Invasion Games

A guide to help when designing your own invasion game.

What is an Invasion Game??Invasion games are team games where the purpose is to invade the opponents territory

while scoring points and keeping the opposing team's points to a minimum, and

all within a certain time period. These include sports where the ball is being

carried or caught across a line, thrown or shot into a target/hoop, or hit with a stick or foot into a specific target area (Pearson &

Webb, 2008). Invasion games are the most strategic types

of games with many transferable skills

Examples of Invasion GamesO Rugby O Basketball O Lacrosse O Hockey O Soccer/FootballO Ultimate Frisbee O CastlesO Water Polo O Chess (think about this one……)O Netball

What Sort of Skills?O Passing: throwing, kicking or passing a ball or other item. O Receiving: catching, cradling a ball with the feet, or

receiving an ball/ object with a stick. O Dodging: meaning to maintaining personal space, making

sure not to collide with other players or objects.Change of direction: change the way your body is traveling

O Traveling in multiple directions: being mobile; going forwards, backwards, to either side, and to all diagonals.

O Speed & Agility: being quick and flexibleO Spatial awareness: recognise your position and see

where you are in relation to the playing of the game.O Change of speed: being able to change speed, eg slow

to fast when necessaryO Anticipation: Guessing where the ball or play might go.

While anticipation is not a necessary skill it can be extremely valuable when playing defence.

Attacking StrategiesO Maintain Possession

O Avoid defensive players

O Create space for team mates

O Create space for yourself

O Attack goal

Defensive StrategiesO Defend goal

O Defend space

O Gain Possession

O Defensive positioning

O Getting the ball/object out of your defensive area

O Predicting opponent's move

Common Tactics for all Teams

O To create space while invading your opponents territory

O To contain space and contain the other team while the opposition is invading your territory

O To use a net, goal or target for scoring purposes

Helpful Attacking HintsO Possession of ball/object O Attempting to move in the direction

of the goalO Moving and creating open spacesO Attacking the goal

Helpful Defensive HintsO Staying between the attacking

player and the goal O Use hands, feet, stick or body to

prevent a pass or scoring attemptO Protecting a goalO Regaining possession of an object