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Are you game enough? Lead up games for team sports

Focus area: Physical Education
Audience: 8-16 years
Software application: HTML, Flash and XML

These interactives focus on the strategy and "game play" of team sports. They provide fun and engaging resources for teachers and students in the area of Team Sports through providing, information and ideas for warm-ups and games, motivation to participate in the activities, individual teaching for the students and a tool to promote strategic thinking oriented approaches to team sports.

This learning object recognises that learning PE does not always need to be on the playing field. Some children learn from watching, to gain an initial level of confidence before they are required to perform. Understanding rules is an important concept for children, who even in the playground will invent rules for games. Children who are less inclined to participate in sport can be encouraged if they know the rules.

This learning object encourages students and their teachers to investigate and choose new games to learn that contain transferable skills. Children can prepare for learning new games without having to take undue risks. This learning object teaches rules, strategies and encourages students to be â€œsport wiseâ€ in approaching games. A technical aspect of the innovativeness of this learning interactive was the use of 3D models as players within a "game" and the engines that allow for a student to make unrestricted choices within a "real time" game scenario. These type of choices allow for students to clearly develop tactical and analytical thinking based on what is happening at that exact moment, much more in line with how it would be on the field.

Objects in this family

Knockout

The game is made up of two teams, and played either as a one or two player game. The aim of the game is for the blue team to get out the red team in the shortest amount of time and before they run out of balls. The blue team must pass the ball among themselves to get the best opportunity for hitting the red player with a ball. If the ball is thrown out of the field, the blue team loses a ball. This interactive encourages team play and strategic thinking for sports like Netball and Basketball.

Best Option

For Soccer, Water Polo, Hockey, Netball and Lacrosse, the student is required to identify the 'best option' from a particular team based scenario, examine the positions of the team-mates and opponents and select the player they deem most suitable as the recipient of the pass.

Goal Hungry

Presented with a scenario, the student is given a choice of three options, usually for passing the ball, this option is played out leaving the field of play in another position with a further three option to choose from. The goal is to score - but there are many other outcomes that can be achieved from losing a goal to 'safe' positions.

Warm Up Drills

A collection of animated warm up skills. Where appropriate the animation either displays the action from overhead in the case of Zig-Zag Run, or from the side view in the case of Cone Sprint. Based on real video footage, the animation of each skill provides the best possible chance for a successful transfer into real life warm-up drills, as an animation will be able to demonstrate the full flowing action of the skill. These skills are supported by written instructions and playback controls.

Mod Rules

The student picks one of the games especially designed to improve key skills applicable to a variety of sports. How each of the games is played is shown through animated sequences with commentary and supporting text. With an understanding of the goals, strategies and rules of the game, they are able to play the game themselves in real life. The equipment required, learning outcomes and a summary of the rules are available to be printed for those without a computer at court side!