Invasion/Territory Games- Overview

             Invasion/territory-type games involve controlling an object, such as a ball and keeping it away from opponents and moving it into a scoring position to score on a target. Games can be modified to be simple running games or to use a specified skill (kicking, throwing) (e.g., soccer, handball, ultimate Frisbee, football, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, etc). Throughout this session, we will be presenting variations of different sport games such as Basketball, Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee.

For example, the “Keep Away Game” using the basketballs implies the general tactical problem of maintaining possession, which is a lower scale level of tactical complexity. In this game, each player dribbles a basketball within a confined space, individually trying to maintain control while applying invasive pressure on the other players. While maintaining ball control, you also have to defend your own personal space. This game will be played on two different courts whereby, if you lose control of your ball, players join in on the other court; making it continuous so no one is eliminated. After trying this game, we will apply modifications such as shrinking the playing area and using the non-dominant hand.

The second part of our session is a game called “Sticky Shoe Tag.” The two tactical focus points of this game are create space and defend space. These two are both moderate tactical complexity. A set of partners must pass through two rows of defenders without being tagged. Defenders can only move laterally on the line, not forward and backwards. The objective is for the ball carrier to draw the defense to the side before passing to open space, and there has to be a pass. Forms or variations on this game could include just making a simple pass, whereby players must make legal rear-wards rugby pass. Equipment such as a real rugby ball or even a tennis ball could be used. Changes made to the court could either be narrower or wider and players could also walk instead of run. To make the game a little more complex, extra lines of defenders and taggers could be added.

Our third and final activity is a variation of ultimate Frisbee, known as European handball. As we progress through this session, the generic tactical problems increase from the first two games, as does the tactical complexity. European handball incorporates generic tactical problems such as maintaining possession (offensive), regaining possession (defensive), creating space (offensive), defending space (defensive) and also attacking the goal (offensive). The tactical complexities range from 1 to 5, which involve more advanced tactics. European handball combines features of basketball and rugby. In this variation, 4 to 5 players move the ball down the court that is smaller than a basketball court into the offensive zone and try to score by throwing the ball at the blue mat, which is our representation of the goal. Each player on the team must touch the ball before a goal can be scored (1pt).  Changes made to the court could be narrower or wider, and players could also walk instead of run. To score a goal, adaptations could be made to the goal, such as a hockey-like goal, a basketball backboard, throwing it through a hoop, etc.