B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Fit, Safe and Game Smart

Game Sense: Offence, Defence and Tactics That Transfer

C2 A1.6 A1.4 A1.2About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can identify common features and tactics shared by games in the same category.
I can use offensive tactics such as creating space, support and placing shots to open space.
I can use defensive tactics such as marking, covering space, and recovering to base position.
I can make quick decisions in a game and adjust my tactics when something isn't working.

Words to know

tactic
A plan or choice you make in a game to increase your chances of success.

strategy
A bigger game plan made before or during a game, made up of tactics.

transition
The moment the ball changes teams, when offence becomes defence and defence becomes offence.

support
Moving to a spot where a teammate with the ball can pass to you easily.

base position
The ready spot in the middle of your court or field that you return to after each shot or play.

cover
On defence, protecting an area or helping a teammate who has been beaten.

relay throw
In striking/fielding games, a fielder catches a long throw and passes it on quickly to the right base.

Remember from earlier grades

In Grade 4 you sorted games into target, net/wall, striking/fielding and territory and solved game problems with Notice, Choose, Try, Check. In Grade 5 you learned two big ideas for team games, make space big on offence, small on defence, plus pacing and healthy competition.

This year you'll learn tactics for each category in more detail, focus on transition, support, base position and covering, and practise adjusting your strategy mid-game.

Think like a coach

A coach watching a game doesn't just see "we lost the ball." A coach asks: Why did we lose it? Were our players too close together? Did no one move to support? Did we all stop running after a shot?

When you understand the tactics behind a game, you can play smarter, even if you aren't the fastest or strongest player. And the same tactics transfer to other games in the same category.

Category	Offence (when you have the object)	Defence (when they have it)
Territory (soccer, basketball, hockey, ultimate, lacrosse)	Spread wide and deep; support the player with the object (an open passing lane); move after you pass; switch play to the open side	Get goal-side; mark a player; pressure the object; cover for a beaten teammate; transition back fast after losing it
Net/wall (badminton, volleyball, pickleball, table tennis)	Send to open space; vary short and long, left and right; move the opponent around	Return to base position after each shot; stay in ready position; watch the opponent's racquet or body for clues
Striking/fielding (softball, cricket, kickball)	Hit to the gaps; run hard through first base; watch the fielders before deciding to run	Spread out to cover the field; back up throws; use a relay throw for long hits; throw ahead of the runner
Target (bocce, curling, bowling, disc golf)	Choose force and line carefully; play a shot that sets up your next one	Place a guard or blocker; knock away the opponent's best object

Tactics by category. Games in the same category share many tactics.

Net/wall: the opponent has moved up close to the net, so the open space is at the back of their court. Send the shot deep.

Transition: switch jobs fast

In territory games, the moment you lose the ball is the moment you become defenders. Many goals happen because players stop to complain instead of running back.

Lost the ball? Sprint back goal-side, or pressure right away.
Won the ball? Look up and move into open space quickly, before the other team organizes their defence.

Think of it as switching jobs instantly.

Support: make a triangle

When a teammate has the ball, they need options. Two supporting teammates can form a triangle with them, so there are always two passing lanes. Stand where the passing lane to you is clear of defenders, at a distance where a pass is easy.

Base position

In net/wall games, after every shot, move back to your base: usually the middle of your court, a little behind the centre. From there, you can reach most shots. If you stay where you hit, you leave big open spaces for your opponent.

A support triangle: two teammates stand where their passing lanes are clear of defenders, so the thrower always has two options.

Adjust your strategy

If your plan isn't working, use Notice, Choose, Try, Check:

Notice: "They keep scoring on long passes."
Choose: "We'll mark tighter and keep one player back."
Try it for a few minutes.
Check: Did it help? If not, try something else.

Stay calm and talk to your teammates kindly: "Let's try this" works better than "You're doing it wrong!"

Joke break

Why does the badminton player run back to the middle after every shot?

Because there’s no place like base!

Worked example

Let's solve a territory problem

In 3-on-3 ultimate at the park, your team keeps dropping the disc because the thrower has no one open. What tactics could help?

Notice: Teammates are standing still, close to the thrower, and defenders are marking them easily.
Spread out: Use the width and depth of the field so defenders are spread too.
Support: The two teammates form a triangle with the thrower: one to the side, one ahead, each with a clear lane.
Move: Cut toward open space just before the thrower is ready (fake one way, cut the other).
Check: After a few plays, is the thrower finding open teammates more often?

Spread out, form a support triangle, and make cuts into open space to give the thrower options.

Worked example

Let's solve a net/wall problem

In backyard badminton, your opponent keeps winning points by hitting the birdie to the back corners after you play a shot near the net. What should you change?

Notice: After hitting near the net, you stay there, so the back of your court is wide open.
Base position: After every shot, move back to the middle of your court.
Ready position: knees bent, racquet up, weight on the balls of your feet, so you can move quickly.
Offence too: Send your shots deep or to open space so your opponent has to move, giving you time to recover.

Recover to base position after each shot, stay ready, and send your own shots to open space.

Hands-on activity

Tactics lab: one game from each category

You need: a soft ball, a flying disc, a beach ball or badminton set, a rope between two chairs or posts, small balls or beanbags, markers, and 2 to 6 players. Use a yard or park.

Territory: 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 disc or ball game into small end zones. Focus: support triangle and transition.
Net/wall: 1-on-1 over a rope at shoulder height with a beach ball or badminton set. Focus: base position and sending to open space.
Striking/fielding: kickball with 3 bases. Focus: hit to the gaps and backing up throws.
Target: bocce-style game with a small target ball and beanbags. Focus: guard shots.
After each game, every player names one tactic that worked and one adjustment for next time.

Safety: Clear, flat space; soft balls; no contact; agree on boundaries away from roads; water breaks.

Your turn

What is transition?

What is a support triangle?

In net/wall games, where should you go after each shot?

Name one striking/fielding tactic on offence and one on defence.

What is a guard in a target game?

Your opponent is at the back of their court. Where should you send the shot?

Name the four steps for adjusting strategy.

More practice: warm-up

Which category is volleyball?

Which category is lacrosse?

Which category is bocce?

Which category is cricket?

On defence in territory games, where should you stand compared with your player and the goal?

More practice: on your own

Your soccer team keeps getting scored on right after losing the ball. Which tactic is missing? What should players do?

In kickball, a long kick goes to the outfield. Why might a relay throw be better than one long throw?

Explain how "send to open space" transfers between badminton and volleyball.

Your teammate yells, "You never get open!" How could you respond, and how could they say it better?

What's the difference between a tactic and a strategy?

Challenge

Design a 3-step plan to beat a team that has one very fast player in 3-on-3 soccer.

Compare base position in badminton with the defensive positioning of fielders in kickball. What common idea do they share?

Explain why understanding tactics can help a player who isn't the fastest or strongest.

Check your understanding

Quiz

What is transition in a territory game?

Where should you go after each shot in badminton?

Which is a support tactic?

Your opponent is near the net. Where is the open space?

Which is a striking/fielding tactic?

Which category are basketball, soccer and ultimate in?

Your team's plan isn't working. What should you do first?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 6 students apply movement strategies and tactics, understanding the common features of games in the same category so tactics transfer. This lesson focuses on transition, support, base position, covering, and adjusting strategy with Notice, Choose, Try, Check.

How to help at home:

Play small-sided games (2-on-2, 1-on-1). Pause and ask, "Where's the open space?"
While watching a game, ask your child to spot one tactic.
After a game, ask, "What worked? What would you change?"

Common difficulties:

Everyone chasing the ball. Use support triangles and spread-out rules.
Standing still after a shot. Say "Base!" as a reminder.
Stopping after losing the ball. Practise instant transition.
Blaming teammates. Model specific, kind requests.

Safety: Small-sided games on flat, clear space, soft balls, no contact, water breaks.

Social-emotional learning: Analysing and adjusting tactics builds critical thinking (A1.6); communicating kindly with teammates builds healthy relationships (A1.4); staying calm when a plan fails builds coping skills (A1.2).