Track, Netball, Cricket and Football Skills – Standard 3 PE

What you will learn

  • Recognise travelling, throwing, catching and striking skills.
  • Use safe teacher-led lead-up games.
  • Share roles and assess teamwork as well as skill.

Lead-up games practise parts of a sport with simpler rules and suitable equipment. Track can involve controlled starts and travelling; netball uses passing and catching; cricket includes striking with a bat; football includes controlled touches and kicks. A classroom lead-up game is not a complete statement of official competition rules. The teacher chooses equipment, distance, pace and adaptations for the group.

Move and receive safely

For a teacher-led start practice, use a clear lane, a recognised start signal and enough space to slow down. No diving starts or crowded races are needed. For a soft-ball passing task, look towards the receiver, check that they are ready and use a comfortable distance. Hands can prepare to receive a gentle pass, but a learner should never be struck with a hard ball to test courage. Seated or rolling-ball versions can practise communication and control.

Worked example 1

What is a lead-up game?

Show me how

Read the situation and identify the important idea.

A simplified task practising sport skills

Simplification allows focused practice.

A collection of game and sports balls. This is equipment context, not a demonstration of body positions or a recommendation to use every ball in a lesson.
A collection of game and sports balls. This is equipment context, not a demonstration of body positions or a recommendation to use every ball in a lesson. Classroom Camera (Cascade Canyon School), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Strike with space and control

A cricket lead-up station may use a soft ball on a tee and a lightweight bat chosen by the teacher. Only the striker enters the marked swing area; others wait behind the safe boundary. Stop before retrieving equipment. A football station can use gentle touches to guide a ball between wide markers, with no tackles. These are task examples for supervised lessons, not instructions to set up unsupervised swinging or kicking in a crowded home.

Worked example 2

What should a passer check?

Show me how

Read the situation and identify the important idea.

That the receiver is ready

Readiness supports safe receiving.

Watch out! A common mistake

Winning a lead-up game does not excuse unsafe throws, crowded swings or excluding a teammate. Safe cooperation is part of success.

Teamwork is part of the task

Assign roles such as performer, receiver, observer and equipment helper, and rotate them fairly. Agree a stop signal, encourage a partner and accept a retry without blame. Assess teamwork explicitly: did the passer check readiness, did everyone get a turn and did the group stop promptly? A team can succeed at these behaviours even if not every pass is accurate. Ask the teacher to adapt equipment or roles so each learner can contribute meaningfully.

Worked example 3

Which football lead-up task is suitable?

Show me how

Read the situation and identify the important idea.

Gentle controlled touches between markers

The teacher chooses a controlled task.

Make, practise or plan

Make a four-station plan naming the skill, safe space rule and two cooperative behaviours. In a supervised session, rotate roles and record a teamwork observation as well as a skill observation.

You may explain your plan, arrange picture cards or use an adapted version agreed with the teacher. Describe one choice and how it helps the task.

Try it

TRY ITTrack, Netball, Cricket and Football Skills lab

Let’s practise

Work each one in your copybook. Open Hint if you are stuck, then open Show answer to check.

1. What is a lead-up game?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

A simplified task practising sport skills. Simplification allows focused practice.

2. Which is a locomotor skill?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

Travelling along a clear lane. Locomotor movement changes place.

3. Which is a manipulative skill?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

Throwing or striking a ball. It involves controlling an object.

4. What should a passer check?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

That the receiver is ready. Readiness supports safe receiving.

5. Who enters a marked bat swing area?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

Only the striker when authorised. Others remain outside the swing area.

6. What should happen before equipment retrieval?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

Stop the activity as directed. Retrieval needs a safe pause.

7. Which football lead-up task is suitable?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

Gentle controlled touches between markers. The teacher chooses a controlled task.

8. Which is a teamwork observation?

Hint

Think about the lesson explanation and give the answer in your own words.

Show answer

Everyone received a turn and checked readiness. Cooperative behaviours can be assessed.

Quiz

Lesson quiz: 10 questions

Answer every question, then press Check my answers. Score 8 or more to earn the Team Skills Builder badge.

Recap

  • Recognise travelling, throwing, catching and striking skills.
  • Use safe teacher-led lead-up games.
  • Share roles and assess teamwork as well as skill.
  • Winning a lead-up game does not excuse unsafe throws, crowded swings or excluding a teammate. Safe cooperation is part of success.

Words to know

locomotor
Movement that travels from one place to another.
Example: Remember: Movement that travels from one place to another.
manipulative skill
Control of an object by actions such as throwing or striking.
Example: Remember: Control of an object by actions such as throwing or striking.
lead-up game
A simplified activity practising parts of a sport.
Example: Remember: A simplified activity practising parts of a sport.
cooperation
Working with others towards a shared purpose.
Example: Remember: Working with others towards a shared purpose.

Try it at home

  • Make a four-station plan naming the skill, safe space rule and two cooperative behaviours. In a supervised session, rotate roles and record a teamwork observation as well as a skill observation.
  • Explain one choice to an adult or a classmate. A paper plan is enough; do not attempt a risky practical task at home.

Test tips

Tips for class tests

  • Read the complete question before choosing.
  • Use the meaning from the lesson rather than memorising an answer position.
  • Explain one reason for your answer, then review any mistake.

For parents and teachers

After this lesson, your child should be able to:

  • Recognise travelling, throwing, catching and striking skills.
  • Use safe teacher-led lead-up games.
  • Share roles and assess teamwork as well as skill.

Use invented examples and voluntary participation. No learner needs to disclose private information. The quiz assesses understanding; it does not certify practical skill. Adapt tasks to the learner and setting. Physical activities require a suitable teacher-led session. Handstands and rolls require a qualified gymnastics instructor, appropriate equipment and individual progression; this page is not a self-teaching tutorial.

Quiz scores and badges are saved only in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere. If the browser data is cleared, or another device is used, the badges will be lost.

Previous: Gymnastics: Side Scale, Handstand and Forward Roll
Next: Healthy Habits, a Water Journal and the Right PE Kit
Course: Standard 3 PE

Updates

2026/11/07
– First draft of this PE lesson, with two hands-on activities, practice, a quiz badge, a worksheet and credited pictures.

Attributions to media used in this post:

Classroom Camera (Cascade Canyon School), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Various_game_and_sports_balls,_top-down.jpg

© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.

Leave a Reply