Anthony Piscitello Lab D Gaelic Football

WHAT?: For lab D my group and I taught the game of Gaelic Football. This game originated in Ireland and has elements from several different sports which makes it difficult but enjoyable at the same time. Each of the teachers were assigned a grade level to teach and I was assigned 11th grade. It was my job to teach the students the "solo" technique as well as the importance that comes along with it. Soloing is extremely important in Gaelic Football because it is a major mode of movement down the field. I went over cues for the solo and gave the students ample time to practice the skill. While they were practicing the solo I was giving corrective and specific feedback to students that looked like they needed some guidance. Once I saw that the students had a good understanding of the skill I had them incorporate the skill into an authentic situation in which they played 3v3 games. This progression was essential for their growth towards playing a 6v6 game. I thought that the drill was appropriate but could have used some more structure to ensure that none of the students could have gotten injured. I though that the students really enjoyed the game play and the 3v3 games were successful because they had plenty of room to navigate throughout the gym as they worked on the skills.



               These are the cues of how to effectively solo the ball

GUT: I felt that the students learned a lot about a sport that they had minimal or no knowledge of before hand. I thought that the lesson went smoothly and I could tell that the students were enjoying themselves from the amount of participation and talking during game play. The students thought that it was a good lesson and I could tell because at the conclusion they were all out of breathe and sweating. This was rewarding for me to see because I knew that their cardiovascular endurance was being tested. I think that my explanation should have been more clear before sending them off to play because some of the students were asking similar questions regarding the solo and the rules surrounding it. I saw lab D as a huge learning experience and really enjoyed working with a group.

This is me demonstrating how to solo the ball as I explain the cues

SO WHAT: The students went through the lesson learning the progression of necessary skills that consisted of passing, shooting, soloing, rules, and regulations. My role as the physical educator was to teach the students about soloing and how it is effective in regards to movement down the field. I taught the way that I did because I know in 11th grade that the students do not want to be lectured constantly and that they want to get more into the game like situations. This is why I had them practice the solo technique for about 3 minutes and then felt that they were capable of playing games. I learned that students respond to you as the teacher more if you speak with a firm and loud voice. When I was giving instructions I noticed that some students were anxious to go pick out their ball and begin game play but I felt that it was necessary to call them back in and further explain my fine points to ensure that there would be minimal confusion. I learned that decision making is the most important thing when teaching physical education because a large portion of the class revolves around your ability to make the class run smoothly by having the necessary equipment in the correct locations. Most of my decision making was decided before the class had even begun but nothing is ever final; making adjustments on the fly is necessary to run a great class. I had originally planned for the students to practice the solo for a longer period of time but once I noticed that they had a grasp on the technique I found it unnecessary for them to continue and thought that they would benefit more from game play.

Watch me teach about Gaelic Football!

NOW WHAT?: The students learned the basic progressions of the skills required to play Gaelic Football but they only got to play in games of 6v6. For next class it would be appropriate to bring them outside and play on a bigger field with bigger teams. For next time I would have to address the other forms of defense because when you play outside you can dive to defend shots and passes but this would not be safe in the gymnasium. I think that further and clearer instructions would improve the quality of the lesson and the learning opportunities for the students. For next lab I would want to give a thorough safety statement and speak with more conciseness. I have learned that keeping eye contact with the students ensures to them that I am in charge of the class and deserve respect. Eye contact seems like such a small issue but when you constantly maintain eye contact the students will have more respect for you and will be more likely to listen to your instructions. This skill is essential in every day life because when people speak to you and they look at the ground you cannot help but feel a lack of respect for the person. All of the issues I raised will be addressed as I progress through the following courses and I will continue to learn and grow as a physical educator. For the future I will keep in mind that safety is more important than fun and that I need an efficient safety statement before I allow the students to go play. I did not find out if any of the students had prior knowledge of the game or rules. If I had known this information than I could more effectively teach the class.

REFLECTION: The amount of progress that I have felt from day one until now is immeasurable. I feel like a completely different person. I have gained so much more confidence, control, and confidence over the class. That weird feeling in my stomach no longer exists when I have to teach. I look forward to teaching the class because I feel like I have learned so much and can effectively apply my knowledge toward a great cause. Being physically educated is very underrated and having the ability to pass my education onto other in the future is exciting.