Transferable Skills

It is helpful to teach games by grouping them into categories with similar tactical problems, rules, and skills. Widening the focus from teaching each individual game independently will help children see the connections of the skills, rules, and strategies associated with the games in each category. As children have an opportunity to participate and experiment with different game tactics they experience success and enjoyment and they develop an intrinsic motivation to continue to build their skills.

With a balanced skills/tactic approach to teaching game, children and youth learn more than just “the rules of the game.” They begin to read  the game by becoming thinking players and learning to react to and deal with the challenge presented in a game situation. This approach to teaching games provides quality opportunities for students and instructors to give and receive feedback. Children will make connections to the game experience and have an opportunity to increase or decrease the challenge of the games. Children who are engaged in the activity and achieve success are more likely to seek out opportunities to be active in the future.

Grouping games and activities into categories can help children see the connections between the game tactics, rules, and skills in each of the game categories below.

Target-Type games (e.g., croquet, golf, archery, curling, bowling)

Target-type games emphasize accuracy and control. Modify challenges by changing target size, distance and equipment, by using stationary or mobile targets and by having the players shoot while stationary or mobile.

Strategies used in target-type games include:

Net/Wall-Type Games (e.g., tennis, 4-square, badminton, table tennis, volleyball)
 

Net/wall-type games involve moving, controlling and hitting an object within a specified space. Players work to make it difficult for opponents to send the object back to the wall or return it across the net. Small groups of children are usually involved in net/wall games.

Strategies used in net/wall-type games include:

Striking/Fielding-Type Games (e.g., baseball, cricket, rounders, softball) 

Striking/fielding-type games can involve running, striking, throwing, kicking and catching. Runners hit, kick or throw an object, then score runs by advancing to designated areas. Fielders retrieve the object and get it to a specified place to stop runs from being scored and to get opponents out. Because of the many aspects of the game, strategy for striking/fielding games can be challenging.

Strategies used in striking/fielding-type games include:

Invasion/Territory-Type Games (e.g., soccer, ultimate frisbee, football, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey).

Invasion/territory-type games involve controlling an object, keeping it away from opponents,  moving it into a scoring position in order to attack a goal (open ended or forced target). Both offensive and defensive players share the same space and attempt to prevent the other team from scoring.

Games can be modified to be simple running games or to use a specified skill (e.g., kicking, throwing). Depending on whether the team has control of the object or not, the team uses offensive or defensive strategies.

Strategies used in invasion/territory-type games include: