Pre- sport games are a phase prior to an individual’s approach to competitive physical activity, as are almost all sports .
Pre-sport games have a link with sports, beyond the mere performance of aerobic movement: in each case, the typical movements of that sport are started , whether it be the body or with a ball or other object.
Pre-sport games in education
The idea is that through these games a person who is not completely familiar with a sport will join their practice. Particularly in the physical education of children, pre-sport games play an important role: it is clear that at that age it is healthy for them to exercise physically in school, but they do not necessarily need the motivation given by the competition, the underlying idea is that they have the possibility of doing physical activity for a fundamentally recreational and social issue .
One of the fundamental premises on which pre-sport games are based is that most sports set rules that are too strict: due to the very nature of sports competition, it is often the case that achievements become difficult.
When it comes to beginners, this can become very overwhelming, since the difficulty of achieving the goal is added to the attempt of blocking by the rivals, so the sport can become stressful. In pre-sport games, on the other hand, the relaxation of the rules means that, without losing the condition of adversaries, the two participating teams have the possibility of developing cooperative, rather than competitive, strategies.
Often accustomed to taking highly competitive games as a reference , children may not enjoy a much slower and less demanding activity as much as a pre-sport game.
Therein lies the merit of the teacher or responsible organizer of the pre -sport game: revaluing the playfulness of the sport , beyond the existence of a winner and a loser. It is recommended that the teacher provide liberties and possibilities so that the game adapts to the needs and individualities of the players: precisely there is the main characteristic of pre-sport games, absent in formal sports.
Examples of pre-sport games
Here is a list that names and briefly explains some pre-sport games, with their associated sport:
- Medium (soccer): In a round, players must pass each other without the one (or those) in the middle being able to intercept them
- Football (soccer): Similar to baseball, but with the initial launch of the foot. More complicated when the players already have experience in the sport.
- Pass 10 (Basketball): Players of a team must pass the ball ten times without being intercepted.
- Two at a time (soccer): several players play ‘passing’ the ball. When you pass it you must say a number (1, 2, 3, 4) and the receiver must touch it that number of times, saying at the same time a word of that number of syllables. The indispensable quality of thinking is practiced while playing.
- Blind net (volleyball): the net is placed somewhat higher, and a cloth is placed that prevents the vision of what is happening in the rival area.
- Bowckey (hockey): Bowling-style sticks are placed, but must be knocked down by hitting with the hockey shot.
- Ball game hunters (integral): One team must pass the balls with any part of the body, the other must intercept them.
- Against all (volleyball): two crossed nets are placed, with four players (or teams). Everyone plays against everyone, throwing the ball and protecting their field.
- Canal + (handball): The arc is divided into several sections, each with different scores.
- Crazy passes (basketball and handball): with a number of balls almost equal to that of players, you must be passing faster and faster, without anyone ever having two balls at a time.
- Back to back (basketball): positioned like this, one team must wait for the teacher’s order to try to avoid the other and reach a line, biting the ball.
- Knowing my racket (table tennis): the children are placed in rows; at the signal of the whistle they will go out in pairs walking between obstacles and in the last one they will perform a squat, balancing with the ball on top of the racket, they will return in the same way and will give the racket and ball to the partner who plays it.
- Cone-goal (handball): The attacking team passes the ball until one is in a favorable position to shoot at one of the cones and touch it. In this way a goal is achieved. Each player may touch the ball a maximum of three consecutive times.
- Rats and Mice (Athletics): Participants placed in two rows in the center of the field, one row will be called RATS and the other will be called MICE. The teacher tells a story in which from time to time RATS or MICE appear. When it says RAT, the mice run off towards the end of the field. All those who have been intercepted will change sides.
