Informing the Coaching Pedagogy of Game Modification in a Game Sense Approach with Affordance Theory

Abstract

The Game Sense coaching approach is founded on expectations of game-based practice as the game (or game form) becomes the focus and starting point of practice. The theory of affordances, a conceptual pillar of ecological modelling of perception and action in sport leading to a constraintsled game design perspective, provides a basis for understanding the modifying and adapting games as a pedagogical emphasis of the Game Sense approach. We review affordance theory leading to a demonstrated application of constraints-led learning in Touch Football. We conclude with the proposition of constraints-led game design as a logical semantics for the game-based practice assumptions of the Game Sense approach. This paper demonstrates the potential of affordance theory as a means of analysis of the task dynamics of Touch Football to inform a Game Sense coaching perspective for the sport.