Game sense

Game Sense Teaching game sense to practical lessons of PDHPE

What is Game Sense?

When teaching practical lessons to students we need to

use a variety of approaches to develop game skills.

O’connell (2014) states“The approach is based on the

assumption that certain principles are common across a

range of games and that teaching students about the

principles will enable students to be able to perform in

the game with more understanding”.

Teaching younger students games can be a difficult

concept, we need to develop ways in which skills can be

learnt before playing any structured game.

Game Sense Categorized

in Team Games

Game sense approach are categorized into four areas of team games:

1. Invasion games e.g. Soccer, touch, netball

2. Target games e.g. Golf, archery, bowls

3. Court and Net games e.g. Volleyball, tennis

4. Striking and Fielding e.g. Cricket, softball

Each of these sports have similar principles which helps students to learn about different sporting games.

Understanding the Game

Sense Approach

Pill, S (2014) explains “the Game Sense approach

is one method which develops the broader

meanings of sport and physical activity as it focuses

on developing thinking through problem solving

using physical activity. The Game Sense approach

is a variation of Bunker and Thorpe’s Teaching

Games for Understanding model. The Game Sense

approach became prominent in Australia following a

visit by Rod Thorpe to Australia in 1996”.

Game Sense for students

at every level By focusing on this approach it enables students to

understand and develop ways to be taught skills for games.

This allows students to make decisions and solve problems to make a successful performance. This strategy of teaching and coaching develops skills for specific activities.

Pill, S (2014) explains how the “Teaching Games for Understanding approach is a method that can be used with all ages, from beginners to elite. By manipulating time, risk and space elements of performance with questions to make participants think through the various aspects of performance, a rich understanding of the game is developed”.

Strategies for Game Sense

Games sense is important for teachers and coaches to teach young children ways to develop their own skills and understanding, while also being actively involved in a game (O’Connell, J. 2014. 1).

As a teacher I find this approach a great way to introduce students to develop fundamental skills, for team games.

It conveys strategies that allows all children at every level to further develop their own skills when playing team games.

Teachers and Game Sense

Why it’s important?

Teaching younger students fundamental skills can

be difficult concept to master. Though it is a

requirement to teach these younger students these

skills, the PDHPE Syllabus is a great way to further

develop these skills. This syllabus gives guidance

into each stages of a child’s development. It gives

teachers and coaches step by step information in

how to incorporate development skills. The

programs have subject matter that allows students

from K-6 that will be addressed throughout their own

schooling programs.

Reference:

O’connell, J. (2014, October 10) Games senses

approach to practical lessons. Retrieved from

http:/www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/s

econdary/pdhpe/assets/pdf/pa_002.pdf

Den Duyn, N 1996 'Why it makes sense to play

games', Sports Coach, 19(3), pp6-9

Pill, S (2014, October 10) University School of

Education and President, SA Branch, Australian

Council for Health, Physical Education and

Recreation Issue: Volume 29 Number 2. Retrieved

from

http://www.ausport.gov.au/sportscoachmag/coachin

g_processes/teaching_games_for_understanding

Foran, A. & Robinson, D. (2011) Pre-Service

Education Teachers’ Implementation of “TGfU

Tennis”: Assessing Elementary Students’ Game

Play Using the GPAI. St Francis Xavier University.

Vol 3, No 2.

Personal Development, Health and Physical

Education K-6 Syllabus