Teaching Games for Understanding

Teaching Games for Understanding model focuses on teaching students/children the tactical understanding of a game before dealing with the performance of skills. Game performance is understood as tactical awareness leading to effective skill selection and skill execution. It focuses first on teaching students/children the skills to play the game and then introducing the tactical understanding once the skill base has been developed. The TGFU model explains the “why” of a game before the “how”.  

Within the TGFU model, there are four categories of games:

•        Target
•     Striking/Fielding
•         Net/Wall
•         Invasion/Territorial

Each category covers games that have a similar structure. By exposing students/children to the rules, fundamental skills, and tactical problems associated with the games in each category, students become able to participate in a variety of games. 

In Target-type games, players score by avoiding obstacles to get their objects closer than their opponent’s objects to the target. Students propel an object, with a high degree of accuracy, at a target. Some examples of Target games are: bowling, golf, curling, and croquet. Basically a Target game is any kind of game that emphasizes accuracy and control.

Striking/Fielding type games involve running, striking, throwing, kicking, and catching. Runners hit, kick, or throw an object and then score runs/points by running to a designated area. Fielders retrieve the object and get it to a specified place to stop runs from being scored and to get opponents out. Striking/Fielding games have many aspects to them. Some examples of Striking/Fielding games are: baseball, softball, cricket, and kickball. Basically a Striking/Fielding game is any kind of game that players strike a ball so it eludes defenders.

Net/Wall games involve moving and controlling an object and hitting it within a specified place. Players work to make it difficult for other players to gain possession of the object or to send it back to the wall or across the net. Typically small numbers of players are involved in net/wall games. Some examples of Net/Wall game are: badminton, volleyball, squash, and tennis. Basically a Net/Wall game is any kind of game that propels an object into space so an opponent is unable to make a return. 

Invasion/Territorial type games involve controlling an object, keeping it away from opponents and moving it into a scoring position to score on a target. Some examples of Invasion/Territorial games are: basketball, netball, handball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, football, ultimate frisbee, and water polo. Basically a Invasion/Territorial game is any kind of game that invades an opponent’s territory to score.

A tactical problem is an issue that students or children can face at any point in a game. This happens when students or children are struggling in a specific area of the game. It can be an issue with off the ball movements (preventing scoring) or on the ball movements (scoring). For example: In an Invasion/Territorial type game a group of students or children could be having a difficult time understanding exactly how to score on the opponent’s target. To solve this problem the teacher or leader to break it down into several sections to pin point exactly where the tactical problem arises. Maintaining possession of the ball, attacking the goal, creating space in attack, and using space in attack are all sections that a teacher could review to discover where the tactical problem arises. To solve these tactical problems the teacher can lower the complexity of the game, and start with the basics all over again until the students/children have a better understanding. Some of the basics could include using short passes, shielding the ball, or supporting the player with a ball. In a Net/Wall game a tactical problem could be that students/children are having difficulty propelling the ball or object over the net. In a Striking/Fielding game a tactical problem could be that students/children have difficulty striking a ball all together, they are not able to keep their eye on the ball to make contact. In a Target type game a tactical problem could consist of students/children having problems being accurate to hit the target. For all these tactical problems the key idea is to start with a simple activity and each time make the game or activity a little more complex for the students/children to have a completely better understanding.