Game Sense is an approach to coaching that uses modified games to engage students and help them improve fundamental movement skills. It focuses on using the game itself as a tool for learning. Game Sense allows students to develop strategic thinking and movement skills through simplified versions of games. This task simplification aims to improve student participation and engagement. The document provides an example of a modified handball game and explains how Game Sense aligns with outcomes in the NSW PDHPE syllabus.

1. GAME SENSE

2. WHAT IS GAME SENSE?
• Light (2012) explains that Game Sense is an exciting approach to
coaching, which puts emphasis on the game itself as a tool for
learning.
• Game Sense incorporates modified game strategies aimed at
keeping the students engaged. It is designed for students to be
able to improve on their fundamental movement skills through
the use of game modification (Light, 2012).
• Game Sense is about allowing students to engage with the
PDHPE syllabus outcomes through games, which encourages
physical activity, social and cognitive health, as well as the
maintenance of interpersonal relationships (Board of Studies,
2007).

3. GAME SENSE CONTINUED…
• Pill (2014) describes Game Sense as a pedological approach
which uses games to develop strategic thinking and
movement skills.
• Game Sense allows students to develop a deeper
understanding of games, as a modified game can be much
easier to understand than one that has not been modified.
This is also known as task simplification, which can be
described as a scaled down version of a game, such as French
cricket (Pill, 2014).
• This task simplification is designed to get as many students
involved in games as possible, which improves student
engagement and participation.

4. WHY IMPLEMENT GAME SENSE?
Strengths of Game Sense
• The reason I have chosen to implement Game Sense into my class is
because of its simplicity. Students are able to understand the games very
quickly, which allows for maximum student engagement.
• Game Sense also links directly to many of the PDHPE NSW syllabus
outcomes, such as interacting, values and attitudes and skills. Not only
this, but it also gives me a great opportunity as a teacher to implement
some of these outcomes into my PDHPE classes.
• I also believe that Game Sense allows students to interact with their peers
and the world around them in a way which encourages understanding and
valuing of themselves and their peers.

5. WHY IMPLEMENT GAME SENSE
CONTINUED…
• Now for some examples of the strengths of game sense from the NSW
PDHPE syllabus:
• Game Sense gives students the opportunity to work cooperatively, which
lines up well with outcome INS3.3 “Acts in a way that enhance the
contribution of self and others in a range of cooperative situations.”
• Game Sense also incorporates different movement skills in a variety of ways,
which corresponds with outcome MOS3.4 “Refines and applies movement
skills creatively to a variety of challenging situations.”
• Lastly, Game Sense helps to develop students social and communication
skills, which corresponds with outcome COS3.3 “Communicates confidently
in a variety of situations.”

6. EXAMPLE OF GAME SENSE
• An example of Game Sense I will use in my class is a variation of the
popular children's game handball. Students will play in groups of 4,
one in each square. One person will serve the ball and they must hit it
clockwise, if they don’t they move to dunks (the lowest square). Also,
for every third bounce the student has to catch the ball and then re-
serve it, if they do not they move to dunks. This is to implement
catching skills. This game has been designed in order to promote
more participation from students, as they each have a turn of hitting
the ball. The fact that they have to hit the ball clockwise no matter
where it lands in their square means that there will be added vertical
movement to the game. Finally, the addition of catching further
incorporates more of the fundamental movement skills. This should all
result in a more fast paced and engaging game for the students.

7. FINAL THOUGHTS
• I hope this short presentation has shown some of the strengths
that the Game Sense teaching approach has and why I have
chosen to use it in my PDHPE classes.
• My mission as a teacher is to engage my students and instil a
passion for learning that they may not have had previously. I
believe that Game Sense can contribute to the success of this
goal and I hope to see some of these qualities in my students
as they continue their journey into adulthood.