Game Sense Approach

1. Game Sense
Approach
Miss Vo-Xanh
Year 3
Stage 2

2. During PDHPE classes, teachers will apply a range of
approaches in order to meet the learning needs and abilities of
students. The ‘Game Sense’ approach is commonly used by
teachers, which I believe is an effective way to teach students
various skills that they can use and improve many aspects in
their everyday life.

3. What is Game Sense
Approach?
Game Sense is a fundamental and inquiry-
based approach of Teaching Games for
Understanding (TGfU) that it primarily
game-centred to allow students to develop
skills such as decision-making and tactical
thinking. These skills allow students to
analyse and think critically, which is
differentiates from the traditional approach
of being given instructions. From this
approach, students will learn its significance
while playing the game, especially when put
into practice (Webb, Pearson, & Forrest,
2006; Light, Curry, & Mooney, 2014).

4. Game Sense
Game Sense integrates a variety of aspects determined by risk,
space and time to suit and encourage the abilities and needs of
students when playing the games (NSW Education Standards
Authority [NESA], 2018 ). In accord to Light (2013), there are four
types of games (but not limited to the examples listed below) that
incorporates this approach:
• Invasion games: soccer and basketball
• Net and Wall games: badminton, tennis and volleyball
• Striking and Field games: cricket and softball
• Target games: archery, bowling and golf

5. Why Game Sense
Approach?
• Creates a suitable physical learning
environment
• Incorporates critical thinking: interaction
and reflection
• Develops interpersonal skills, where
students communicate, respect and
understand each other
• Team-work and collaborating with others
in order to solve problems and meet the
common goal
(Light, 2014)

6. References
Curry, C. (2011). Using the game sense approach to deliver quality teaching in physical education. Retrieved from:
http://learning21e.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/using-the-game-sense-approach-to-deliver-quality-teaching-in-physical-education/
Light, R. (2014). Quality teaching beyond games through game sense pedagogy. University of Sydney Papers in HMHCE-Special
Game Sense Edition, 1-13.
Light, R., Curry, C., & Mooney, A. (2014). Game Sense as a model for delivering quality teaching in physical education. Asia-Pacific
Journal of Health, Sport and Physical Education, 5(1), 67-81.
NSW Education Standards Authority [NESA]. (2018). The NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum: PDHPE K-10. Retrieved
from https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/pdhpe/pdhpe-k-10-syllabus
Webb, P.I., Pearson, P.J., & Forrest, G. (2006). Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) in primary and secondary physical
education.