The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of negotiations between pupils and preservice teachers (PTs) on PTs' instruction within multi-activity (MA) teaching and sport education (SE). Participants were 17 PTs engaged in a secondary early field experience in which they taught 12-lesson MA and SE soccer units. Data were collected using six qualitative techniques and analyzed using analytic induction and constant comparison. Pupils initiated negotiations aimed at securing changes in instructional tasks and a reduction in standards of performance for those tasks. PTs initiated negotiations aimed at securing compliance with instructional and managerial tasks. During MA instruction, negotiations were relatively negative and common, increased as the unit progressed and adversely influenced the effectiveness of 11 PTs' pedagogies. During SE instruction, negotiations were relatively positive and infrequent, declined as the season progressed and enabled PTs to deliver good quality physical education.