Defensive Communication: Organizing the Backline in Primary 5 Football

Primary 5 Football Communication on the Field
First Term Lesson Notes – Week 3

Subject: Physical and Health Education (Football Communication)
Class: Primary 5
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 9-10 years
Topic: Defensive Communication
Sub-topic: Organizing the Backline, Key Defensive Phrases, and Understanding Team Positioning
Duration: 40 Minutes

Behavioural Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain how defenders communicate to organize the backline.
2. Use key defensive phrases like “man on,” “clear it,” and “mark up.”
3. Understand teammates’ positioning and movement during defense.

Keywords

• Backline
• Mark up
• Clear it
• Man on
• Defensive positioning

Set Induction

Ask the pupils if they have ever played defense in football. Discuss the importance of teamwork in defense and how communication helps defenders stay organized to stop the other team from scoring.

Entry Behaviour

Pupils have some understanding of how to call for the ball in attack from Week 2. Now, they will focus on communication during defense.

Learning Resources and Materials

1. Football
2. Cones to set up defensive drills
3. Bibs or jerseys for identifying defenders
4. Chalkboard/Whiteboard for writing defensive phrases

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

In Week 2, pupils learned how to call for the ball during play. This week, they will focus on defensive communication, which is just as important to organize the team and protect the goal.

Embedded Core Skills

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Strategy
• Observation skills

Learning Materials

• Football
• Training bibs
• Cones for marking defensive zones

Reference Book

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for Physical and Health Education, Primary 5

Instructional Materials

1. Video clips showing defenders communicating in real football matches.
2. Posters with defensive terms and positioning diagrams.

Content

1. Organizing the Backline:
   • The backline refers to the defenders who stand near their own goal to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
   • Defenders must communicate to stay organized and mark opposing players properly.
   • The goalkeeper also helps to direct the defense.
2. Using Key Defensive Phrases:
   • “Man on”: This is said when an opposing player is close to your teammate. It alerts them to pass or clear the ball quickly.
   • “Clear it”: This means to kick the ball away from the defensive area to prevent danger.
   • “Mark up”: This means to stay close to an opposing player to prevent them from receiving the ball.
3. Understanding Teammates’ Positioning and Movement:
   • Defenders need to watch where their teammates are and adjust their position to cover open spaces.
   • Communication helps defenders know when to step forward, stay back, or shift positions to cover other players.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. The backline consists of __________.
   a) Strikers
   b) Defenders
   c) Goalkeepers
   d) Midfielders
2. When a teammate has an opponent close to them, you say __________.
   a) “Man on”
   b) “Pass”
   c) “Go”
   d) “Run”
3. To get rid of the ball from the defensive area, you say __________.
   a) Dribble it
   b) Mark up
   c) Clear it
   d) Shoot
4. “Mark up” means to stay __________ an opponent.
   a) Far from
   b) Close to
   c) Behind
   d) In front of
5. Defenders should communicate to __________ the backline.
   a) Attack
   b) Organize
   c) Break up
   d) Distract

15 FAQs with Answers

1. Q: What does “man on” mean?
   A: It means an opponent is close to your teammate, and they need to act quickly.
2. Q: Why is it important to organize the backline?
   A: To prevent the opposing team from scoring by marking players and covering spaces.
3. Q: What should you say when you want your teammate to clear the ball?
   A: You should say “Clear it.”
4. Q: What does “mark up” mean in football?
   A: It means to stay close to an opponent to prevent them from receiving the ball.
5. Q: How does defensive communication help a team?
   A: It helps the defenders stay organized and react quickly to the opposing team’s attacks.
6. Q: What should a defender do when they hear “man on”?
   A: They should pass or clear the ball quickly.
7. Q: Why is it important to keep the backline organized?
   A: To make it harder for the other team to score.
8. Q: Who helps organize the defense besides the defenders?
   A: The goalkeeper helps direct and organize the defense.
9. Q: What does it mean to “clear it” in football?
   A: It means to kick the ball out of the defensive area to avoid danger.
10. Q: Why do defenders need to communicate with each other?
    A: To stay in position and mark opposing players effectively.
11. Q: What should you do when marking up an opponent?
    A: Stay close to them to prevent them from receiving the ball.
12. Q: What should defenders do when the ball is in their area?
    A: Communicate to organize themselves and clear the ball if necessary.
13. Q: What happens if the backline isn’t organized?
    A: The opposing team will find it easier to score goals.
14. Q: How does communication help in defense?
    A: It helps defenders know when to mark players, clear the ball, and stay in position.
15. Q: Why is it important to cover open spaces as a defender?
    A: To stop the opposing team from passing or shooting the ball easily.

Presentation (Steps 1-3)

Step 1:
The teacher revises last week’s lesson on calling for the ball.

Step 2:
The teacher explains how defenders communicate to organize the backline, introduces key defensive phrases like “man on,” “clear it,” and “mark up,” and discusses their meaning with examples.

Step 3:
Pupils are placed into groups to practice defensive communication, with drills focusing on marking players, clearing the ball, and organizing the defense.

Teacher’s Activities

• Introduce key defensive terms and their meanings.
• Demonstrate how to use defensive phrases in practice.
• Set up defensive drills where pupils practice communicating and organizing the backline.

Learners’ Activities

• Pupils practice using defensive phrases like “man on” and “clear it” in game-like scenarios.
• Pupils work in teams to organize the backline and mark opponents.
• Pupils apply defensive communication skills in small-sided practice games.

Assessment

1. What does “man on” mean in football defense?
2. Why do defenders need to communicate?
3. What should you say if an opponent is close to your teammate?
4. When should you say “clear it”?
5. How does marking up help in defense?

Evaluation Questions

1. What is the role of the backline in defense?
2. Explain the phrase “man on.”
3. When should you clear the ball in football?
4. What does it mean to “mark up” a player?
5. Why is it important to stay organized in defense?
6. How can defenders communicate during a match?
7. What should you do when your teammate has an opponent near them?
8. How does defensive communication stop the other team from scoring?
9. Why is it important for defenders to cover open spaces?
10. What should you do if the opposing team is attacking your goal?

Conclusion

The teacher walks around to observe and give feedback during defensive drills. The lesson concludes with a discussion on how clear communication helps defenders protect the goal and work together as a unit.