The Game Sense Approach

Hayley Lihou
17998156
 What is Game Sense?

What is
Game Sense is an innovative approach to teaching PDHPE. It is a student centered,
inquiry-based approach that allows students to develop their fundamental movement
skills through active participation of games. Game
Sense?
Traditionally, PDHPE is taught by teaching students the fundamental movement
skills and then these skills are put into practice through games or
participating in sports. Game Sense teachers students fundamental movement
skills by teaching students the game/sport first.
 What is Game Sense?
Students participate in modified games that build on fundamental
movement skills that they can transfer to the specific sport.

Games Sense categories team games into 4 categories based

on the physical characteristics of the game. These are identified
in the PDHPE syllabus as:

• Invasion games – soccer, netball

• Target games – golf, archery
• Court and Net games – volleyball, tennis
• Striking and Field games – cricket, softball
 What is Game Sense?
The below diagram is the proposed model by Bunker and Thorpe (1982) that represents
What is
the steps involved in the Game Sense approach. This model indicates that learners
should firstly be capable of understanding the context of the particular game and then
form an appreciation of the game. Game
Sense?
 Why Use Game Sense in Schools?

What is
According the NSW Board of Studies PDHPE Syllabus (2007) students should be
using the skills of problem solving, interacting, moving, decision making and communicating

Game
throughout their PDPHE experiences. The Game Sense approach allows students to use
these skills to aid in their student – centred learning. Having these skills are not only important

Sense?
in Game Sense but are important in everyday life situations.

Game Sense also provides students with the ability to contribute to their learning and making
decisions on their own, to benefit not only their own experiences of games but those
around them.
Links to the Syllabus
Communication COS1.1
Communicates appropriately in a variety of ways.

Decision Making DMS1.2

Makes decisions as an individual and as a group member.

Problem Solving PSS2.5

Uses a range of problem-solving strategies.

Games and Sport GSS2.9

Participates and uses equipment in a variety of games and modified sports.
 Strengths of sing Game Sense
• Greater verbal and non-verbal interactions between
Infographic Designed
peers.
Easy to change colors, photos and Text.
• Students are able to experiment, use decision making
and problem solving skills.
• Scaffolding of the game allows for the game to be
made easier or harder to better suit the students.
• Students fundamental movement skills develop as
the games become more advanced
• Game Sense is based around student experience
and their reflections
• It is a fun way to learn new fundamental movement
skills while also improving students social interactions
 References
Board of Studies, NSW. (2007). Personal Development, Health and Physica
l Education K‐6 Syllabus. Sydney: Board of Studies. Retrieved from
http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/go/personal‐develop
nt‐health‐and‐physical‐ education‐pdhpe

Bunker, D., & Thorpe, R. (1982). A model for the teaching of games in the
secondary school. Bulletin of Physical Education, 10, p. 9-16.

Light, R., Ebooks Corporation, & MyiLibrary. (2013). Game sense pedagogy
for performance, participation and enjoyment (Routledge studies in
physical education and youth sport). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon;
New York: Routledge.