B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Fit, Safe and Game Smart

Keep It: Dribbling, Shielding and Faking with Both Sides

C1 A1.2 A1.3About 35 minutes

Learning goals

I can dribble or stickhandle with my dominant and non-dominant hand or foot while keeping my head up.
I can change speed and direction to get away from a defender.
I can shield the object by keeping my body between it and a defender.
I can use a fake to make a defender move the wrong way, and stay calm under pressure.

Words to know

dribble
To move a ball by bouncing it with your hand or tapping it with your feet.

stickhandle
To move a ball or puck with a stick while keeping control.

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

fake (feint)
A pretend move that tricks a defender into going the wrong way.

change of pace
Suddenly speeding up or slowing down to get away from a defender.

crossover
Moving the ball from one hand or foot to the other, across the front of your body.

non-dominant
Your weaker side: the hand or foot you use less.

Remember from earlier grades

In Grade 4 you learned to dribble and protect the ball, including shielding and simple fakes. In Grade 5 you kept control in traffic, with your head up, and stayed calm under pressure.

This year you'll make those skills work on both sides of your body and put them together in 1-on-1 situations, where you have to decide quickly what to do.

Why both sides?

Imagine a defender who knows you only ever dribble with your right hand. Where will they stand? On your right side, every time! If you can dribble, pass and shoot with both sides, the defender has to guess, and that gives you the advantage.

Five control skills

Heads up: Look up to see teammates, defenders and space. Feel the ball with your fingertips, the inside and outside of your feet, or your stick blade.
Close control: Keep the object close when defenders are near. Push it farther ahead only when you have open space.
Change of pace: Slow down... then explode past. Defenders often relax when you slow down.
Change of direction: A crossover (hand to hand, or foot to foot), a pull-back, or a quick cut.
Shield: When a defender is close, turn your body so it's between them and the ball. Use your free arm (bent, not pushing) for space.

Left: shielding, with your body between the defender (D) and the ball. Right: a fake: lean one way (dotted line), then go the other way (solid arrow).

Activity	Dribble or control with	Grade 6 challenge
Basketball	Fingertips, ball at waist height or lower	Crossover from right to left hand and back; dribble with the weaker hand while walking, then jogging
Soccer	Inside, outside and sole of both feet	Pull-back with the sole of the foot, then go the other way
Ball hockey or floor hockey (with a ball or puck)	Stick blade, soft hands	Move the object side to side in front of you while moving forward, head up
Wheelchair basketball	Bounce the ball and push the wheels in rhythm	Dribble and push in rhythm, protect the ball on the side away from a defender

Control skills transfer across activities: heads up, close control, change of pace and direction, shielding.

The fake (feint)

A fake is a pretend movement that makes a defender commit to one direction:

Shoulder drop: dip your shoulder and lean left, then push off and go right.
Stepover (soccer): swing your foot over the ball without touching it, then push it the other way with your other foot.
Head and eyes: look one way, then pass or move the other.

A fake works best when it's believable and when you go quickly right after.

Staying calm under pressure

When a defender gets close, your heart beats faster and you might panic and kick the ball away. Try:

One breath out as you go into a 1-on-1.
A cue word like "Shield" or "Eyes up."
Plan B: if you can't beat them, it's smart to protect and pass to a teammate.
After losing the ball: "Next play." Mistakes are how you learn.

Worked example

Let's beat a defender 1-on-1

In driveway basketball, you're dribbling with your right hand. A defender steps toward your right side. What do you do?

Read: The defender is shading to your right, the side the ball is on.
Shield: Keep the ball low and turn your shoulder toward the defender so your body protects it.
Fake: Lean and look right as if to keep going that way.
Crossover: Bounce the ball low across your body to your left hand.
Change of pace: Explode past on the left side, head up to see the basket or a teammate.

Shield, fake right, crossover to your left hand, and speed up past the defender on the side they left open.

The defender shades to the side the ball is on. A low crossover moves the ball away from them, and a change of pace takes you past on the open side.

Worked example

Let's choose: dribble, shield or pass?

In 2-on-2 soccer at the park, two defenders surround you near the sideline. Your teammate is open in the middle.

Notice: You're trapped by two defenders and the sideline. Dribbling past both is very unlikely.
Shield: Turn your back to the closest defender and keep the ball on your far foot.
Pass: Find your open teammate in the middle and pass.
Learn: Next time, pass before getting trapped near the sideline.

Shield to buy a second, then pass to the open teammate. Smart players don't try to beat everyone alone.

What if...

A good fake is like a magic trick. The defender watches your shoulder go left... and - ta-da! - you and the ball have vanished to the right.

Hands-on activity

Both-sides dribbling challenge

You need: a ball (basketball or soccer ball) or a hockey stick and ball, 6 shoes or cones, a timer, and a partner. Use a driveway, yard or park.

Cone weave: Set 6 cones in a line, 1 metre apart. Weave through using only your dominant side. Time it. Repeat with only your non-dominant side. Then both.
Heads-up game: Your partner holds up fingers while you dribble. Call out the number.
Shield square: In a small square (about 4 m × 4 m), keep the ball away from your partner for 20 seconds, using shielding. Switch roles.
Fake and go: Partner is a gentle defender. Practise one fake 5 times each way.

Record: your weave times. In 2 weeks, test again.

Safety: Play on a flat surface away from the street. Defending means no pushing, no grabbing, no sticks above the waist.

Your turn

What does it mean to shield the ball?

Why should you keep your head up while dribbling?

What is a crossover?

When should you keep the ball close, and when can you push it farther ahead?

Describe one fake.

Why practise dribbling with your non-dominant side?

Do it and check: Dribble 10 times with your weaker hand while walking.

More practice: warm-up

Which part of your hand controls a basketball dribble?

Is a stepover a soccer move or a basketball move?

What is your non-dominant side?

What is a cue word?

Name one activity where you stickhandle.

More practice: on your own

A defender keeps stealing the ball from your right side. Give two ideas.

Why does a change of pace work?

Your weave times: dominant 12 s, non-dominant 20 s. What does this show? What could you do?

You lose the ball in a 1-on-1 and feel embarrassed. What could you say to yourself?

When is passing a better choice than dribbling?

Challenge

Weave times over 3 weeks for the non-dominant foot: 22 s, 19 s, 16 s. What is the improvement each week and in total? If the dominant foot is 13 s, how far from it is week 3?

Explain why a fake works better if you go quickly right after it.

Design a 1-on-1 practice game for a younger sibling that is fair and safe.

Check your understanding

Quiz

What does shielding mean?

Why practise with your non-dominant side?

When should you keep the ball close?

Which is a fake?

You're trapped by two defenders and a teammate is open. Best choice?

Which helps you stay calm in a 1-on-1?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 6 students retain control of objects while moving and under pressure from defenders, using both sides of the body. This lesson adds non-dominant practice, change of pace and direction, shielding and fakes in 1-on-1 situations, and when to pass instead.

How to help at home:

Be a gentle defender. Let your child practise shielding and fakes.
Time weave runs on both sides and celebrate improvements on the weaker side.
Model calm after mistakes: "Next play."

Common difficulties:

Avoiding the weaker side. Make games where only the weaker side counts.
Looking down at the ball. Hold up fingers to call out.
Pushing with the arm while shielding. The arm stays bent for space, not pushing.

Safety: Flat, clear surfaces away from the street; no pushing or grabbing; sticks below the waist.

Social-emotional learning: Breathing and cue words in pressure moments build stress management and coping (A1.2); practising the weaker side over weeks builds perseverance (A1.3).