All Activities
Physical Education

Student Coach

Overview

Students take turns as coach, leading a small group through a skill or activity and giving feedback.

Learning Objective
Students develop leadership and communication skills by coaching a small group.

Resources needed

  • Open space
  • Any simple equipment for the activity being coached

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Assign groups of 4–5. One student is the coach.
  2. 2 The coach teaches a simple skill: e.g. how to pass a ball accurately.
  3. 3 The coach demonstrates, then the group practises.
  4. 4 The coach watches and gives feedback to each player.
  5. 5 After 5 minutes, rotate to a new coach.
  6. 6 Every student coaches once.
  7. 7 Debrief: what made a good coach? What was difficult about coaching?

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Coach leads a warm-up instead of a skill.
  • Coach gives only positive feedback in the first round.
  • Two coaches work together for one group.
More information

Teach: demonstrate, practise, feedback, improve, well done, try again. Model giving feedback before students lead.

Students who are less confident can coach with a written or drawn instruction card as support.

Is the student coach demonstrating clearly? Are they watching the group rather than just talking? Are they giving specific feedback?

No equipment needed for the coaching itself. Use any simple skill that is already familiar.

Student coaches often just play rather than coach. Remind them: the coach watches, does not play. Give them a specific role: observer and feedback giver.

Leadership roles in PE build confidence and communication skills that transfer to all areas of school and later life.

Activity details
Secondary Medium 25 minutes no prep Small Group, Whole Class Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Leadership Coaching Communication