Invasion Games — Basketball Principles — Year 5 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: PE KS2 — play competitive games applying basic principles suitable for attacking and defending; use running, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination
Overview
Pupils learn basketball skills — dribbling, chest pass, bounce pass and shooting — and apply them in small-sided games. They develop tactical understanding of transition play (attack-to-defence and defence-to-attack) and spatial concepts of width and depth. The lesson introduces man-to-man and zone awareness in defending.
Learning Objectives
- Dribble a basketball with the dominant and non-dominant hand, changing direction without travelling.
- Execute a chest pass and a bounce pass accurately to a moving partner.
- Attempt a set shot at a basket, using legs and wrist flick to generate lift and backspin.
- Apply a marking strategy in a small-sided game, staying goalside of their opponent.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Dribbling warm-up: each pupil with a ball, dribble with right hand around cones; left hand; alternate. Stationary: high and low dribble (varying force). Shadow dribble with a partner: leader moves, follower mirrors their dribble movements. Introduce pivot: stop on signal, practise pivoting on left and right foot.
Chest pass: step forward on opposite foot, push both hands through ball, extend arms and flick wrists (palms face out at finish). Bounce pass: aimed two-thirds of distance to receiver. Shooting: stand under basket, feet shoulder-width, bend knees, release ball above head with wrist flick creating backspin ('BEEF' — Balance, Eyes, Elbow in, Follow through). Man-to-man marking: stand between your opponent and the basket ('goalside'), arms wide, watch the ball not the player's eyes. Demonstrate how a good defender denies space for an easy pass.
3v3 keep-ball: attackers try to complete 5 passes without losing the ball; defenders try to intercept. No dribbling — pass only. Each completed sequence of 5 = 1 point. This encourages moving into space and using passing technique. Then add dribbling: 3v3 full game, focus on transition (call 'transition!' when possession changes — defenders sprint back).
4v4 basketball on a half-court with a basket. Play for five minutes. Teacher pauses to ask about defending decisions: 'Why did you sag off your player? What was the risk?'
Cool down: walking, then static stretches. Ask: what is the difference between a chest pass and a bounce pass — when would you use each? (Chest pass is faster; bounce pass goes under outstretched hands of a defender.) What does 'goalside' mean in defending?
Common Misconceptions
- Double-dribble confusion — pupils stop dribbling then start again, thinking this is allowed. Re-state the rule clearly: once you stop dribbling, you must pass or shoot.
- Shooting by pushing rather than flicking — a wrist flick creates the arc and backspin needed for the ball to drop through the hoop.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Invasion game principles from Years 3 and 4 (space, support, transition).
- Basic passing and receiving from KS1 and lower KS2.
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