Nonlinear Pedagogy and the Athletic Skills Model: The Importance of Play in Supporting Physical Literacy

This book offers an ecological conceptualisation of physical literacy. Re-embracing our ancestry as hunter gatherers we gain a new appreciation and understanding of the importance of play, not only in terms of how children learn, but also in showing us as educators how we can lay the foundations for lifelong physical activity. The concept of physical literacy has been recognised and understood throughout history by different communities across the globe. Today, as governments grapple with the multiple challenges of urban life in the 21st century, we can learn from our forebears how to put play at the centre of children’s learning in order to build a more enduring physically active society.

This book examines contemporary pedagogical approaches, such as constraints-led teaching, nonlinear pedagogy and the athletic skills model, which are underpinned by the theoretical framework of Ecological Dynamics. It is suggested that through careful design, these models, aimed at children, as well as young athletes, can (i) encourage play and facilitate physical activity and motor learning in children of different ages, providing them with the foundational skills needed for leading active lives; and (ii), develop young athletes in elite sports programmes in an ethical, enriching and supportive manner.

Through this text, scientists, academics and practitioners in the sub-disciplines of motor learning and motor development, physical education, sports pedagogy and physical activity and exercise domains will better understand how to design programmes that encourage play and thereby develop the movement skills, self-regulating capacities, motivation and proficiency of people, so that they can move skilfully, effectively and efficiently while negotiating changes throughout the human lifespan.

James Rudd is a senior lecturer in Physical Education at Liverpool John Moores University, UK; his research interests are in the areas of pedagogy, child development and motor learning.

Ian Renshaw is an associate professor of Human Movement and Sports Science at Queensland University of Technology, Autralia.

Geert J.P. Savelsbergh is head of the Motor Learning & Performance section of the Amsterdam Movement Sciences & Institute for Brain and Behaviour at the Vrije Universteit, Netherlands.

Jia Yi Chow is currently the Associate Dean, Programme and Student Development, with the Office of Teacher Education (OTE), National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

Will Roberts is a senior lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, and Academic Course Lead for the MSci/BSc in Sport Coaching Science at the University of Gloucestershire, UK.

Daniel Newcombe is a senior lecturer on the Sport, Coaching & PE degree at Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Keith Davids is professor of Motor Learning in the Sport & Human Performance research group at Sheffield Hallam University, UK (2014 onwards), investigating skill acquisition, expertise and talent development in sport.