Games as subject-matter for learning in primary physical education

Games has been one of the cornerstones of Physical Education teaching since its earliest inclusion in the school timetable. However, it is an area that is inherently complex and such has often been delivered poorly or without real clarity of purpose. These issues are tackled head on in this chapter. To support the practitioner in creating intelligible competitive games that match players’ skilfulness and maturity, the chapter deconstructs sporting forms of games into games as subject-matter for learning. Subject-matter for learning focuses attention on the learning experiences that can be developed through playing games. This includes examining the tactical problems competitive games pose, solutions to these tactical problems and the associated skilfulness needed to enact these solutions. These game constructs are employed to utilise this understanding to permit more explicit understanding of ways to develop technical competence and decision-making within game play.

Citation

Ward, G. (2022) Games as subject-matter for learning in primary physical education, in Griggs, G. and Randall, V. (Eds.) An Introduction to primary physical education. Abingdon: Routledge.

Type

Chapter in book

Language

en

Description

This is an accepted manuscript of a chapter published by Routledge in An Introduction to Primary Physical Education edited by Gerald Griggs, Vicky Randall on 08/02/2022, available online at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003257783 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.

ISBN

9781003257783

Collections

Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre