If you have coached sport or taught physical education you will most probably be familiar with the question, "when can we have a game?" Reflecting on my most enjoyable sport practice sessions and some of the best lessons I have taught or coached in team sports, inevitably, they were where we had a game and those who were playing, were able to participate at a level which was skilful. By skilful, I mean, the players could perform the skills reasonably consistently and fluently and in addition had some feel for the tactics and strategies of the game. The reverse of these situations was when the game, including rudimentary tactics and prolonged periods of play without errors, was not achieved. For example, the first time kids arrive for a game of volleyball; the looks of anticipation and excitement soon turn to boredom as they find that they cannot play because they do not have enough skill. They soon discover that learning skills, to reach the point where they can actually start to play something that looks and feels like volleyball, takes so long that they would rather play something else.

I have seen this look of anticipation and excitement on students turning up to play hockey. They may have seen the game on television and wondered what it would be like to run fast with the ball, pass and receive it, dodge past players and score goals. To employ tactics such as quick passes, keeping possession, defending and enjoying the feeling that comes from playing a game well.

However, traditionally, hockey has been taught to beginners in a manner that does not allow this to happen. It has been introduced from a strictly skill based perspective. How to hold the stick. How to push, trap and dribble the ball all in isolation from anything that might resemble the game of hockey that motivated their attendance at the session to learn hockey in the first place. If they are lucky they might get a game at the end. However even then what they do doesn't feel like what they had seen on television and imagined what it would be like to play hockey.

Well not anymore!

The Stick2hockey programme, that I have trialed with young novices and older players, is a series of lessons and activities which, from the very first game, has the feel of hockey played fast and vigorously. It has lots of passing and tactics, and almost anyone can play at this level. It also, right from the beginning, employs tactics to build an understanding of the game.

The games lead to skill practices, which after a few minutes of rehearsal, the players can come back and use in the game. Importantly, the skills are refined within the context of the game. The games make sense of the skills and vice-versa.

Tactical games: In tandem with the hockey games are a series of tactical games, which are great fun in their own right and provide the motivation for more skill development.

TGfU Decision-making

The tactical approach challenges the players to think about the game and develop an understanding of how to win, defend and how to exploit game situations. This approach to instruction, reaches learners who often find games boring because they have never developed the requisite techniques to apply tactical and strategies. The teaching approach is called Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU). The methodology encourages players to develop tactical knowledge and skills while participating in a game. This philosophy is at the heart of the Stick2hockey programme.

Ultimately'Stick2hockey,' is a lot of fun.