Game Sense Approach

1. Why I Am Using a
Game Sense Approach
for Teaching My Primary
PE Classes
For Parents
By Ms. Hamad

2. The Australian Government
Sports Commission
The Game Sense Approach is:
 A “method which develops the broader meanings of
sport and physical activity as it focuses on developing
thinking through problem solving and using physical
activity.” (n.d.)
It focuses on:
 Placing “the participant in situation where decision
making and problem solving are central to successful
performance.” (n.d.)

3. The Australian Government
Sports Commission
What is the central strategy for the Game Sense
Approach?
 “The use of questioning to stimulate thinking about the
game instead of using more direct teaching/coaching
approaches.” (n.d.)
How?
 “Games are stopped at regular intervals and
participants challenged to reflect on their participation
in order to mature the play.” (n.d.)

4. NSW Department of
Education and Communities
Curriculum Support
How does the Game Sense apply to sport?
 “The game sense approach categorises team games
into four areas:
 Invasion games e.g. soccer, touch, netball
 Target games e.g. golf, archery, bowls
 Court and net games e.g. volleyball, tennis, badminton
 Striking and fielding games e.g. cricket, softball” (n.d.)

5. NSW Department of
Education and Communities
Curriculum Support
 “Each category [mentioned on the previous slide] has
sports which have similar principles.” (n.d.) Examples
include soccer and football. The objectives include:
 To score at a specific target
 Prevent the other team from scoring by defending your
area
 Have the higher score at the end of the game.

6. The Strengths of the Game
Sense Approach
Strengths include:
 Allowing students to think for themselves/find out on
their own why a sport is played a certain way.
 Allowing students to reflect on different ways a sport
can be played, how it can be improved and how it can
be modified.
 Allowing students to pick up the skills involved in
playing particular sports by figuring out what is more
comfortable, more efficient and more successful.

7. Why I Am Using the Game
Sense Approach
As mentioned in the previous slide there are many
strengths to the game sense approach.
 I am using it because of these strengths. It is a useful
method that challenges children to think about why
sports are played the way they are. It allows students to
question the rules of sports and in turn gives them a
deeper understanding of the game.

8. References
Pill, S. (n.d.). Teaching games for understanding.
Australian Sports Commission. Retrieved from
http://www.ausport.gov.au/sportscoachmag/coaching_
processes/teaching_games_for_understanding
Game sense approach to practical lessons. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 3, 2014, from
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/se
condary/pdhpe/assets/pdf/pa_002.pdf