B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Motivated, Fit, Safe and Skilful

Keep It Moving: Dribbling and Protecting the Ball

C1 A1.3 A1.5About 35 minutes

Learning goals

I can dribble a ball with my hands, my feet or a stick while moving at different speeds.
I can keep control while changing direction and weaving around obstacles.
I can protect the ball by keeping my body between it and a defender, with my head up.
I can practise with my weaker hand or foot and keep trying as it improves.

Words to know

retain
To keep control of an object while you move.

dribble
To move a ball along with many small bounces or touches, using your hand, feet or a stick.

shield
To keep your body between the ball and a defender.

heads up
Looking up to see players and space, instead of staring at the ball.

dominant side
The hand or foot you usually use. Your other side is your non-dominant (weaker) side.

change of pace
Switching speed, like slow to fast, to get past someone.

Remember from Grade 3

In Grade 3 you retained objects by dribbling with your hand, your feet or a stick, and you learned to shield the ball in games.

This year you will dribble at different speeds, change direction without losing the ball, dribble with your weaker hand or foot, and keep your head up while you move.

Hand dribbling (like basketball)

Use your finger pads, not your palm. Push the ball down; don't slap it.
Keep the ball at or below your waist, and a little to the side and in front.
Bend your knees and stay low.
Heads up! Look up to see your teammates and the space.
Use your other arm as a shield (bent, not pushing) when a defender is near.
Crossover: to change direction, bounce the ball low across your body from one hand to the other.

Foot dribbling (like soccer)

Use small touches with the inside and outside of your feet. Keep the ball close, about one step away.
To go fast in open space, push the ball a little farther ahead with your laces.
To change direction, cut the ball with the inside or outside of your foot.
To stop the ball, put the sole of your foot on top of it.

A soccer ball on a grass field beside a line of orange cones leading toward a goal. — A line of cones makes a dribbling course. Keep the ball close with small touches and look up between cones to see the space ahead. AI-generated image

Stick dribbling (like floor hockey or ball hockey)

Hold the stick with two hands, one at the top and one lower down.
Keep the ball or puck close and move it with soft taps on both sides of the blade.
Keep the blade on or near the ground and below your knees. Never swing the stick high.

A dribbling course: start at the dot and weave around 4 cones, keeping the ball close.

Situation	How to retain the ball
Open space ahead	Speed up: push the ball farther ahead (feet) or dribble higher and faster (hands).
Defender close by	Slow down, keep the ball close, shield with your body, dribble with the hand or foot farthest from the defender.
Defender blocking your way	Change direction or use a fake, then a change of pace to get past.
Lots of players around	Heads up! Look for a teammate to pass to.

Changing how you dribble for the situation.

Practise both sides

Most players are stronger on one side. Your non-dominant (weaker) hand or foot will feel clumsy at first. That is normal! Practise it a little every day and it will improve. Remember: "I can't do it yet."

Worked example

Let's dribble the cone course

Dribble a soccer ball around the 4 cones and back without losing control.

Start slowly. Use small touches with the inside of your foot.
Go around each cone: to go left around a cone, touch the ball with the inside of your right foot or the outside of your left foot.
Keep it close: never more than about one step away from your feet.
Look up between touches to see the next cone.
Speed up only when you can do it without losing the ball. Then try it with your weaker foot.

Small touches, ball close, heads up, and speed up only when you're in control.

Worked example

Let's beat a defender

You are dribbling a basketball with your right hand. A defender comes toward your right side. What should you do?

Protect the ball: the defender is on your right, so the ball is near them. Switch it away.
Crossover: bounce the ball low across your body to your left hand.
Shield: turn your body so your shoulder and bent right arm are between the defender and the ball.
Change of pace: burst forward into the open space, then look up to pass or keep going.

Crossover to the hand away from the defender, shield with your body and speed up into open space.

Seen from above: a crossover moves the ball to the hand away from the defender (D), so your body shields the ball.

Hands-on activity

Dribble skills circuit

You need: a ball that bounces (basketball or playground ball), a soccer ball or other soft ball, 4 markers (shoes, cones or water bottles), a hockey stick and ball (optional), a timer and a family member. Use a driveway, a paved path at a park, or a yard.

Stationary hand dribble: 30 seconds with your strong hand, then 30 seconds with your weaker hand. Count the bounces. Can you do it with your head up?
Cone weave (feet): Set 4 markers 2 big steps apart in a line. Weave through and back. Time yourself. Try again with your weaker foot.
Cone weave (hands): Dribble a ball around the markers with the hand on the outside of each turn.
Shadow defender: A family member walks beside you as a gentle defender. Practise shielding with your body and crossovers.
Record: Write your times and counts. Try again next week. Did you improve?

Safety: Dribble away from the street and parked cars. Keep a hockey stick low (below your knees). Gentle defending only, no grabbing or pushing.

Just for fun

Why are basketball players great at breakfast?

Because they love to dunk their toast!

Your turn

What does retain mean?

Which part of your hand should you dribble with?

Why should you keep your head up when you dribble?

How far from your feet should the ball be when you dribble near a defender in soccer?

What is a crossover?

When you dribble with a stick, where should the blade stay?

Do it and check: Dribble a ball 20 times with your weaker hand while standing.

More practice: warm-up

What does shield mean?

Which part of your foot can stop a rolling ball?

Should a hand dribble be higher than your head or at your waist?

Name one sport where you dribble with your feet.

What is your dominant hand?

More practice: on your own

You are dribbling a soccer ball and there is lots of open space ahead. What should you do?

A defender is on your left while you dribble a basketball with your left hand. What should you change?

Why might it be useful to dribble well with both hands?

Amir's weave time was 28 seconds in week 1 and 21 seconds in week 3. How much faster did he get?

Why should you keep a hockey stick below your knees?

Challenge

Explain how change of pace helps you get past a defender.

Compare hand dribbling and foot dribbling: name one thing that is the same and one that is different.

Your little cousin is frustrated because the ball keeps getting away when dribbling. Give three tips and an encouraging sentence.

Check your understanding

Quiz

When you dribble with your hand, you should use your...

A defender is close. How should you dribble?

Why keep your head up while dribbling?

What is a crossover dribble?

In floor hockey, where should your stick blade be?

Your weaker foot feels clumsy when dribbling. What should you do?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 4 students perform movement skills that involve retaining objects (dribbling with hands, feet or a stick) while moving at different speeds, changing direction and protecting the object from others.

How to help at home:

Set up a cone course in a driveway or park and time your child every week.
Be a gentle defender so your child can practise shielding and crossovers.
Encourage practice with the weaker hand or foot and praise the effort.

Common difficulties:

Staring at the ball. Hold up fingers and ask your child to call out the number while dribbling.
Slapping the ball. Remind them to push with the finger pads.
Ball running away in soccer. Smaller touches, slower speed.
Frustration with the weaker side. Keep sessions short and celebrate small gains.

Safety: Dribble away from streets and parked cars. Hockey sticks stay low; play gently with no pushing or grabbing.

Social-emotional learning: Practising the weaker side and tracking improvement builds perseverance; noticing which side is stronger and setting a plan builds self-awareness.