Attacking and defending in invasion games
Games like football, netball and basketball are called 'invasion games' because both teams attack the same space and try to score by invading their opponent's territory — and success comes down to tactics as much as skill.
Part of your national curriculum
- Technique and performance: Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games
Key learning points
- • Width and depth in attack
- • Marking and pressing in defence
- • Reading the game
This lesson at a glance
- 20 minutes
- 16 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 16
Visual introductionPicture this
Attacking and defending in invasion games
Games like football, netball and basketball are called 'invasion games' because both teams attack the same space and try to score by invading their opponent's territory — and success comes down to tactics as much as skill.
In a nutshell
Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 16
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Width and depth in attack
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 16
Learn
Width and depth in attack
Good attacking teams use width (spreading players across the pitch or court sideways) and depth (having players at different distances forward and back) to stretch the opposition's defence and create gaps. A team bunched tightly together is easy to defend against, because one defender can cover several attackers at once.
Reset break
Part 4 of 16
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 16
Learn
Marking and pressing in defence
Man-to-man marking assigns each defender a specific attacker to track, while zonal marking assigns defenders to cover an area of the pitch regardless of who enters it. Pressing means applying pressure high up the pitch to win the ball back quickly, but it carries risk — if the press is beaten, defenders can be left out of position.
Quick check
Part 6 of 16
Quick check
Part 7 of 16
Reset break
Part 8 of 16
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 16
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Reading the game
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 16
Learn
Reading the game
Good players constantly scan the pitch before receiving the ball, so they already know their options rather than deciding after they receive it, saving crucial time. Decision-making under pressure, not just physical skill, is often what separates a good player from a great one.
Quick check
Part 11 of 16
Reset break
Part 12 of 16
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 16
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 16
Game · Recall cards
What does 'creating width' in attack mean?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 15 of 16
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Attacking and defending in invasion games
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. What does 'creating width' in attack mean?
2. What is 'zonal marking'?
3. Why is 'scanning' before receiving the ball useful?
Lesson round-up
Part 16 of 16
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 16 · Watch & discover
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Use a range of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in direct competition through team and individual games