Field Lead-Ups and Small Sided Games

Dennis Gildehaus

Pacific Beach Middle School

Resources:

I would like to thank the following resources as they are invaluable to my tecahing. I highly recommend you add them to your teaching library if you haven't already.

Spark Middle School Curriculum

The Ultimate Sport Lead-Up Game Book by Guy Bailey

Adventure Curriculum for Physical Education by Jane Panicucci

StarGate

Have the class stand in a circle with joined hands. Ask two students in the circle to let go with each other and to hold onto the hoop with one hand.

Tell the students that the goal of the activity is to get the entire class through the hoop as quickly as possible!

Each student must remain physically in contact with the rest of the class via at least one other person. The hoop holders must be in contact with both the class and the hoop.
Have the class set a goal. How quickly do they think they can all get through the hoop?

Group passing (SPARK)

Circles of 3, each with a ball.
Students pass ball to each other.
Designate type of pass and provide instruction as necessary.

Underhand pass: Hands on side of ball, fingers spread, thumbs on top. Two hand pass releasing waist high.
Overhand pass: Like underhand except thumbs behind ball, release point overhead. Throw with 2 hands.
Bounce Pass: Like chest pass except bounce ball a little more then halfway to the target.
Baseball pass: One hand pass, step towards target with opposite foot.

Group Passing/Give and Go (SPARK)

Circles of 3, each with a ball.

Students pass the ball to each other.

Designate type of pass:

Underhand.

Overhand.

Chest/chest with bounce. (Throw ball to student Running to open cone)

Baseball.

Try to pass to all group members without dropping the ball.
How many passes can you make in 20 seconds? 30 seconds?
Give and Go:

Person with the ball takes up to 3 steps before passing, must pass within 3 seconds.
People without the ball should run a diagonal cut to get open.
Have students switch places and catch ball at spot they are running to.

Keep Away (SPARK)

Keep away formation.
Groups of 3 scattered inside boundaries (1 ball/group).
Two students pass to each other while the "defender" (in the middle) tries to intercept. Rotate defender every minute.

Cues:

Play "Keep Away" from the person in the middle. No lob passes over their head.
Stay at least 3’ feet away when guarding the person with the ball; pass the ball within 3 seconds.
If you deflect or intercept the ball, give it back. I will switch defenders later.

Try the "Give and Go". Pass and move into open space.

Group passing with defenders (Spark)

Combine groups of 3 to make groups of 6.
Two students per group go to the middle of the circle and become defenders.
The third defender waits just outside play area.
Groups pass to each other while defenders try to intercept.
Change defenders every minute.
When all have been defenders once, have 3 fenders play.

Cues:

Defenders must stay at least 3’ away when guarding the person with the ball.

Players with the ball should look for an open groupmate and pass quickly

3 Catch Game (Spark)

Groups of 6-8 in a small area play each other.
Assign group leaders to keep score.
For skill development, specify type of pass (e.g., underhand, overhead, etc.)
May be played as "5" catch for highly skilled.

Cues:

The object of the game is for a group to complete 3 consecutive passes without the ball being dropped, intercepted, or going out of bounds.
Begin the game by members of 1 group trying to pass the ball to one another.
A point is awarded when one group completes 3 passes (each to a different member).
The other group then gets the ball.
A turnover results when the group with the ball fails to complete a pass.
Count your passes and keep your own group's score.
Stay 3' from the person you are guarding.
You can only hold the ball for 3 seconds.

Run to an open position to receive a pass.

Five Catches (Guy Bailey)

One football/utility ball per game.
The objective is for a team to make five consecutive passes to five different players without dropping the ball or having it intercepted.
To begin, have all players scatter throughout the playing area.
Each player is assigned to guard one player on the opposing team.
No "double-teaming" is allowed.
No personal contact is allowed.
When a player has the ball, he cannot take more than three steps.
Nor can the player hold the ball for more then 3 seconds.
Use the rules of 3.
The ball will be rewarded to the opposing team if the above violations occur.
The first team to make five successful

Hot Box (Dave Blackney) - A Team game using throwing and catching to score

Game starts with on team in possession of the ball behind the clear line.

Object is to make a pass that your team catches in the goal area.

There is no limit on the number of passes a team can make each time, as long as the ball is caught a side maintains possession.

If the ball is dropped, knocked down, or intercepted, the other team starts with posession outside of the clear line.

If you score your team keeps possession.

The ball must be passed out beyond the clear line on a change of possession.

Fake 'Em Out (Guy Bailey)

5 balls per field.
Students are divided into 2 teams, 16-20 per field, 8-10 on each side.
Use cones to mark off playing area boundaries.
Mark a 3-5' area know as the "No-Man's area" in the middle of each playing field.
Make sure there are end zone lines on each side as well.
Each team places half their teammates on each side of the NO-MANS AREA.
The objective is to complete a pass to a teammate on the other side of the NO-MANS AREA.
Players can run with the football anywhere on their side of the field, however, they cannot cross the NO-MANS AREA.
No touching or rough play allowed.
Rotate teams after 5-10 minutes of play.

fake em out

Quarterback Rescue (Guy Bailey)

Divide class into 2 teams.
The playing area is divided by a center line and has two lines to mark the end zones for each team.
The distance of the end zones from the center line will be determined by the skill level of the participants.
Divide the group into 2 equal teams and have each team put the same number of players in the opposing team's end zone.
Usually half of the team members in the end zone works well.
The object of the game is for each team to rescue their teammates from the other team's end zone by throwing them a ball.
The players in the end zone must catch the ball in the air and then throw it back to a teammate across the center line.
If a teammate in the field catches the throw from the end zone, the throwing player is rescued and will join the team on his/her side of the field to try and rescue the remaining players in the end zone.
Balls not caught in the end zone are thrown back to the players in the field for another try.

49er football

1 ball per field.
Teams of 4-5, 2 teams per field. Rotate positions every play
Offensive teams consist of QB, center, and 2-3 WR's.
Defense consists of 3-4 pass DF's and one rusher.

The objective is to be the first team to score 49 points.
Play stops when the receiver catches the ball.

Points are scored each time a pass is completed.

Offensive team starts with a center hike.

WR's and center run out for a pass in scoring areas.

DF pass rusher must count out loud to ten before rushing.

Play ends if QB is tagged by rusher. Switch after every play.

Interceptions count as 5 points.

49er Football with running

Use the same rules for 49er football except the following changes:

Running plays are now allowed.
QB's, running backs, and receiver can run with the ball.
Play is over when the player with the ball is tagged with one hand on the back or shoulder.
Determine the points scored in the zone where the player is tagged.

One Chance ball (Guy Bailey)

1 ball per field.
4-5 per team.
2 teams per field.
Set up a rectangular field with a midline.
Field should be 20 yards long and 10 yards wide.
Every play is 4^th down.
The objective is to score a touchdown on that one play.
One team starts with the ball at midfield.
Players are to line up in an offensive position with QB, hike and WR's.
After the ball is hiked the QB can run or pass it.
A touchdown is scored if a player crosses the goal line with possesion of the ball.
A play is over when the following has occurred:

Incomplete Pass.
Interception.
Fumble.
Player with the ball runs out of bounds.

4 Down Football (Gildehaus)

Make an area that is 25 X 40 yards for each 4 on 4 game.
Place a cone at one end that will be designated as the line of scrimmage.
Place a line or cones on the other end to designate the touchdown area.
Use lines or cones for the sidelines to separate between each area.
Each team has 4 downs to score a touchdown.
Teams can run or pass, encourage them to make plays.(Note: I gave each team 15 minutes to make up and practice 4 plays, each play had a different QB)
After a play, if forward progress is made than the spot where the student was stopped becomes the new line of scrimmage.
An interception results in a changing of possessions.
When a possession is changed, the new offensive team must start at the cone regardless of where the ball is.
Rushers must count 5 apple, howver they can immediately rush in as soon as a hand-off occurs.

California State Standards (Note: These are the proposed new California State standards)

6^th grade:

Demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform, a variety of physical skills.

Combine relationships, levels, speed, direction, and pathways in complex group and individual physical activities. (6.1.5)
Throw an object accurately and with force using both underhand and overhand patterns.(6.1.6)
Combine motor skills to play a lead up or modified game.(6.1.10)

Demonstrate knowledge of movement concepts, principles, and strategies as they apply to learning and performance of physical activities.

Identify practices and procedures necessary for safe participation in physical activities.(6.2.6)

7th grade:

Demonstrate knowledge of movement concepts, principles, strategies and tactics as they apply to learning and performance of physical activities.

Utilize information, feedback and practice in the process of setting goals for skill improvement.(7.2.2)

8th grade:

Demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.(8.1.1)

Demonstrate basic offensive and defensive strategies in team activities.(8.1.1)

Apply locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills in team activities.(8.1.2)

Demonstrate mature technique for the following patterns: overhand, sidearm, and underhand throw, catching, kicking/punting, striking, trapping, dribbling (hand and foot), and volleying.(8.1.3)

Demonstrate knowledge of movement concepts, principles, and strategies.

Explain and defend offensive and defensive strategies in modified and team sport games.(8.2.2)

Demonstrate knowledge of psychological and sociological concepts, principles, and strategies as they apply to learning and performance of physical activity.

Recognize the contributions of members of the group/team in accomplishing a task or goal.(8.5.1)
Accept the roles of team members within the structure of the game/activity.(8.5.2)
Play within the rules of the game, abide by the decisions of game officials, and accpet the outcome of the game.(8.5.3)
Describe leadership roles and responsibilities within the context of team games, and persuade others to be supportive and inclusive of all ability levels.(8.5.4)