TGFU Specialist Inservice 2

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 – it’s 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 à PLAY à DISCUSS à PRACTICE à PLAY

NET/WALL TYPE GAMES

Consistency: - Playà 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

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).

Discussà 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 à Moving on the balls of your feet around the gym

Play à The same game with the goal of keeping it up longer by moving on the

balls of your feet

Setting Up For Attack – PLAY àYou’ve Been Served, Drop It, and Squish

You’ve 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 à What made you successful when placing the ball inside the hoop?

(turn and face the target, follow through to the target)

Practice à Using a target spot on the wall to aim for

Play à Same game as above, count how many serves it takes to hit all three

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 opponent’s 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 à 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 à Serving/tossing a short distance to a partner

Play à 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 à - 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 à Use the techniques described to practice hitting the ball against the

Play à Play Squish again using the tactics and techniques discussed and

practiced

Ready Position – Play à 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 àWhy 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

à 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 à Moving around the gym in the ready position responding to the

teachers verbal and non verbal cues

Play à Modified Game Play – Use Frisbee to play 6 vs 6

Game Play – 6 vs 6 –Play à Modified game – toss and catch, rotate positions after ball is sent

over the net; add a forearm pass

Discuss à 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 à Forearm Pass – partner toss

Play à Modified game using forearm pass as 1st touch, catch and throw the

other touches. Variation – add underhand serve.