- Year 8
Evasion skills and supporting the ball carrier
I can time a run and a pass to cross the gain line.
- Year 8
Evasion skills and supporting the ball carrier
I can time a run and a pass to cross the gain line.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Move: supporting the ball carrier is best achieved with runs at pace from deep.
- Move: side-steps help when dodging round and wrong footing defenders but need to be done at pace.
- Think: ensuring the ball keeps moving up the field either via running or passing prevents stalemate situations.
- Feel: reading, reacting and selling dummies to the opposition are creative ways to break the gain line.
- Connect: repeated practice with the same individuals enables accelerating to correctly time a support run to improve
Keywords
Gain line - an imaginary line across the pitch parallel to the try line when there is a breakdown in open play, such as a ruck, maul or scrum
Dummy - a deceptive move where a player pretends to pass, kick, or move in a certain direction to mislead defenders
Side step - a term used for a quick movement one way and then the other to wrong foot the defender
Common misconception
Evading space is solely about the ball carrier getting past the defender.
In reality, a supporting runner's positioning often determines whether an attacker breaks the gain line. A well-timed support line can draw defenders, create passing opportunities, or make a dummy pass more effective.
To help you plan your year 8 physical education lesson on: Evasion skills and supporting the ball carrier, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 physical education lesson on: Evasion skills and supporting the ball carrier, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 3 physical education lessons from the Invasion games: tactics and strategies to outwit through rugby unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
15 rugby balls, 30+ cones, 5 sets of 6 bibs.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
