Games Approach to Teaching and Coaching Sport

1. Games approach theoretical concepts:

• Process and product orientation
• Teaching games for understanding
• Play-discuss-practice-play model
• Traditional models and the role of the games approach
• Modifying traditional approaches with the games approach
• Applying the games approach in a variety of settings:
• Teaching
• CoachingRecreation leadership
• Sport skills
• Development camps
• Playground

2. Games approach principles:

• Planning for effective play
• Developing the sport sense
• Skill development
• Tactical development
• Decision making and cognitive factors
• Integration of mental skills into play
• Applying games approach principles in other settings
• Categories of the games approach:
• Defining and shaping psychomotor behaviour
• Providing focus and attentional skills in games and activities
• Performance enhancement through the games approach

3. Variables within the games approach:

• Modifying and changing variables to suit individual and group needs
• Session plan models
• Scoring systems
• Rules and methods of ensuring the focus on process and execution
• Designing activities to promote flow and a focus in the moment
• Methods to enhance cognitive processes
• Integration of decision training principles
• Developing court sense or field sense (competition sense, game sense)

4. Pedagogical factors:

• Modification of traditional methods:
• Task approach
• Social approach
• Guided discovery
• Learning progressions
• Whole part whole and variations
• Goal orientation
• Planning and preparation
• Quality and quantity of meaningful practice
• Progression
• Direct and indirect methods
• Positive specific feedback
• Questioning and guiding
• Error detection and correction
• Transferring responsibility from teacher/coach to student
• Individualization
• Group goal setting and planning
• Pacing
• Learning and performance differences

5. Specific applications:

• Invasive sports
• Field
• Court
• Arena
• Non invasive sports
• Divided court games
• Interactive court games
• Striking games
• Target events
• Racing events
• Artistic events
• Combative sports
• Fitness activities

6. Inclusion factors:

• Integration of students with varying abilities
• Adaptations
• Modifications

7. Planning

• Activities
• Warm-ups and cool downs
• Groups or series of activities
• Sessions
• Units and microcycles

8. Role of the teacher and coach

• Leader
• Feedback
• Motivation
• Enjoyment
• Fair play