Basic 6 · Physical Education · Space Awareness
The Importance of Open Space in Team Games
In this topic you will explain why using open space is important in team games and practise creating and using space.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain open space in team games
- Describe how attackers and defenders use space
- Use open space in a small-sided game
What you already know
- Creating space between attackers and defenders (Basic 5)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Movement Concepts
- Sub-strand
- Space Awareness
- Indicator
- B6.2.1.2.1 – Explain the importance of open space in playing team games
Introduction
The best teams do not crowd around the ball. They spread out and pass the ball into open space, where teammates can receive it freely.
1. What Is Open Space?
Open space: An area of the playing field with no opponents nearby.
A player in open space has time to control the ball, look up and make a good decision. Attackers try to find or create open space; defenders try to close it down.
2. Why Open Space Matters
| For attackers | For defenders |
|---|---|
| easier to receive and pass the ball | closing space makes it hard for attackers to pass |
| more time to make decisions | marking players reduces their options |
| stretches the defence | staying compact protects the goal |
| creates scoring chances | forces attackers into mistakes |
3. Using Space
- Width: spread to the sides of the pitch.
- Depth: some players stay forward, others behind the ball.
- Movement off the ball: run into space before receiving.
- Communication: call for the ball and point to space.
- Quick passing: move the ball before defenders close the space.
4. Practice Game: Four Goals
Play 5 v 5 on a pitch with four small goals, one in each corner. Teams can score in either of two goals. Attackers learn to switch play to the side with more space, and defenders learn to shift together.
5. Space in Different Sports
| Sport | Use of space |
|---|---|
| football | wingers stay wide to stretch defences |
| netball | players move into free areas to receive passes within their zones |
| basketball | players spread around the three-point line |
| handball | quick passes into gaps before defenders move |
New words
- open space
- An area with no opponents nearby.
- width
- Spreading across the field.
- depth
- Positioning players at different distances from the goal.
- off the ball
- Movement by players who do not have the ball.
- compact
- Close together.
- switch play
- Moving the ball quickly to the other side.
Summary
- Open space gives attackers time and options.
- Attackers use width, depth and movement off the ball.
- Defenders stay compact to close space.
- All team games depend on using space well.
Class activity: Four-Goal Game
- Play 5 v 5 with four corner goals.
- Count how many times your team switches play.
- Discuss how open space helped you score.
You need: Plastic-bottle cones, Rope, Locally made ball
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Open space is an area with…
- A. no opponents nearby
- B. many defenders
- C. no grass
- D. only the goalkeeper
Show answer
Answer: no opponents nearbyFree area.2. Spreading across the field is called…
- A. width
- B. depth
- C. marking
- D. tackling
Show answer
Answer: widthStretches defence.3. Defenders close space by staying…
- A. compact
- B. far apart
- C. off the pitch
- D. still
Show answer
Answer: compactClose together.4. Moving without the ball can create space.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueOff-the-ball movement.5. All attackers should stand next to the ball.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseSpread out.6. Moving the ball quickly to the other side is to ______ play.
Show answer
Answer: switchFind space.7. Give three ways attackers use open space.
Show answer
Answer: Width, depth, movement off the ball (or communication, quick passing).Any three.8. Why does a player in open space have an advantage?
Show answer
Answer: They have more time to control the ball, look up and choose a good pass or shot.Time and options.
Homework
- Watch a football or netball match and note how teams use space.