Dodging

Stages of Development
Teaching and Learning

Children are ready to be introduced to the skill of dodging in Year 2 and should be fine tuning the skill by the end of Year 5. Some children may take a lot longer to experience to success with this skill as it is a more complex skill. The dodge is a more advanced skill from the sprint run and the gallop.

Teaching cues
  1. Bend, push & turn
  2. Look straight ahead
  3. Use only one step to change direction
Teaching strategies

  • Avoid breaking the skill down, teach as a whole skill
  • Set up markers in zig-zag formation and instruct children to touch markers with the outside of their foot (avoid going around markers this can lead to bad habits)
  • Play games such as Compliment Tag and Builders and Bulldozers which involve changes of direction

  • Have children experiment with different styles of dodging – wide base of support vs a narrow, body upright v body lowered
  • Set-up obstacle courses that involve dodging between markers
  • Play tag games where children have to dodge to avoid being tagged - Rock, Bridge, Tree Tag and Octopus Tag

  • Increase the speed of the dodge
  • Have a go at double dodges – dodge in one direction and then quickly dodge the other direction
  • Play small sided games of netball and modified basketball and focus on incorporating the dodge within the game and activities such as Capture the Flag
Skill criteria
  1. Changes direction by bending knee and pushing off the outside foot
  2. Change of direction occurs in one step
  3. Body lowered during change of direction
  4. Eyes focused forward
  5. Dodge repeated equally well on both sides
Common errors
  • Trying to do it too slowly with too many small steps
  • Looking down at the ground
  • Not enough knee bend
  • The whole body turns to face the intended direction of travel
Skill usage

More dodging activities

noodle tag
Running, Jumping, Dodging, Hopping, Skipping, Galloping
Children bouncing ball to each other
Dodging, Dribble (Basketball), Attacking Skills (Invasion Games), Defensive Skills (Invasion Games), Hockey/Floorball Skills, Soccer Skills , Basketball Skills
Children running to capture the flag
Running, Dodging, Rugby Skills