Teaching Games for Understanding (TGFU)

TGFU is a thematic approach to teaching games.

Students gain the skills and knowledge of a variety of games
associated with four game categories: a) Target (i.e., golf, bowling); b)
Striking/Fielding (i.e., baseball, cricket);
c) Net/Wall (i.e., tennis,
badminton); d) Invasion/Territory (i.e., basketball, soccer).These
categories represent games that are similar in structure.
A unit begins with a mini/modified game; followed by questions and
reflection on strategy and tactical skills needed (this is done by
students prompted by the teacher); then implementation of these
tactics in the mini game; followed by skill development needed for the
game; followed by an associated modified game to reinforce both skill
and strategy
The TGFU approach focuses on understanding the why of games
playing, before the how. Teachers are encouraged to use open ended
questions to help students explore, discover, create, and experiment
with movement and tactical solutions
TGFU encourages students to develop decision making and problem
solving skills which leads to knowing what to do and how to do it in
relation to specific game situations

The Benefits of TGFU

Students are motivated since the initial focus is on playing and not skill
development its fun!
Students understand how strategies are transferable between similar
types of games/sports
Students become thinking players
Improves students game performance
Students feel successful and therefore it builds their self confidence
and enthusiasm

Check It Out On Line

www.playsport.net
TGFU PLAY DISCUSS PRACTICE PLAY
NET/WALL TYPE GAMES
Consistency: - Play Keep It Up or Wall Ball
Keep Up Partners hit the balloon and count how many
consecutive times they
contact the balloon before it hits the floor.
-

Play again but set a goal as a team and try to match or

beat your
goal
Wall Ball - Designate a playing area that includes a wall.
Partners work together
to maintain a rally for as long as possible against a wall.
-

Players can start off by throwing and catching the ball

and then progressively moving to more complex
methods of sending the ball away (e.g. striking with
open hands, striking with paddles).

Discuss What type of position is effective to move in any

direction quickly?
(-Being on the balls of your feet.)
Where should you stand to try to be in position to
receive the ball?
Move into a position that allows you to quickly get to the
ball (i.e. the
recovery position in the middle of the court).
Practice Moving on the balls of your feet around the gym
Play The same game with the goal of keeping it up longer by
moving on the
balls of your feet

Setting Up For Attack PLAY Youve Been Served, Drop It, and Squish
Youve Been Served - Set up on a volleyball court with (3)
hoops on the court,
opposite of the participant lines.
-

The first participant in each line will attempt to toss or

strike and send a ball into one of the target hoops.
When the ball lands in one then it is removed. Play
continues until one line successfully lands a ball in
each of the target hoops

Discuss What made you successful when placing the ball

inside the hoop?
(turn and face the target, follow through to the target)
Practice Using a target spot on the wall to aim for
Play Same game as above, count how many serves it takes to
hit all three
hoops

Drop It Discuss & review tactics used in Keep Up and Wall Ball
-

Start with throw and catch two lines facing each

other on opposite sides of the net. Designate a small
boundary area.

To score a point, ball must bounce inside opponents court. All

throws must be underhand and be thrown immediately from the
place where the ball was caught. Players take turns catching the
ball then sending it over and then running to the end of their
line

Add variation strike ball with hand (underhand serve)

Discuss What are different ways you can make the ball more
difficult to
catch/return? Play it to corners, sides, away from
opponent

What makes a successful underhand throw or serve?

(Preparation Phase: Stand with legs bent, shoulder
width apart with non-

throwing leg slightly ahead; Execution Phase: transfer weight

forward by stepping with non throwing arm leg (rocking horse
action); Follow Through Phase: Body and throwing/striking
arm should follow through in the direction of the target (arm
motion is like the path of a swing).
Practice Serving/tossing a short distance to a partner
Play Play again using the above tactics and techniques
Squish - Two players find a space near a wall. They mark out a
square area
directly in front of the wall, with a line that divides the
square into two
sides. One player stands on each side of the court. The
players, using
their hands as a paddle, hit the ball so that it hits the wall
and bounces
into their opposition's area. The ball must be returned
before the
second bounce and must land in the designated area. A
point is scored
by the other player if this happens.
Discuss - What did you do to score against your opponent?
(hit the ball with
different forces, at different locations on the wall)
-

Using hand as a paddle Preparation: Once you are in

position and behind the ball, turn sideways to the wall.
Have your hand spread out as wide as possible, ready
to hit the ball; Execution: Hit the ball with a flat hand.
The inside of your hand should face where you want
the ball to go. Keep your wrist straight like you are
giving the ball a "high-five", Follow-Through: watch the

ball to see where it goes and get back into ready

position in the middle of the area.
Practice Use the techniques described to practice hitting the
ball against the
wall.
Play Play Squish again using the tactics and techniques
discussed and
practiced

Ready Position Play Get Back & Rotation

Get Back Set up a square with one pylon in each corner and
one in the centre.
Participants take turns starting from the centre pylon,
touching one
corner pylon, returning to the centre pylon send then
touching the next
corner pylon. Participants must face forward at all times,
working on
their ready position each time they return to the middle
pylon.
Groups can race against one another.
Discuss Why is it important to return to the recovery position
after hitting a
shot? (To ensure that you can cover the most space
possible when on
defence
Locomotor Dodging - Preparation: When you
change directions,
bend knees, push off with balls of feet, and use arms to
get going,

Execution: Legs should be springy with most of the weight

on the balls
of your feet, Follow-Through - Spread your feet apart when
you stop to
provide more stability
Practice Moving around the gym in the ready position
responding to the
teachers verbal and non verbal cues
Play Modified Game Play Use Frisbee to play 6 vs 6

Game Play 6 vs 6 Play Modified game toss and catch, rotate

positions after ball is sent
over the net; add a forearm pass
Discuss How did you try to score location, type of throw
What makes a good forearm pass knees bent,
shoulders over knees, belly button behind the ball,
arms straight, contact above the wrist, swing arms
slightly to push ball to target
Practice Forearm Pass partner toss
Play Modified game using forearm pass as 1st touch, catch
and throw the
other touches. Variation add underhand serve.