Game or Drill pt 1

It’s been a hectic day with a trip to London for a judo match with one of the schools I teach at. It was a good match with lots of well fought fights.

Then evening training which was an experience, as my ribs are still painful I ended up doing a light warm up and a bit of shadow Uchi-komi. However it gave me the chance to watch a couple of the boys I train. Not having to worry about teaching allowed me to focus solely on them and their Judo which has left me with lots of ideas to follow up.

Strange that as I was not teaching or trying to train I had a different mindset which meant I was more constructive as a coach – though I had more time I probably said less by focusing on only one or two key points all night.

I received a set of books today for my college course – mainly focusing on speed, agility and quickness drills, strength and explosive power drills and exercises. I will do a critical review of these once I have read them , but in skim reading I saw a number of these drills that have been passed of as Judo games in books and DVD’s.

So today’s question for comment and discussion is when is a game, a game and when is it a drill a game?

Now before I start let me give you some of my background. For over 20 years I earned my living as a professional children’s entertainer and magician. I training people to run birthday parties at McDonald’s throughout the UK. I devised party programmes, games and activities for companies for use in TV Shows, Stage shows and private parties. I have designed and run schools workshops on everything from Hamlet to Circus Skills

I also specialise in Teaching Judo to under 18’s both as a participation coach and a performance style coach. .....so I understand the Modern Child.

I have been to a number of workshops saying they are about Judo Games, there are a number of DVD’s on Judo Games but they are essentially drills and exercises to teach specific skills. Now these are needed and when used well, appropriate - BUT THEY ARE NOT GAMES!

Several DVD’s show adults in workshops loving an exercise but these are workshop games they are not effective regularly – nor are they the sort of things kids request.

Bulldog, Murder Ball, Tag/Tic they are games, things that a child may request to play. So what is a game and how can they be used by a coach?

I use a simple approach to defining a game. They have three conditions

1. A Goal
2. Rules
3. Challenge or task – be this mental physical etc.

Lieberman 2007 defined it as it up as follows:

A rule-based activity involving challenge to reach a goal

In my opinion a Judo Game must meet the following conditions to be practical in a range of classes

1. A game has an objective
2. Has a time scale or restrictive conditions
3. A Challenge or task
4. Defined rules
5. IS FUN
6. If repeated immediately may have a different outcome
7. Age appropriate

Tomorrow I will give you an example or two of games I use and how I adapt them to suit my classes then I will copare then to skill drills

Marc