The original TGfU task force was formed after the first TGfU conference (August 2001, New Hampshire, USA). A proposal for the task force was welcomed by AIESEP, and a meeting was held at the 2002 AIESEP Convention (La Caruna, Spain). A group of ten members were elected to this task force, and ultimately, the group created spaces for five more seats to obtain broader international coverage, encompassing 5 continents and 12 countries. The International TGfU Task Force (2002-2008) evolved into the first AIESEP Special Interest Group (SIG) (2009-present)
Our mission is to foster a deeper understanding of game-based approaches, and empower physical educators, coaches, and learners through teaching and coaching methodologies that prioritize the “why” and “how” of games rather than just the “what”—thereby making physical education and sport more engaging, meaningful, and inclusive for everyone. Our aim is to establish a globally representative group of institutions and individuals committed to the promotion and dissemination of scholarly inquiry around ways of knowing, learning and teaching through game-based approaches.
Our vision is to revolutionize physical education and sport through the global adoption of game-based approaches. We aim to broaden international cooperation and understanding among teachers, coaches, researchers, students and institutions of the world through best practice, critical educational and research collaborations and exchanges. Through our advocacy, research, and community-building efforts, we seek to ensure that game-playing becomes a lifelong journey for all individuals, regardless of ability or background.
Our aims are to address global challenges in the field such as language, terminology, practical and cultural interpretations, philosophical and theoretical differences, and the dissemination of information through national and international organizations.
Since its inception, the TGfU SIG has engaged in collective efforts within physical education and sport, to ensure that all players can experience the profound benefits of understanding and playing games. Indicative, the SIG has produced work related to:
- The integration of game-based approaches into physical education programs and curriculum units.
- Collaboration with sports organizations and clubs to promote athlete development through game-based approaches.
- Academic research and publications supporting the pedagogical relevance of TGfU for physical education teaching and sport coaching.
- International conferences and workshops that have brought together academics and practitioners to discuss and share game-based teaching and coaching practices and ideas.
Whether you’re a teacher, coach, researcher, or advocate, the Teaching Games for Understanding SIG invites you to collaborate, share, and learn with a global network dedicated to changing the way we think about and teach gam
For more information about the TGfU SIG or to get involved with one of our latest projects, check out our website www.tgfu.info
Game-Based Consensus Statement
The TGfU SIG recognizes increasing confusion, particularly among teachers and coaches, of the need for a common language to describe a type of pedagogy that reflects alternative models created to address the need described by Bunker and Thorpe (1982). A wide variety of generic terms (e.g., tactical models, alternative models, etc.), and also specific approaches (i.e., TGfU) have been used to refer to these pedagogical approaches, which have been creating confusion among scholars and practitioners. In particular the two terms, game-centered approach and game-based approach, are interchangeably used in literature. After an extended valuable discussion and dialogue, it is believed that this is the time to make a consensus agreement to use one term. In order to shift our attention to a pedagogical focus, we have decided that the term “Game-Based Approach” can better highlight the learner-centred feature of these pedagogies where the learner is the centre of the learning process through extensive participation in games.
Our Consensus Statement:
“In order to promote terminological consistency among researchers and practitioners, the TGfU SIG suggests the use of Game-Based Approach (GBA) to refer to the learner-centered teaching and coaching practice in which the modified games set the base and framework for developing thoughtful, creative, intelligent, and skillful players.
The TGfU SIG also encourages the use of Game-Based Approaches (GBAs) to refer to several well-established approaches that follow a GBA like TGfU, Game Sense, Play Practice, Tactical Games Model, Ballschool, Invasion Games Competence Model and other similar proposals.”
For more information:
- Gambles, E-A.F. and Gutierrez, D. (2023) An International Consensus on Terminology: Game-Based vs Game-Centred. Physical Education Matters, 18(2), pp.59-61.
- Gutierrez, D. and Koekoek, J. (2023) Moving from TGfU to ‘Game-Based Approach’ as the Collective. In S. Pill, E-A. F. Gambles and L.L. Griffin (eds.) Teaching Games and Sport for Understanding(pp. 196-207). Routledge.
Thinking about joining?
If you are interested in game-based approaches and wish to join us, please email Ellen Gambles, TGfU SIG Treasurer and Communications Coordinator at: tgfu.info@gmail.com. We are active on social media and you can follow us using the links on our newsletter and on Twitter/X @TGfUInfo.
Members Portal:
Membership of the TGfU SIG brings benefits such as access to our website Members Only content. This gives our members priority access to the latest research and practice, 12 months before our wider community.
News:
With SIG members in over 25 countries world-wide, we welcome hearing from our international community. If you have news relating to Game-Based Approaches in Physical Education and sport, please send your information to our Executive Board at: tgfu.info@gmail.com for inclusion on our website and/or social media channels.
Awards:
The Len Almond Lecture Award was inaugurated at the TGfU 40th Anniversary conference held in January 2023. This award is presented to distinguished scholars in the field of game-based approaches. It was named in honour of the lifetime contribution from Len Almond, a past Chair of the TGfU SIG and a member of the influential group at Loughborough University who devised the game-based approach, TGfU.
Our Events:
We hold regular international conferences (every 4 years) and 1 day symposium and workshops prior to the AIESEP Congress. These events are hosted to disseminate the latest GBA theory and practice from students, teachers, coaches and academics from around the world.
Recent International Conferences:
- 2012 (14-16th July) – Loughborough, UK. Sponsored by Loughborough University.
- 2016 (25-27th July)- Cologne, Germany. Sponsored by German Sport University.
- 2023 (28th January)- 40th Anniversary Conference. Sponsored by the TGfU SIG Executive Board
Recent AIESEP Pre-conference Symposiums:
- 2018 (24th July) Edinburgh, UK. Sponsored by AIESEP and organised by Linda Griffin.
- 2021 (7th June) Banff, Canada, online. Sponsored by AIESEP and organised by Don Vinson.
- 2023 (4th June) Santiago de Chile. Sponsored by AIESEP and organised by Jeroen Koekoek
- 2024 (13th May) Jyvaskyla, Finland. Sponsored by AIESEP and organized by Aspasia Dania and Jeroen Koekoek.
Online Resources:
Our site provides access to our newsletter, blogs, resources, publications and webinars. We also have expert discussion video content on our YouTube channel.
We are always looking for contributions from our community to our guest blog (www.tgfu.info/blog) and webinars. If you are interested or would like more information contact Ellen Gambles, TGfU SIG Treasurer and Communications Coordinator at: tgfu.info@gmail.com
Example publications:
Our website resources include details for scholarly materials such as journal articles and other publications in the field of game-based approaches. We provide information of publications in non-English languages in addition to those in English, and where more general publications of sport and PE have chapters on GBAs. Please contact us (Email: tgfu.info@gmail.com) to advise us of appropriate publications for inclusion.
Butler, J. (2016) Playing Fair. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Butler, J. and Griffin, L. (2005) Teaching Games for Understanding: Theory, Research and Practice. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Butler, J. and Griffin, L. (2010) More Teaching Games for Understanding: Moving Globally. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Cavalli, D.P. (2008) Didáctica De Los Deportes De Conjunto. Editorial Stadium.
Launder, A. (2001) Play Practice: The Games Approach to Teaching and Coaching Sports. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Light, R. (2013) Games Sense: Pedagogy for Performance, Participation and Enjoyment. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Mitchell, S. and Griffin, L. (2021) Lifetime Contributions in Physical Education: Celebrating the Lives and Work of Len Almond (1938-2017) and Joy Butler (1957-2019). Radstock, UK: Scholary.
Pill, S. (2021) Perspectives on Games-Based Coaching. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Pill, S., Gambles, E-A. F. and Griffin, L. (2023) Teaching Games and Sport for Understanding. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Weeldenburg, G., Zondag, E. and de Kok, F. (2016) Spelinzicht: Een Speler- En Spelgecentreerde Didactiek Van Spelsporten. Zeist, Nederland: Jan Luiting Fonds
