Tactical Problem

When teaching fielding games from the TGfU model a large tactical problem is making contact with the ball. In order for to do this skill a requirements is to keep the ball in play (not a foul ball). There are certain games that can be played to help solve this problem.
Pepper is a small easy baseball game, where a group of fielders stand in a line fifteen to twenty feet away from a batter. One side of the line is the front and the other is the back. One of the fielders throws the ball to the batter, who attempts to hit grounders to the fielders standing in the line. When a fielder cleanly plays the ball, he throws it back to the batter who tries to hit the ball again to the fielders. This game works on more skills than just making contact. It also works for improving fielding. If the fielder makes an error trying to pick up the ball, he must move to the back of the line. If the batter hits a foul ball (anything behind him or not at the group) or just misses the ball, he is out and becomes a fielder at the end of the line. The fielder at the front of the line then becomes the batter. If the batter hits a line drive or pop-up to the fielders, whoever catches the ball, switches spots with the hitter.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAN-dbeRZUI

Another easy game to play would be ball juggling on a bat. You hand out as many bats as you have students and have a competition who can keep the ball in the air for the longest. You work on hand eye coordination as well as hitting the ball square on the sweet spot of the bat. Here is a little video where a golf club is used to juggle rather than a baseball bat. It is the same concept of learning the hand eye coordination as the baseball, with just different tools. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oTMosZ76b8

TGfU model

Teaching games for understanding model was introduced in the early 1970's but didn't really take off until the early 1980's and began getting a lot of international attention. The model challenged the traditional way of teaching games and began to shift the focus from a skill base to more of a  tactical base approach. Teaching Games for Understanding provides a learner-centered model of teaching.It is meant to provide learners with an understanding of the technical and tactical skills necessary to be successful in a wide variety of team sports. It also keeps the motivation up which helps with continued participation throughout life. The four different categories discussed in this model are: 1. Target Games, 2. Striking Games, 3. Net/Wall Games, 4. Invasion/Territorial Games.

Target games include archery, bocce, bowling, and billiards. The intent of the game is to send an object to make contact with a specified stationary target/ targets. Hitting the target in fewer attempts than you opponent is key. The playing area is shared.
Striking games include baseball, cricket, and kickball. The object of these games are to make contact with the ball in order to get on base and round the bases to score more runs than your opponents. The field is shared again.
Net and wall games are volleyball, tennis, badminton and squash. Sending the ball/ object over a net trying to place it away from opponents so they can not return it back. Serving is the only time the object is held.

Invasion or territory games are basketball, hockey, football, water polo or ultimate frisbee.The object of this game is to invade the opponents goal to try and score while also defending your goal at the same time.
A tactical problem is a situation where a strategy must be employed in order to overcome the situation. An example of a tactical problem in target games would be the wind is blowing while you are shooting archery and so you must account for the drift the wind would put on the arrow. In striking games, where the defense is playing while you are at bat could help you decide what you choose to do. You could bunt if the infield is playing deep. You could also fake bunt to pull the defense in and then swing at your next pitch. Net and wall games have tactical problems that involve maybe tipping the ball in volleyball rather than spiking it down because the opponents are not covering the short ball behind the blockers. Then finally invasion games. All odd man rushes are examples of tactical problems, for the offense and defense. 

Cooperation Vs Competition

Cooperation and competition has been a debate for many years, but still there is no right or wrong answer in my opinion.

 I feel competition has a very important place in society. Without competition honestly where would we be today? It is a driving force which pushes people to excel and come up with great new innovations and ideas. As for more of a sports view, all elite sports are centered on competition. Every athlete ever to be interviewed after winning the top prize in their respective sport always says they can’t put their emotions into words and it is something they have dreamed about winning since they were small children. It is an end goal that makes all the hard work and sacrifice worth it. I believe competition is healthy and needed to push people further than they thought they could go. As for cooperation all team sports involve it and a good team buys into the system and uses both competition and cooperation as tools to help them reach their end goal. I know I am talking about elite sports here and there is a time and a place for both.

In the case of children in schools, I feel more cooperation could be beneficial to help all students feel more involved in certain games, but I also feel competition is a human trait that some are born with and can’t change. Most can hopefully turn it down and use it in the correct places during life.

There is a time for elite sports but I am not sure exactly when that would be. My best guess would have to be starting in grade 8. Elementary school should be a time for trying out new things and trying to increase participation with cooperative games that force everyone to work together and therefore eliminate the feeling of being left out or last pick. I also feel that physical education shouldn’t be a place where too much competition should exist but it will always be there. It is human nature to try and be the best. As humans we have a tendency to try and classify everything and without competition how would you be able to classify what is a good performance as to what isn’t? This is only my opinion and I feel I am a very competitive person myself and I enjoy my life. I am very comfortable with who I am so that is why I feel the way I do! 

I have attached a little video that has to do with the competition of life as well as cooperation to help others http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM I thought it has some relevance