New
New
Year 4

Defending to stop an attack

I can defend in a game, as part of a team, by applying pressure to prevent attacking opportunities and stop the opposition from scoring.

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New
New
Year 4

Defending to stop an attack

I can defend in a game, as part of a team, by applying pressure to prevent attacking opportunities and stop the opposition from scoring.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: applying pressure requires us to react quickly and follow the movements of the attackers to intercept the ball.
  2. Think: applying pressure requires concentrating on the movements of the attacker in order to stay close.
  3. Feel: applying pressure when our team loses possession of the ball requires determination to win possession back.
  4. Connect: cooperating with our team and the opposition allows us to apply pressure in a game without breaking the rules.

Keywords

  • Team - a group of people who work together to achieve a common goal

  • Applying pressure - making it difficult for the opposition to pass or shoot

  • Intercept - stopping or catching a pass from the other team before it reaches the intended target

Common misconception

Pupils forget who to mark, leaving some attackers unmarked and free to pass and move.

Pupils need to work as a team to agree who they are marking so they can apply pressure effectively.


To help you plan your year 4 physical education lesson on: Defending to stop an attack, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Drip feed the explanation throughout the practice tasks. Allow pupils to begin exploring marking the player with the ball if they are ready for this. Give them time to mark a variety of players to test their skills.
Teacher tip

Equipment

1 ball between 5, bibs, 30+ cones, 4 goals/targets

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

4 Questions

Q1.
Why is it important to angle our bodies to the target when shooting?
to block
Correct answer: to aim
to pass
Q2.
Which is an important skill that teams should use in order to score points against an opponent?
communication
construction
Correct answer: collaboration
Q3.
What will happen if you just shoot from anywhere?
Correct answer: less points
more points
no consequence
Q4.
What is it called when you aim and try to make a ball reach a target?
defending
Correct answer: shooting
resting

4 Questions

Q1.
If we are able to catch a pass from the other team before it reaches the target, what do we call this?
a concept
Correct answer: an interception
an inception
Q2.
What does applying pressure make it hard for the attackers to do?
Correct answer: pass and shoot
miss their shots
defend and mark
Q3.
If we don't collaborate and agree who to mark before the game starts, what might happen to some of the attackers?
Correct answer: they are unmarked
they are marked
they always win
Q4.
What do we mean by determination?
Correct answer: wanting to succeed
wanting to lose
wanting to rest