The game sense approach teaches tactics and decision making through games to develop an understanding of games. It focuses on the game itself rather than skills. Game sense is based on the Teaching Games for Understanding model which concentrates on the nature of games rather than technical skills. There are four categories of games - invasion, striking, net/wall, and target games. The benefits of the game sense approach include encouraging tactical thinking and decision making, focusing on the game, and developing social skills through cooperation. It also links to the NSW PDHPE syllabus by developing interpersonal, self-management, and movement skills.

1. Game Sense
Miss Maryam Marqus
18611885

2. WHAT IS GAME
SENSE APPROACH?
• The game sense approach to teach and
reinforce tactics and decision making to
develop an understanding of the game.
• It focuses on the game, rather than on
practical skills, tactically awareness make
better decisions during games.
• Game sense is based on the Teaching
Games for Understanding (TGfU) model.
(Light, 2012)

3. TGFU MODEL
• Bunker and Thorpe first anticipated Teaching Games for Understanding
(TGfU) in 1982 as an substitute to traditional, technique-led approaches to
games teaching and learning.
• They sense that traditional approaches tended to concentrate on exact
technical skills without considering the background nature of games and
how they are practical in games.
(Light, 2012)

4. FUNDAMENTAL
MOVEMENT
SKILLS
• “The development of
children’s fundamental
movement skills is a
significant step towards
establishing a lifelong
commitment to health and
physical activity.
Fundamental movement
skills are the building blocks
for the wide range of sports
and physical activities
offered in our community”.
Twelve fundamental movement
skills are:
• the static balance
• the sprint run
• the vertical jump
• the catch
• the hop
• the side gallop
• the skip
• the overarm throw
• the leap
• the kick
• the two-hand strike
• the dodge
(NSW Department of Education and
Training, 2000)

5. GAME CATEGORIES
• There are four categories of games in which game sense is reinforced by.
These include:
• Invasion games: soccer, basketball and rugby
• Striking games: cricket and softball
• Net/wall games: tennis and volleyball
• Target games: golf and archery
(NSW Department of Education and Training,2000)

6. WHY GAME
SENSE?
• Building up skills, children are able to
transfer their previous skills and apply
them from one game to another.
• Children learn these skills in a enjoyable
and fun way, whilst they gain skills and
understanding of the rules strategies.
(Light, 2012)

7. BENEFITS OF
THE GAME
SENSE
APPROACH
• Encourages tactical and decision making
skills.
• Concentrations on the game.
• Children develop the ability to express
themselves, cooperate with their peers,
gaining appreciated social skills.
• Game sense offers teachers with a level
of flexibility as games can be modified so
that all ages, sizes, and levels to have a
fair game and is still enjoyable.
(Light, 2012)

8. HOW GAME
SENSE LINKS
TO THE
PDHPE
SYLLABUS
• The game sense approach is a great
teaching strategy and is supported by the
Board of Studies NSW PDHPE Syllabus.
• Applies Interpersonal Skills (I) games and
sports that require communication,
cooperation, leadership and social
awareness.
• Game sense approach also assists in
developing self management skills (S) to
strengthening personal identity and
decision-making/ problem-solving.
• Finally assists in developing movement
skills (M) to creative tactical movement
and health/fitness enhancing movement.
(NSW Education Standards Authority, 2018)

9. Reference list
• Light, R. (2012). Game sense: Pedagogy for performance, participation and
enjoyment. Routledge.
• NSW Department of Education and Training. (2000). Get skilled: Get active.
A K-6 resource to support the teaching of fundamental movement skills.
• NSW Education Standards Authority. (2018). Personal development, health
and physical education K-10 syllabus.