A Study on the Characteristics and the Classification of “Ball Games”

An Analysis of the Course of Study for Lower Secondary Schools

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to make clear how to grasp the characteristics of “ball games, and to classify each ball game according its grasp, by examining the chronological changes of the objectives of “ball games” in “physical education” and the related content system in the course of studies for lower secondary schools since 1958. In addition, the problems addressed in this study were examined in accordance with the morphology of ball games in order to suggest concerning the central content system.
The main results can be summarized as follows. The emphasis on the grasp of the characteristics of “ball games” has been shifted in the four revised editions of the course of study, from aspects of motor skills to interdependent aspects of motor skills and the learner's subjective feelings, such as pleasure and enjoyment. Furthermore, we have found that it is necessary to grasp the characteristics of “ball games” morphologically in order to draw learning content of tactics which can bring about pleasure and enjoyment, and to classify each ball game according to its morphological grasp.
Therefore the characteristics of “ball games” should be understood from the viewpoint of “movement form” of tactics. Thus, each ball game was divided into the following 3 major types accordingly.
That is, A) “Break-Through Type, ” B) “Rally Type, ” C) “Throw-And-Hit Type.”
Furthermore, we presented the framework which can compose the central content of each ball game according to the system concerning “movement forms” of collective and individual tactics to perform the game.