  • Use counterattacking as a tactic during gameplay.
  • Reflect on and discuss how effective different tactics and skills worked in a game.

We are learning: the hand up rule and using it in a game

Activity: Hand up rule and round robin competition