I would like to start off by thanking you for the year. I have learnt a lot and plan to take a lot of what we have learnt in class and use it in the future. I had a lot of fun in your class, and I think a valuable lesson that might be lost is all the public speaking and rapport that has been built. At the start of the class, most of the students did not know each other, but by the end of it, everyone has became friends in a sense. If I ran into anyone I would feel comfortable saying hello, having a conversation or even going for a coffee. This is not the norm and I think it comes from learning about the Social model and has rubbed off. Even people like Allan, who said he didn't feel like his fit in at the start, has became comfortable in public and has shown great improvements in his presenting skills. As far the models go, I believe they both have a place in teaching. The TSPR model is great for younger children as there can often be a lot of bullying in these classrooms. In older classes, this is also useful as it encourages a lot of good social aspects as well as encourages a life style full of healthy living. The Teaching games for understanding model is a great model and is useful in the athletic domain. This model is great for coaching and I will for sure it in the future when I coach basketball.

Overall, both models have their place in the classroom, and it's a shame that more of my teachers didn't use them when I was growing up. I don't think that either 1 is the complete answer for every class and some classrooms will need more of each but I plan to efficiently combine both into my classroom when I become a teacher.
Thanks for the awesome year.

More TGFU Tactical Games

Game Type: Net / wall games

Tactical problem: Learning to set up for an attack

Game #1: Over the Top

Playing area: in the gym or outside

Safety: No overhand serves permitted and the player that are at the net are aware of the person serving to deflect the ball if it is hit towards them.

Equipment: 1 Gator ball

How to play:

Two players stand in the middle of rectangle on centre line to form the net. Teams are one each side of the net, facing each other. Game begins when Team 1 serves the ball over the net to the other side. Net players must stay on the centre line and attempt to block the serve. Receiving player catches the ball, passes it to his partner and then his partner serves the ball underhand back over the net. Point is scored if ball lands on the floor within the other team’s court. Play continues until ball goes out of bounds, hits the floor, or is intercepted by the net players. Rotate positions (i.e. net players and players) after 5 points are scored by one team or if the blocking pair blocks a serve

Variations:

	Allow one bounce and players use bumping skills and/or setting skills to pass to teammate or to send over the net.
	Modify the number of players.
	Modify the size of playing surface.
	Modify the type of ball (e.g. beach ball or rubber ball). Game #2: You’ve Been Served

Playing area: in the gym or outside on a tennis court

Safety:  make sure that no students are in the path of the balls being served.

Equipment: 6 Hoops, Balls (volleyballs, Gator balls, rubber balls, beach balls, wiffle balls)

How to play:

	Set up on a tennis court with 6 numbered hoops on the court opposite the participant.
	The participant will attempt to strike and send a ball into one of the target hoops.
	Once a ball has landed in one of the hoops, that hoop is now out of play.
	How many serves does it take to hit all 6 hoops? Play a number of times and try to reduce the number of trials it takes to have the ball land in each of the 6 hoops.

Variations:

	Speed Serve: Set a time frame - can you hit all six hoops in under a minute?
	You've Been Served - Badminton Style: How many trials does it take to land a badminton birdie into each of the 6 hoops on a badminton court.
	Defender You've Been Served - A player attempts to defend each of the hoops to avoid ball either landing inside the hoop or returning a serve after it lands inside one of the hoops
	You've Been Served for Points - Assign a point value for each of the hoops ... players try to score as many points as possible with 10 serves ... players are allowed to hit the ball to the same hoop more than once

TGFU Tactical Games

Tactical problem: attacking the goal

Speed Ball

Equipment Playing Area, Basketball hoops, Goals

(benches, hockey nets, etc.), Pinnies, Ball

Rules of Play

• Class is divided into two groups

• Each team has a basketball net at the end line of the

playing area and two goals (bench, hockey net, etc.) for

each end corner of their half of the playing area.

• Teams pass the ball around in the air, like in basketbal(but

no bounce pass).

• If the ball falls to the ground, it is now played as a soccer

ball.

• A player may kick a ball into his or a teammates hands, but

may not pick up the ball.

• If a ball is kicked or thrown into the basket, that team

receives 2 points.

• If a ball is kicked into a corner goal, that team receives 1

point.

• The goal is to score more points than the opponents.

Variations and Progressions

• Number of passes before scoring

• Time limits

• Points (ex.:3 points per basket made, 2 points for goal

scored or ball hitting baskets rim, 1 point for ball hitting

backboard).

• Types of passing.

• Allow ball to touch floor once.

 Noodle Invasion

 Equipment 30 Pool noodles, 3-4 Gator Balls and Pinnies

Rules of Play

• Divide the players up into two equal teams, place them on

opposite ends of a half sized gymnasium and have them

place 15 short pool noodles (10 inches) on each end in a

line.

• Use paper-rock-scissors to see which team will start off

with the ball. The pool noodle targets are to be knocked

down by the attacking team in order to score points.

• No locomotor movement is allowed with the ball, and three

passes must be made before a player can shoot at a

noodle. Players can only use warm defense to defend a

player with a ball and must be at least an arms length

away.

Variations and Progressions

• The addition of a crease in front of the noodles in which

offensive players are not allowed to enter will encourage

passing and setting up plays in order to score.

• Setting a time limit for the amount of time a player can hold

onto the ball and setting a limit on the amount of steps a

player can take when in possession of the ball will increase

the games complexity.

Game Performance Assessment Instrument

A GPAI or Game performance assessment instrument is a very useful tool in instruction or of the necessary skills involved in a specific sport. The assessment consists of a qualitative analysis of an individual’s performance from their skill acquisition during an introduction to a new set of skills in a new or unfamiliar sport. The assessment is produced by focusing on a specific tactical problem in a sport and determining whether or not the student or player on a team has learned skills necessary to solve the tactical issue or issues presented in the GPAI. This determination is usually done with a pre printed evaluation of the skills so that the instructor can write comments on the level of the individuals’ performance and they can also provide a quantitative analysis rating scale (ie 1 to 10) to demonstrate the level of skill related to solving a tactical issue. GPAIs can be beneficial for students and athletes to assess skill levels from a skilled instructional point of view.

The follwing is an example of a GPAI for baseball:

The tactical problems that are assessed are:

Offense:  accuracy and proper form while trying to hit a moving target / timing of when to run from base to base.

Defense: knowing how to close space and read the play based on the batters position/ timing the catch or fielding of the ball to the bases.

Teaching Games for Understanding

The model of Teaching Games for Understanding Comes from the idea of teaching the game first, developing game appreciation, tactical awareness, helping the kids to make decisions and then learning the necessary skills involved in the game to raise performance. The TGFU approach is probably best described by Bunker and Thorpe’s explanation of the model. They describe the model as a “game centered games teaching where the WHY of game playing is taught before the HOW of skills to play the game. This process involves teaching children a modified or simplified game that is suitable for their physical, social and mental development. In such a game children gain an appreciation for the demands of an adult game. This appreciation invites the children to realize tactical awareness of how to play a game to gain an advantage over their opponents. With such a tactical awareness children are capable of making appropriate decisions about "what to do" and "how to do it." For children, increased decision making encourages them to become more aware of the possibilities innate in their game playing. This awareness leads to more meaningful learning for children as they enter into practice situations to develop either a technical or a strategic manoeuvre practiced to gain a tactical advantage”(Bunker and Thorpe, 1986). There are 4 different categories that are involved in the model that Bunker and Thorpe just described: Target, Batting/fielding, Net/Wall, and Invasion/Territory. For this model and each of its 4 categories there are things called tactical problems. Tactical problems are areas of a game that need to be practiced to increase efficiency at the sport. There are 3 components to tactical problem that impact their understanding of the game that they play, these components are space of the object in play and the special awareness of others and game boundaries, the timing of movement and how to create more of it, and the force that would be need to be applied to an object or player in the game.  

Target Games: Are contests between one or more people (teams) that propel a playing piece on or in a target to score points. (Archery, Pool, Darts, Lawn Bowling)Tactical Problem for this category would be: The force that would needed to be applied to the object to reach its target

Batting/Fielding Games: Are competitive contests between one or more ( teams ) that attempt to score runs during innings( no time) so as both are given equal opportunity to score the points during these innings. (Baseball, Cricket, Kickball) Tactical Problem for this category would be: Timing the swing of the bat/ leg to hit/kick the ball

Net/Wall Games: Are contests in which the area of play is divided by a net or shared by both teams in order to put an object into the scoring area where the other team cannot return it. (Volleyball, Squash, Tennis) Tactical Problem for this category would be: Effective return of a serve

Invasion/Territory Games: Are contests in which opposing teams attempt to cross a line or into a goal area to score points (Basketball, Hockey Football) Tactical Problem for this category would be: Producing more space when attacking the goal

 Thorpe, R., Bunker, D., & Almond, L. (Ed.). (1986). Rethinking games teaching. Loughborough: University of Technology, Loughborough.

The Games I Would Play

Elementary Games

Scooter Soccer

Equipment: a soccer ball, indoor soccer nets or cones and as many little scooter boards as there are players

 Playing area: In the gym

Objective of the game: To hit the ball with your feet passed the goalie and score more times than the other team

Game play: The game starts with a coin toss. The winning team starts with the ball at the center of the gym. The players sitting on their scooter board, hit the ball with their feet. They pass it between each another while wheeling around to position them in a scoring opportunity and kick it passed the goalie

Rules:

-          Every player must sit and stay on their scooter board

-          Players use their feet to pass the ball to other players

-          Players can’t grab the ball, just hit it with their feet

-          Goalies can use their feet and hands but must remain on their scooter boards ( a variation if it’s too easy to score is that the goalie doesn’t have to be on a scooter board)

Soccer baseball ( Kickball) 

Equipment:  soft rubber ball, 4 bases or cones

Playing area: grass field

Objective of the game: to run to all the bases and score more runs than the other team

Game play: spit the kids up into 2 groups and designate one as the kickers and one as the fielders. The kickers’ then get pitched the ball by the teacher or other student. The kickers kick the ball and try and run around the bases before the other team tags them out.

Rules:

-          When the kickers kick the ball they must run and touch all the bases before scoring a run

-          If the ball is caught by the opposing team the runner is out

-          The teams change positions when all the player have taken a turn

-          Every player goes until they kick the ball there is no outs or balls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snayA7u1w28

Secondary Games

Ultimate Frisbee

Equipment: 1 Frisbee and 8 cones

Playing area: A large grass field (soccer field) cones are places at the 4 corners and at approx ¼ of the field length from the goal line at each end.

Objective of the game: to pass the Frisbee across the opponents’ goal line and have it caught by your team to score a point. Goal is to have more points that the other team at the end of the game ( timed  or to 15 points)

Game play:  the defensive team throws the Frisbee to the offensive team. Both teams are standing on their goal lines. The offensive team can catch or let the Frisbee hit the ground and then pick it up. The offensive team throws the Frisbee to other players on their team and tries to

Rules:

-          You can’t move when you have the Frisbee

-          If the Frisbee is caught by the other team, is thrown out of bounds, blocked, deflected and hits the ground it considered a turnover and the defense becomes the offense

-          Defense cannot hit the offensive player with the Frisbee, they can only try and block or deflect it when the offensive player tried to throw the Frisbee

-          There is no physical contact in this game for safety reasons

-          The Frisbee must be caught in the goal area before it hits the ground to score a point

-          Once a team scores the Frisbee is turned over to the opposing team

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSfMwoKWcDg

Orbs of the Monarch

This game is a a dodge ball variant that was created by yours truly. If you have any suggestions on how to make the game better , please comment to assist in making this a game that others can play and enjoy.

Playing area: In the gym

Objective of the game:

-           Place one of the three orbs in each of the pedestals in the center of the court by the king or Queen

Equipment:

-          6 large gator dodge balls (one colour)

-          3 smaller balls ( one colour)

-          3 smaller balls( another colour then the other 3)

-          2 indoor hockey nets

-          8 cones ( dependant on size of gym)
-          3 Hula hoops

Players:

-          2 kings (male)

-          2 Queens (female)

-           Minimum of 4 Knights per side

Boundaries: The basketball court lines all around ( half court and sideways if court is too big)

-          Knights have to stay within the castle section up to the cones on their side

-          Kings and Queens can travel anywhere up to the center line on their side of the court

Starting the Game:

-          King and Queen start in the castle and the knights start touching the baseline wall

-          The yellow balls are placed 3 aside at the knights boundary line

-          The orbs start in the teams castle

Rules and strategic implications:

-          Kings and Queens are the only ones that can handle the 3 orbs and place them in the pedestals in the vault at center court (This rule makes the knights on the team work together to formulate offensive and defensive strategy)

-          Kings and Queens can carry and use both the orbs and yellow balls ( gives more scoring opportunity if strategy is used)

-          If a King or queen is struck while in possession of an orb,  it is dropped in the place where they were hit ( Makes the game more difficult for the last royal to collect the dropped orb. Adds to the difficulty)

-          The hockey nets are the castles and protect the King and Queen, Knights cannot use the castle for protection ( gives protection to the valuable kings and queens)

-          The castles can be moved anywhere within the knights playing area but must be done by 2 knights grabbing both sides of the net and moving it , while still trying to protect the King and Queen. If one of the knights that is moving the castle is hit and leaves the game, then the castle must stop movement until another knight takes the other side of the net ( increases strategy in the game)

-          Knights can only use the yellow balls ( Makes for more strategy and critical thinking)

-          You can pass yellow balls among knights , queens, and kings on your team

-          Kings and queens can pass orbs between each other on one team

-          No head shots! If you hit someone in the head you are out ( this rule is for safety of the players)

-          When collecting balls that have gone outside of the playing area you can only take the ones that land on your side of the court. Once you have collected the ball you must return to the baseline wall, touch it and the return into the game. ( by heading to the back wall it gives opportunity for the other players to know that they are coming back into the game. This only happens when the court is too big)

-          If one team monopolizes the yellow balls and the other team has none then a reset is called and the balls are placed back into the starting position ( makes the game fair when one team is down players by eliminating a ball monopoly)

-          If a ball is thrown at you and you catch it, then the person that threw the ball is out -applies to Kings Queens and Knights ( Gives opportunity to a defender to become the attacker if they can use their skill and catch a moving object)

-          If you have a ball in hand you can deflect other balls being thrown at you ( this rule creates defensive and offensive opportunity  and  creates passing.

-          Kings and Queens can deflect with orbs ( Makes it a bit easier for the king or queen to use the ball towards their advantage while defending or attacking)

Suggestions for improvement:

-          Start the kings and queens at the center of the court so they have to run back to their castle and then get their orbs. This would be to eliminate the possibility of them taking all the orbs and placing them on the pedestals before the knights on the other team have a chance to get a ball to tag them out.

-          Create 6 pedestals instead of 3. Instead of 3 pedestals at the center of the court , place 3 at both ends  of the court, in front of the castles. So in order to score you would have to penetrate deeper into the opposing teams’ defensive zone. This would create a larger degree of difficulty to the game making the  players change their strategies and tactics in order to score.