Teaching Games for Understanding

The Teaching Games for Understanding Model (TGFU) was introduced in the mid 60`s with two main concepts in mind:

1. Increasing the motivation of children by hooking them on a game, then teaching skills that will make them more successful.

2.Providing context to make learning skills and strategies meaningful.

This is achieved through the use of 4 categories of games; Target, Net/Wall, Striking/Fielding, and Territory/Invasion.

Target

In this category, the primary rule, or goal, is to score by getting the object closer to the target than your opponents get theirs. Well doing, this you also must avoid all obstacles. To achieve this, we can use the tactical play within the category, or the principles of play. For "Target," these include aiming at the target and choosing a placement of the object in relation to the target and other obstacles.

Examples of games that would focus on this category include bowling, golfing, and curling.

One tactical problem that can be found in this category is first learning how to find the best spot to aim at the target.

Net/Wall

The primary goal of this category is to score by getting the object into the opponents' area of play more often then they can return the object. Once again, there are specific principles of play that can improve this objective.

-aim for consistency

-choose placement and positioning

-use power and/or spin (for control and disguise)

Games that reflect the ideas in this category include volleyball, tennis, squash and racquetball.

Tactical problem: you can not always choose your placement and positioning. For example, in volleyball, the other team is somewhat in charge of placement as they choose where to hit the ball too.

Striking/Fielding

In this category, there are 3 primary goals to focus on.

1. Score by striking the ball/object and running within safe areas.

2. Prevent opponents from scoring by catching the ball in the air or getting it to a safe area before the batter reaches the safe area.

3. Make it difficult for the opponents to hit the ball. 

For batting, the tactical play relies on scoring runs, hitting the ball for accuracy and distance, and to avoid getting "out."

The players out on the field also have some tactics to remember; stop the opponent from scoring a run, make it difficult for the opponent to strike the ball, and put the batter out.

3 games that use the ideas of this category are baseball, cricket, and softball.

Tactical problem: The player at bat must also look to help out their fellow teammates reach a safe point, such as getting a home run in baseball. 

Territory/Invasion

In the final category, players will focus on two main concepts: scoring by getting the object into the opponents' goal, and preventing the opponents from scoring themselves. The team with the object will attempt to score, invade the opponents' area, and of course keep possession. For those that do not hold the object within their possession, they will prevent scoring, prevent invasion, and of course try and gain possession.

The games in this category include soccer, basketball, hockey, rugby and football.

Tactical problem: In these sort of games, the players must also focus on remembering their own positions on the field and avoid the tactics taken by the other players to prevent their winning.

*ɐssılǝɯ*