B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Moving with Purpose, Safety and Skill

Pass and Move: Sending and Receiving While Moving

C1 A1.4 A1.6About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can receive an object while I am moving and get it under control quickly.
I can send and receive with different body parts and with equipment like a stick or racquet.
I can choose the right force and level for a pass.
I can do a give-and-go and communicate with my teammates.

Words to know

first touch
Your very first contact with the ball when you receive it. A good first touch puts the ball where you want it.

cushion
To soften a catch or trap by letting your hands, foot, body or stick give a little.

give-and-go
Pass to a teammate, run into open space, and get the ball passed back to you.

target
A signal that shows where you want the pass, like hands up or your stick blade on the ground.

force
How hard you send an object.

implement
Equipment you use to send or receive, like a stick, racquet or bat.

Remember from Grade 4

In Grade 4 you learned the four parts of a great send: ready, step, swing, follow through. You learned the lead pass (aim where your partner will be) and how to receive by watching, moving your body behind the object, making a target with your hands, and giving to absorb the force.

This year you will receive while moving, use different body parts and equipment, choose the right force and level, and work with a teammate in a give-and-go.

The hot-potato rule

In games like basketball, soccer and ultimate, defenders have a hard time when the ball moves fast from player to player. If you catch, stop, look around and then think about passing, defenders have time to catch up.

Great players treat the ball a little like a hot potato: receive it on the move, control it fast, and send it on quickly.

Receiving while you're moving

Look before it arrives. Glance around so you already know where you'll go next.
Show a target. Hands up and ready, or your stick blade on the ground, and call your teammate's name or "Here!"
Move to meet it. Step toward the pass so a defender can't cut in front.
Cushion it. Let your hands, foot or stick give a little.
First touch into space. Make your first touch move the ball away from defenders and toward where you want to go.

Body part or implement	Receive by...	Send by...
Hands	Catching with soft hands that give	Chest pass, bounce pass, overhand or underhand throw
Feet	Trapping with the inside of the foot, letting it give	Inside-foot pass along the ground
Thigh or chest	Cushioning a high soft ball down to your feet	(These parts mostly receive, then the feet send.)
Hockey stick	Letting the blade give as the ball arrives, blade angled over it a little	A sweep pass: blade starts on the ball and sweeps through, no big wind-up
Racquet or paddle	Watching the object onto the strings and swinging smoothly	Forehand or backhand stroke with a follow-through
Bat	(A bat only sends.)	Striking a ball off a tee into open space

Different ways to send and receive. The same idea of cushioning works with every body part and implement.

Choosing force and level

Short pass: small swing, soft force. Too hard and your teammate can't control it.
Long pass: bigger backswing and more follow-through for more force.
Ground pass: along the ground, easy to control. Best when the space is clear.
Lofted pass: in the air, over a defender. Harder to control.
Bounce pass: goes under a defender's hands in basketball and other passing games.

Ask: How far? Is a defender in the way? Is my teammate moving?

Choose the level of your pass. Go along the ground when the space is clear, over a defender with a lofted pass, or under their hands with a bounce pass.

The give-and-go

The give-and-go is a simple play that works in basketball, soccer, hockey, ultimate and more:

Give-and-go: A passes to teammate B (1), runs around the defender D into open space (2), and B passes the ball back to A in that space (3).

Give: Player A passes to teammate B.
Go: A immediately runs past the defender into open space.
Return: B passes the ball back to A, ahead of A (a lead pass).

The defender watched the ball go to B and got left behind!

Talk, look and include

Call names: "Maya!" or "Here!"
Make eye contact before you pass.
Say "Thanks!" or "Nice pass!" to build your team.
Include everyone: pass to teammates who haven't had the ball yet.
A bad pass? Say "My fault, next one!" Owning mistakes builds trust.

Safety: Use soft balls. Never aim at anyone's head. Keep sticks below the waist, and keep a safe distance from anyone swinging a bat, racquet or stick.

Worked example

Let's do a give-and-go in a 2-on-1

Owen and his sister Mia are playing basketball against their dad in the driveway. Dad is guarding Owen, who has the ball. Mia is open to the side. How can they use a give-and-go to get Owen a close shot?

Give: Owen makes a quick chest pass to Mia, who shows a target with her hands.
Go: Right after passing, Owen cuts (runs fast) past his dad toward the basket.
Return: Mia makes a bounce pass ahead of Owen, under Dad's reach, so Owen catches it on the move.
Finish: Owen catches with soft hands and takes a short shot (a layup).
Talk: Mia calls "Owen!" so he knows the ball is coming.

Pass, cut, return pass, shoot. The give-and-go beats a defender with teamwork.

Worked example

Let's choose the pass

Choose the best pass for each: (1) A teammate 3 metres away, no defender. (2) A teammate 15 metres away across an open field. (3) A defender with arms up between you and your teammate in a basketball game.

(1) Close and open: a soft, short ground pass or a chest pass. Easy to control.
(2) Far: more force with a bigger backswing and follow-through, such as an overhand throw or a long kick.
(3) Defender's hands up high: a bounce pass goes under them.

Short and soft, long with more force, and a bounce pass under a defender's hands.

Just for fun

What do you call a boomerang that won't come back?

A stick! A give-and-go is basically a boomerang pass: the ball always comes back to you.

Hands-on activity

Pass-and-move circuit

You need: a soft ball, a soccer ball (or other soft kicking ball), two hockey sticks and a ball (optional), a batting tee or a large cone with a soft ball and a plastic or foam bat (optional), 4 markers and a partner. Use a yard, a park or a driveway far from the road.

Shuffle and catch: you and your partner shuffle sideways in the same direction about 3 metres apart, passing a ball back and forth. 10 catches without a drop?
Wall one-touch: kick a soccer ball against a wall (one with no windows) and pass it back with one touch, using the inside of your foot. Try 10 in a row, then use your other foot.
Thigh cushion: your partner tosses a soft ball gently to your thigh. Cushion it down to your feet, then pass it back.
Stick passing (optional): pass a ball back and forth with hockey sticks. Let the blade give when it arrives. Sticks stay low.
Give-and-go: set up a marker as a "defender". Pass to your partner, run past the marker, and receive the return pass on the move. Switch roles.
Tee strike (optional): hit a soft ball off a tee or large cone into open space. Everyone else stands well back, off to the side, out of reach of the swing (never right behind or in front of the batter).

Safety: Soft balls only. Check the space is clear before every send. Never play near windows, cars or the road; if the ball rolls toward the street, a grown-up gets it.

Your turn

What is a give-and-go?

Name two ways to show a target.

What does it mean to cushion a catch or trap?

Which body parts can cushion a high soft ball down to your feet?

Which pass goes under a defender's hands?

Why should you look around before the ball arrives?

Do it and check: Shuffle sideways with a partner and pass a ball back and forth 10 times.

More practice: warm-up

In a give-and-go, what do you do right after you pass?

Should sticks be high or low when passing?

Is a long pass soft or does it need more force?

Name an implement used to send a ball.

What is your first touch?

More practice: on your own

Why does a give-and-go often beat a defender?

You receive a soccer pass and a defender is coming from your left. Where should your first touch go?

Explain the sweep pass with a hockey stick.

Your teammate is running across the yard. Where should you aim your pass, and why?

A teammate drops your pass. What could you say?

Challenge

Describe how a give-and-go would work in ringette or hockey, using the words pass, cut and lead pass.

In 2-on-1 keep-away, the defender keeps intercepting high lob passes. Suggest two changes.

Compare receiving with hands, feet and a stick. What idea do they share?

Check your understanding

Quiz

What is the second step of a give-and-go?

Which pass is best to get past a defender's hands held up high?

To cushion a ball, you should...

Your teammate is only 3 metres away. What force should you use?

Where should your first touch go when a defender is close on your left?

Which is good teamwork when passing?

Which is a safe stick-passing rule?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 5 students send and receive objects using different body parts and implements, with control, while moving. This lesson builds on Grade 4 (sending technique, lead passes, receiving) by focusing on receiving on the move, the first touch, choosing force and level, and the give-and-go, a simple team tactic that works in many games.

How to help at home:

Be the partner for shuffle-passing and the give-and-go.
Play 2-on-1 keep-away with soft balls, letting your child and a sibling or friend try the give-and-go against you.
Praise talking and including others as much as good passes.

Common difficulties:

Stopping to catch. Start slowly (walking), then build to a jog.
Stiff hands or feet. Cue "soft hands" and "catch an egg."
Passing to where the partner is now. Remind: "Lead them: pass to where they'll be."

Safety: Use soft balls, keep sticks below the waist, and keep everyone well away from bats and racquets. Play far from roads and windows; an adult retrieves any ball that rolls toward the street.

Social-emotional learning: Calling names, making eye contact and owning mistakes build healthy relationships and communication; choosing the right pass for the situation builds critical thinking.