Primary school children had significantly higher physical activity during break times (3x higher intensity) than during structured physical education class times. Coaches should consider providing more informal play opportunities for young athletes as they learn most during these times compared to formal practice or play. Effective coaching requires balancing skill development, game play, and informal learning to best support athletes.

1. How do we best provide
our athletes with valuable
play/practice
opportunities?

2. Informal
Practice
Formal
Practice
Formal
Play
When and how do
our players learn
Informal
Play
most?
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3. Primary school children who achieved
60 mins of moderate to vigorous
physical activity (MVPA) during the
school day had significantly higher
intensity (3x higher) activity during
break time than they did during
structured physical activity in class
time.
>>UNITEC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(Rush, et al., 2012)
>>DEPARTMENT OF SPORT

4. • What did you notice about the playing area/size?
• What did you notice about the equipment being
used?
• How actively involved were the participants in each
video?
• Would the young baseballer ever hit a “homerun”?
Would the young cricketer ever hit a “6”?
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>>DEPARTMENT OF SPORT

5. Are you still separating skill learning
from game learning?
Are you providing too much game play
and losing some skill development?
Are you providing too much skill
development and not enough game
play?
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>>DEPARTMENT OF SPORT

6. Elite Participate
?
?
Excel
Perform
Learn
Explore
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7. Would we make every
kid learn their
strokes before they
got in the pool?
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>>DEPARTMENT OF SPORT

8. Either/Or approaches to athlete/team
development:
TGfU vs skill drills
Fundamental Movement Skills vs Fundamental Games
Skills
Technical learning vs Tactical learning
Can limit our thinking and the way in
which we coach.
>>UNITEC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(Smith, 2014)
>>DEPARTMENT OF SPORT

9. In Conclusion:
• What needs to be priority learning for young
athletes?
• As a coach, how can I develop more formal and
informal play opportunities that will lead to valuable
development?
- and think about what barriers might prevent you from allowing more
informal play in your training sessions
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>>DEPARTMENT TITLE EDIT IN HEADER & FOOTER
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