Linking the Revised National Standards to Teaching Games for Understanding: An Eighth-grade Soccer Example

Abstract

In the United States it is estimated that over 3 million children and young people currently participate in youth soccer programs. This number has the potential to increase following a surge of interest in the U.S. Men's National Team World Cup performance in Brazil in 2014, and the U.S. Women's National Team World Cup win in Canada in 2015. This is an ideal time to promote the inclusion of soccer in school curriculums and improve the way it is currently delivered. The two main goals of this articles are to (1) highlight reasons why soccer should be included in school curriculums to meet the new National Standards and promote lifelong physical activity, and (2) discuss why a tactical model such as teaching games for understanding (TGfU) is the recommended pedagogical framework for delivering the game-related components for student enjoyment and success.