The group of invasion games is the most complex out of all games categories. It includes sports such as basketball, football, hockey, and soccer. While the required skills for each sport differ, the tactical problems remain very similar in that players will move up the court/pitch/surface to take an object to a hoop/goal/end zone.

The teaching of invasion games has been the focus of discussion in recent teaching methods, such as Teaching Games for Understanding. This method suggests that...

For those teachers and coaches working with youth, it is important that we teach fundamental movement skills.  Within Saskatchewan's physical education curriculum there are 26 movement skills that we need to focus on in grades 1-5.  On page 26 of each curriculum guide all of these skills are listed.  Within that list you will see letters that represent the four levels of skill.  When it comes to assessing movement and providing formative feedback to the youth, we need to understand these...

This downloadable resource was co-created by 27 pre-service elementary teachers from the University of Regina.  Each of the movement skills within this resource is directly connected to Saskatchewan's physical education curriculum for grades one to five.  Teaching points for each movement skill coincide directly with indicators at a control level of skill.  This resource is certainly a great support to elementary physical educators, coaches, and parents as we all work to enhance the physical...

How often have you heard students or athletes say, “I am tired”?  As we work alongside children and youth around physical activity and physical fitness it is important to understand what tired really means.  The Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale is not something that is new to physical educators or coaches.  We have simply offered a simplified version that works with a 5 level scale.  At different times, students/athletes will be at different levels.  The intent of the poster is to help...

Jim Grove is a senior contributing editor at Active for Life.  Grove’s article entitled, The one crucial thing missing from your kid’s education: physical literacy, brings light to the importance of unstructured play for children and youth.  Focusing on fundamental movement skills at an early age while engaging children and youth in many movement opportunities are certainly beneficial in developing physical literacy levels.  Read Article

In “Coaching Tips” we sit down with Bob Maltman, head coach of the University of Regina women’s soccer team, to acquire some ideas around coaching children and youth in a team sport.  Bob has over 25 years of coaching experience, coaching provincial teams and of course university athletes.  He has also spent a great deal of time coaching children and youth ages 4 to 12 years old. 

As a coach of a team sport, you will certainly benefit from hearing Bob’s message on engagement, planning...

Teaching Games for Understanding - Activity Support Package is a terrific resource from OPHEA.  This resource provides various small-sided games that will help kids understand common concepts in many traditional sports.  The intent is to teach concepts rather than specific sports.  

Games are separated into four categories:  Target, Net/Wall, Striking, and Invasion/Territorial.  Educators, coaches, and program coordinators can all use this valuable resource to support the physical literacy...

Golden Ball is a game created to work on tactics and strategies involved in invasion/territorial games.  Create or alter “Safe Zones” to add a different twist to the game.  Similar in some ways to Crossover, Golden Ball encourages engagement by all and allows students to see success.  This game can be modified to play with students in grade 3 to grade 12.  

It is really simply indeed.  Teaching the fundamental movement skills opens up many doors for kids.  Sport, physical activity, free play will become even more enjoyable if kids are proficient with movement.  This will not only lead to increased physical well-being, but also the social and emotional well-being of our youth.  Sometimes kids say it best.  This video touches on the importance of learning the fundamental movement skills. 

Two more resources:

·      Created by the Canadian Sport...

When it comes to developing the physical literacy levels of youth we must always consider improving the social, emotional, and physical well-being.  Improving one’s physical fitness levels is part of enhancing the physical well-being of youth.  Within Saskatchewan’s physical education curriculum there is a focus on the Active Living goal.  This goal emphasizes the need to enhance each of the components of health-related fitness. 

No Equipment Necessary provides a number of exercises that...