INVASION

GAMES
• Playing a game is a great form of exercise. This time,
you will find out more about invasion games .

Unlike target games, invasion games are always

played by two teams directly playing againts each
other. The objective of an invasion games is twofold;
offense-wise and defense-wise. A team is on the
offense when they are the one trying to “invade” the
opposing team’s area and score points, usually by
placing a ball through the other team’s goal. They are
on the defense when their team is the one trying to
defend its own goal by preventing the opponents from
scoring.
What are invasion games?
Invasion games are team games where the purpose is to:

invade the opponent’s territory or zone to score goals or points;

protect your own territory to prevent the opposition from
scoring goals or points.
They are played within a certain period of time, with an equal
number of players on each team. Invasion games are usually
fast-paced, and focus on teamwork, keeping possession,
attacking, and defending.

What are some examples of invasion games?

Invasion games are common games for children to play in
school as they encourage teamwork. Some popular invasion
games include:
Netball

Netball is a non-contact team

sport that includes players
attempting to score points by
getting the ball into their
opponent’s net. Each team
consists of seven players, and
the game is played on a
rectangular court. The Netball
World Cup takes place every
four years, and was founded in
1963.
Hockey

Hockey is another invasion

game that is a non-contact
sport. Players have to hit a
hard ball into their opponent’s
goal with a hockey stick.
Hockey has one of the biggest
courts of all the invasion
games, making it quite a tiring
game!
Basketball

Basketball allows the

player to bounce the ball
to reach their opponent’s
net. There are only 5
players per team on the
rectangular court at any
time, and players are
allowed to run into any
area of the court.
Football

One of the most played

invasion games in the world,
football is played by two teams
of 11 players. In football, it’s
against the rules to use your
hands to play the ball. There
are also huge football
competitions such as the World
Cup and the UEFA European
Championships.
What are the benefits of invasion games for children?
There are lots of positive reasons to play invasion
games with children. They include developing new
skills and physical benefits such as:

• Sense of fair play: This applies specifically to values

such as honesty, self-control, bravery, and
persistence. It’s also associated with how players
should treat people equally, show self-control while
communicating with others (e.g. staying calm under
pressure), and display respect for both referees and
opponents.
• Team work: Invasion games are played as
teams who all have a shared purpose or goal -
to score the most points and win the game.
This type of learning experience is fantastic
for children. These team work skills can be
applied in lots of other areas of their
education, and into their adult life.
• Friendship: Tying into team work skills,
playing invasion games and working together
towards a common goal is a lovely way to
encourage friendships between your class.
These friendships will no doubt encourage
children to take part in sport more often,
leading to them to enjoy physical activity, and
going on to live healthy and active lives.
• Overall fitness: Invasion games require
players to play a game of a set amount of
time and are usually fast-paced. This
type of sport will be especially useful for
children to get plenty of physical activity
in their week, and improve their fitness.