2. What is Game Sense/TGfU?
Game sense is the notion of modifying sport
where the focus is on the children’s engagement
with games instead of pedagogy to develop skills,
knowledge and understanding of the game and is
where “Charlesworth (1993) used GS as a
description of player performance combining
movement ability, tactical and athletic
competency” (Pill, 2016, p.281)
It is a more learner-centred approach, rather than
a teacher-centred approach it pays significantly
less attention to pedagogy (Light, 2013, p.37)
3. Continued…
“The ‘Teaching Games for Understanding’ (TGfU)
stemmed from problematisation of directive
teaching of techniques before they had been
contextualised within an understanding of the
game, and observations that typically students
finished compulsory PE having learnt little about
game play” (Pill, 2016, p.281)
4. Its strengths as a teaching approach:
In my opinion, game sense and teaching games for understanding is a great
alternate way of teaching students about sport and games. Here are my reasons
why:
It enables students to physically engage in the lesson, making it less boring for
students
It is student-centred
It provides more opportunities for students to develop skills and knowledge of the
tactics of the game
It links with the PDHPE syllabus
Teacher can easily modify the lesson with game sense approach for differentiating
learners
It is fun and exciting
It in inclusive and leaves no students feeling isolated
5. How it links to the ‘new’ PDHPE
syllabus:
PD1-4: performs movement skills in a variety of sequences and situations
PD1-5: proposes a range of alternatives to solve movement challenges through
participation in a range of activities
PD1-8: participates in a range of opportunities that promote physical activity
PD1-9: demonstrates self-management skills in taking responsibility for their
own actions
PD1-10: describes and practices interpersonal skills to promote inclusion to
make themselves and others feel they belong
PD1-11: incorporates elements of space, time, objects, effort and people in
creating and performing simple movement sequences
(PDHPE syllabus)
6. References
Light, R. (2013). Game sense pedagogy for performance,
participation and enjoyment Milton Park, Abingdon: Routledge.
Pill, S. (2016). An appreciative inquiry exploring game sense
teaching in physical education. Sport, Education and
Society, 21(2), 279-297. Doi: 10.1080/13573322.2014.912624
NSW Education Standards Authority. (n.d.). The NSW Syllabus
for the Australian Curriculum: Personal development, health
and physical education K-10. Retrieved from
https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-
10/learning-areas/pdhpe/pdhpe-k-10-2018
