New
New
Year 7

Positioning and creating options when attacking

I can get into good positions off the ball and support the ball carrier with options.

New
New
Year 7

Positioning and creating options when attacking

I can get into good positions off the ball and support the ball carrier with options.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: positioning yourself upfield and wide, or behind the ball carrier, provides options.
  2. Think: drawing a defender by moving into a good position can help other players to get free.
  3. Think: overloading the attack helps to break down the defence and increases our chances of scoring a goal.
  4. Feel: futsal requires creativity and determination to get free from a defender and attack with the ball.
  5. Connect: Working with teammates to spread out and provide options improves with experience of playing together.

Keywords

  • Kick in - play resumes with a kick-in if the ball crosses either touchline or hits the ceiling. Goals cannot be scored direct from a kick in

  • Overload - placing more players than usual in a specific area of the field to gain an advantage

  • Channel - the space along the sidelines or wide areas of the pitch which can be used to create width

Common misconception

There is a lack of movement off the ball or teammates position themselves too close to the ball carrier therefore making it easier for the defenders to gain possession.

Pupils should always be moving off the ball to drag defenders out of positions. Pupils should also spread out and position themselves at different angles and distances from the ball carrier.


To help you plan your year 7 physical education lesson on: Positioning and creating options when attacking, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When pupils are faced with defenders and in a pressurised situation, their passing and dribbling techniques will often suffer. If this happens, remove the pressure and continue to work on good technique before trying once again to apply more pressure.
Teacher tip

Equipment

a small ball with reduced bounce (size 3 ideally) per pupil, approx 50 cones of various colours, bibs, whistle

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).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Which part of the foot would you use to pass over a longer distance?

instep
Correct answer: top
sole

Q2.
When you change direction after passing the ball, who are you getting free from?

Correct answer: defenders
attackers
a referee

Q3.
Which of the following will help you create space for your teammates in a game?

Correct answer: movement
tackling
marking

Q4.
If we spread out towards the edges of the pitch/courts, what are we creating?

length
height
Correct answer: width

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
How should you move off the ball to draw a defender and create space?

slowly
quietly
Correct answer: explosively

Q2.
How can we create width in a futsal game?

use the goalkeeper
Correct answer: use the channels
pass backwards

Q3.
What attacking principle involves working together to place more attackers than defenders in a specific area on the pitch, to apply pressure?

Correct answer: overload
overuse
overturn

Q4.
Which attribute can help us to avoid being predictable in our attacking play in futsal?

reliability
Correct answer: creativity
empathy