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INTRODUCTION |
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| This website is created to support
novice and experienced teachers to develop their ability to teach
games. The website is based on the Teaching Games for Understanding approach introduced by Dave
Bunker and Rod Thorpe during the 1980s - see the curriculum model link for
how TGfU was introduced. A key idea of the website is that the teaching
of games should be focused on students learning to play a game. This
means that games lessons must initiate a game play situation as early as
possible in the progression of a lesson. The lesson plan model on
the home page helps
to show this focus with a game defined as co-operative,
competitive or with a scoring system. This game can be with or
without other players, make use of an object or objects, within a
defined area and
conditioned by a simple rule system. When players initially engage in a
game their play needs to be focused by questions from the teacher that helps them
to read
the play of the game, to make decisions about what do and how to do
it, as well as drawing on skill refinements that enable them to play
in the game
better.
In this website a strategy is a way of playing in a game, i.e., in tennis play with consistency hitting the ball high, in soccer pass and move to an open space. A tactic is a way of playing in order to gain an advantage over an opponent, i.e., in tennis serve and volley on grass because the ball stays low, or a fast break in basketball as the opponents tire. Dr Tim Hopper |