So what is a 'Game Sense' approach?
It means facilitating students' development of decision making, spatial awareness, instincts, reading the play, applying rules and strategies and reaction time. It means stripping back the adult version to reveal whats most important when learning a game and it's skills. It means identifying that the only difference between most invasion games for example, is the type of ball used and some of the rules. If game sense is taught, experienced, grasped and developed, a person 'with' game sense would be able to pick up any of these similar games in a flash. They would just need to learn a few of the rules, and they would be able to apply them to the 'new' sport and confidently and competently join in.
So if a person's kicking/throwing/passing skills weren't up to the standard of 'experienced' players in this 'new' sport, they would still be able to influence a game and help their team by: blocking up space when on defence, leading into space in attack, evading chasers/tacklers when in possession of the ball, and advancing the ball by dodging past defenders. By 'helping' their team toward success and experiencing successful moments, this player feels good about him/herself and is encouraged to play more. And isn't that what we're after?
Now I haven't thrown out the 'skill/drills followed by culmination' approach out the window, its ingrained in me so deep that it is habit. There will always be a need for quality instruction and advice with regard to technique. But a 'game sense' approach is so fun and rewarding that not only are the kids excited and enthusiastic about it, but their PE teacher is too!
So here are some of the benefits I find to using a 'Game Sense' approach in PE: (with the examples below I am referring to invasion games such as basketball, netball, hockey, Australian Rules Football).
- Utilising 'Small Sided Grid Games' (3 v 3 or 5 v 5, instead of 11 v 11 or 13 v 13, in small areas rather than full sized fields/courts). Small sided grid games allows each participant: more action, exposure to game scenarios, a chance at conflict resolution, self management opportunities, practice in negotiation, more space, more attack opportunities and more defence opportunities.
- It gets the kids into the action early. The skilful kids love being 'set free' to show their stuff, while the lesser skilled students feel like they are 'doing it' right away.
- Getting my students into a game situation early is a great method of formative assessment. I can see where the skill level is at, I can start to form ability groupings, and with discussions and debriefings I can get a feel for the level of prior knowledge regarding rules and strategies.
- Speaking of debriefs - class discussions allow for students to drive the conversation towards what they want to know.
- Small sided grid games makes ability groupings easier. - kids play at their level - build confidence, experience success and failure in an environment that won't turn them off. I can move players up or down during the game if more/less challenge is required.
- I can set up different rules for each game. This shows students that it is ok to modify the rules (problem solving) in order to make a game more suitable/challenging/fun.
- I find that when students are comfortable that they know how to play, they will attempt more difficult moves/skills - at the exact moment when they are ready to try!
Summary
High quality sport specific skills are of little use if it is not known when to apply them. A ruck rover in Australian Rules Football does not try to get a perfect spin on a centre clearance kick, because he knows that his space and time are limited, and so must execute the quickest kick he can in order to advance the ball.
With so many skills transferrable from sport to sport or game to game, P.E. teachers can achieve the ultimate success with a 'Game Sense' approach - increased participation - if students are taught to 'play' the game they are trying to 'play'.
Have you tried a 'Game Sense' approach? What about TGFU? Do you prefer to focus on skills?
I welcome your comments.
