Abstract

The operation of the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) Special Interest Group (SIG) has witnessed several changes during the years of the TGfU model development in Physical Education and sport. The aim of this research was to investigate the challenges faced by academics working with TGfU during their two-year elected position as chair of the SIG. Five SIG members (male=4, female=1) participated in online interviews exploring their experiences as chair seeking to promote TGfU internationally. The thematic analysis of the interviews was supported by a documental analysis of the TGfU SIG’s historical administrative and strategic records and files.

Results showed three themes: (a) constitutional governance and distributed leadership, (b) international representation and (c) personal relationships. All participants reported that their visions to disseminate the TGfU model was supported by the clear SIG roles and regulations, as well as the distributed forms of leadership. They all spoke in favour of the establishment of an International Advisory Board for inclusion and iterations of various game-based approaches (GBAs). As they said, the use of supportive technology structures encouraged non-English speaking voices to be heard and enhanced the model’s reach worldwide. Special value was placed on personal relationships and fruitful collaboration with like-minded scholars within the SIG. Ongoing challenges for the SIG included ‘simple’ scheduling of meetings and events to appreciating changes in meaning arising from translation of the TGfU model between languages and cultures. Future directions are to embed development into the SIG and explore strategies to support the dissemination of GBAs globally.