The Lake in the Middle: Attack Down the Wings

There's a "lake" of cones in the middle of the field that nobody can enter, so teams have to attack down the sides. Students discover why spreading out and filling the wings matters.

How to play

1. Explain: two 30 × 18 m fields with a 10 × 6 m no-go rectangle in the middle; the ball may fly over the lake, but nobody steps in it (3 min).
2. 5v5 game with an end zone (6 min).
3. Pause with questions: why spread out to the wings? What happens if everyone attacks down the same side? (3 min).
4. The lake shrinks to a 2 m strip: do you still use both wings? (6 min).
5. No lake: a score counts double if the ball went through both wings in the same attack (5 min).
6. Wrap-up: which players play out wide in basketball, handball or soccer? (2 min).

Rules

• Nobody steps in the lake; if an attacker does, it's a turnover, and if a defender does, the attack gets a free pass.
• No contact: interceptions only.
• No walking with the ball.
• The outer lines are at least 2 m from any wall or fence.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: mark the lake with tape or rope on the floor as well as cones, and play with a guide.
• Limited mobility: stays on one wing as a passer, receiving and distributing from there.
• Students who struggle to get involved: assign them a wing, and each pass they catch there earns half a point.

Learning goals

• Fill the wings to stretch the defense.
• Switch the ball from one wing to the other.
• Understand width as an attacking principle.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 32
• pinnies: 15
• foam balls: 2

Teacher tip

Build the lake with cones of a single color so it reads as one zone. Typical mistake: the whole group goes around one side of the lake; stop and have them count how many are on each wing.

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