Module 5Module 5

Teaching Games for Understanding

Ever Active Schools: Physical Literacy

Ever Active Schools: Physical Literacy

Focus of this Module: ActivityFocus of this Module: Activity

Ever Active Schools: Physical Literacy

•Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS)

•Developmentally Appropriate Skills

•Teaching the Dimensions

•Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU)

Putting the “Why” of Games Before the “How”Putting the “Why” of Games Before the “How”

• Focuses on the idea of progressing from tactics to skills

• Teaching a student why a skill is important before developing the skill

• Play activities that use an object, that can develop into a culturally valued game that adults play

• Hopper, Tim. (2002). Teaching Games for Understanding

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Benefits of TGfU Benefits of TGfU

When teaching games for understanding: Students understand what they need to know to

be successful in games Students understand when and why to make

certain decisions in dynamic game contexts

• PHE Canada

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StrategiesStrategies

• Grouping

• Teach skills by playing games

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Strategy #1: GroupingStrategy #1: Grouping

Group similar games to develop key concepts

Students begin to know interaction between rules, skills, and tactics

Transfer of skills between the game categories

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Game CategoriesGame Categories

• Target games Bowling, golf, curling Involves propelling an object

to target Tactical focus is usually aim

and accuracy Requires limited defence

• PHE Canada, PlaySport

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Categories Cont’dCategories Cont’d

Net/wall Tennis, volleyball, squash Propelling an object into space so an opponent

cannot return Requires sending and

receiving

• PHE Canada, PlaySport

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Categories Cont’dCategories Cont’d

• Fielding/running• Baseball, croquet, and

kickball• Strike object and elude

defenders in the field• Requires sending and

receiving skills

– PHE Canada, PlaySport

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Categories Cont’dCategories Cont’d

Invasion Soccer, Basketball, Handball, Capture the flag Team in possession invades other team Uses sending, receiving, retaining

• PHE Canada, PlaySport

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Key Tactical SolutionsKey Tactical Solutions

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PlaySport VideoPlaySport Video

• http://www.playsport.net/

• Click on Instructional Videos Introduction to Game Categories

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Strategy #2: Teach Skills by Playing Games

Strategy #2: Teach Skills by Playing Games

Ever heard: “when can we play the game?”

TGfU Model Traditional Technique Based Model

1 Game Form Skill execution

2 Game Appreciation Game Form

3 Tactical Awareness Performance

4 Making Decisions: What to do, and how to do it

Making Decisions: What to do, and how to do it

5 Skill execution Tactical Awareness

6 Performance

PHE Canada ClipboardEver Active Schools: Physical Literacy

Teaching Games for Understanding: A Simplified ModelTeaching Games for Understanding: A Simplified Model

Thorpe, R., Bunker, D., & Almond, L. (Eds.). (1986). Rethinking games teaching. Loughborough: University of Technology, Loughborough

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Let’s PLAYLet’s PLAY

• Lead up game: Can’t Touch This

• Skill development: Speed Pass• Tactical Solutions

• Culminating Game: Handball/Reverse Handball

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Conclusion/Games DebriefConclusion/Games Debrief

• The TGfU model: Develops highly skilled and more

knowledgeable game players Motivates students to take part in

a variety of games

• Pair similar games and focus on tactical problems and solutions

• Teach skills by playing gamesEver Active Schools: Physical Literacy

ABCD’sABCD’s

Ever Active Schools: Physical Literacy