Formation Things to consider Example

T = teacher X = student

Scatter • Can be used for exploring movement. T

• Make students aware of boundaries before X
commencing activities. X
• Ensure students have enough personal space X
for moving by stretching arms out horizontally X
and making sure they can’t touch anyone else.
X
• Teacher should move among the students
providing feedback and encouragement. X

Single circle • Can be used for practising simple skills, for X

games, dance and whole-class discussion.
T
X
• Use floor markings to form circle or ask group X
to join hands and spread apart without letting go. X
• When talking to the class, stand outside the
X
circle. When observing performance move around X
the circle. X
X X

Double circle • Can be used for partner activities and dance. X X

• Use floor markings to designate places. X X X X
• Consider changing partners for variety. X
X
• When talking to the class or group stay on the edge of XX
the circle. XX
• When observing performance of a skill, move around X X X X
the circle. X
T X

Half circle • Can be used when giving demonstrations and X X

X
instructions.
• Use existing circle markings if possible (e.g. centre X X
circle in soccer or keyhole in basketball).
• Teacher should stand slightly outside the half circle. X X
T

File • Can be used to provide practice opportunities for O O O T

throwing and kicking.
• Teachers should ensure that the number of students X X X
in each file is no more than four.
• Use witches hats or markers to define positioning of X X X
each file.
• Teacher should stand in front of the files to talk to the X X X
class or beside an individual student to observe the
performance of the skill. X X X

X T X
Parallel lines • Can be used to provide practice opportunities for
throwing, catching and kicking skills.
• Make distance between lines sufficient to promote X X
proper execution of the skill.
• Establish safety routines for retrieving balls and X X
objects in the middle e.g. “no-go” zone.
• Teacher should move between groups to observe X X
and correct performance of the skill when necessary.
X X

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Formation Things to consider Example

Relays • Can be used to provide practice opportunities for

locomotor skills. X
• Maximise participation by making the numbers in X
the groups small. X
• Try to incorporate skill development into relays.
• Teacher should move between groups to observe and
▲X
correct performance if necessary.
• Use formations such as the single circle and parallel T
lines to add variety to the usual file and parallel ▲
line relays. X
• To reduce the pressure of competition, run different X
relay activities for each group. X
• Use markers to define start line to stop groups
X
gradually drawing together.

Grids • Can be used to provide practice opportunities for all

X X X X
fundamental movement skills.
• Grids can be marked out using witches hats, markers X
X X X
or existing ground markings.
• The number of students in each group should not
exceed five and there should be sufficient equipment T X X
for maximum participation. X X X

Chapter 5
• Each activity should be of short duration, with 3 or 4 X X X
different activities within the grid session.
• The size of the grids will vary depending on the space X
X X X
available and the type of activity.
• The teacher should play an active role and move X X
X X
around each group to observe and provide feedback.

Stations • Stations can be used to provide practice XX X

▲

opportunities to refine movement skills using a XX X X

variety of equipment and activities. X
• Students can work by themselves or with others and ▲ ▲
should be encouraged to work towards their
personal best. X
• There should be enough activities to allow X X
participation for groups of 3-4 students. X X X
• A circular format works well, with the teacher X X
stationed in the middle to observe activities and
▲
encourage students.
• The teacher may prefer to be positioned at a ▲
particular station to closely observe and provide
feedback about individual performance. X X X X
X
▲

X X T
X

Snapshot 6 in the video, Get skilled: Get active—Teach me how, highlights techniques for moving groups
around grids. The teacher asks one group to remain in their grid and moves the other five groups on.
This allows for quick movement between activities and maximises practice time.

Teaching fundamental movement skills 91