Layering Games

Helena Baert

Mini-Conference

2015

Physical Literacy

‘Physical literacy is defined as the development of fundamental movement skills and

fundamental sports skills that permit a child to move confidently and with control, in a wide

range of physical activities, rhythmical (dance) and sport situations.”

(PHE Canada, Canadian Sport for Life)

TGfU

• Teaching Games for Understanding (Tactical):

• Bunker & Thorpe in the 1980s

• Works within the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains

• Focuses on developing understanding of what to do and why (tactics) before how(technique)

• modified small-sided games (3v3)

Basic Concepts

• Teach games through games: learning is an active process• Break games into their simplest format, then increase

complexity (layering): learning is developmental and takes time

• Students are intelligent performers in games: learning is contextual

• Every learner is important and involved: learning is a social activity

• Learners need to know the subject matter: Learning involves language

• Match skill and challenge: motivation is critical in learning

Stages of Game play

• Stage 1: Control of an object - isolation!!!

• Stage 2: Combining skills

• Stage 3: Offensive and defensive skills

• Stage 4: Modified and full games

Steps of teaching games

• Setting the game conditions

• Preparing to play

• MOVE: Initial game play

• THINK: Tactical Talk

• LEARN: Skill/Fitness practice

• MOVE: Application of skills and knowledge of the game

• Review (review tactical solutions, calm down)

Game Categories

• Skill development and fitness games

• Net and wall games

• Striking and fielding games

• Invasion or Territorial games

• Target games

Net/wall games Example

• Tactical progressions: players score a point by propelling an object over an obstacle or off a wall in such a way that it remains in the playing area and the opposing team can’t return it

• Offensive progressions: maintaining a rally, moving the opponent to set up the attach, attacking an open space to score a point

• Defensive progressions: ready positions, positioning, covering the playing area

Setting the game conditions

Players: 1v1

Space: gymnasium

Formation: 1v1 in grid space

Equipment: 4 cones per pair, 1 tennis ball per pair

Tactical problems:• Defense: to cover space

• Offense: To move opponent and score points

• Skills: assuming ready position, moving to receive, propelling and passing

• Primary rule: the ball must bounce once before it is caught

• Secondary rule: ball must be lobbed underhand

Layering Games

• Layer 1: Space

• Layer 2: Cooperative rally

• Layer 3: Cooperative / Offense and defense

• Layer 4: Competitive / Offense and Defense: Layer 5: Modifications:

– allow striking

– modify the space

– 2v2

Tactical Questions

• L1: How do you move your body to maintain control of the ball?• L2: Where do you move the ball to maintain the rally?• L3: How do you move the ball to make it easier/harder on your partner?• L3: Where do you move after you hit the ball?• L4: Where do you need to hit the ball to score a point?• L5: How does striking the ball change the game?• L5: How does changing the court change the game?• L6: How did you communicate with your partner? • Generic: What skills do you need to work on?• Generic: What are the fitness requirements of this game?• Generic: How are you going to improve your skills?• Generic: What can help you?• Generic: How can this game be improved?

Invasion

Let’s do this one together!

1. What will be the tactical goal?

2. Game Settings

3. Layers

4. Skill / Fitness Development

5. Tactical Questions

National Standards

• S1.E15.5a/b: Throwing with accuracy in dynamic situations

• S1.E16.5a/b: Catches with accuracy in dynamic situations

• S2.E1/E2 for Grade 4/5: Applies and combines movement concepts in game play

• S2.E5.5a: Applies offensive and defensive tactics in invasion games

• S2.E5.5b: Applies offensive and defensive tactics in net/wall games

Resources

• PHE Canada: Move Think Learn (Free Download) – Archery / Badminton / Canoe & Kayak / Cycling / Ringette / Soccer Grades 4-6 / Soccer in Focus Grades 7-9 / Softball / Squash / Team Handball http://www.phecanada.ca/resources/move-think-learn/download

• FMS: Learning to Train Stage (Grade 4-8) –CAN$40

• FMS: Beyond the Fundamentals – A Games Approach – CAN$40

More Information

Helena Baert

2107 Park Center

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, NY, 13045

Helena.baert@cortland.edu