Volume 7

The 5th International Game Sense Conference was held at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia from 3 - 5 July 2017. The articles in this special edition are based on presentations given during the conference by early career researchers (ECR) addressing the conference theme ‘Developing Thinking Players’.

In physical education and coaching of sporting activities, games-based approaches to teaching and coaching focus on the designing of games to facilitate player learning. Through modified games and game-like activities coaches/teachers can couple the learning of both technique and strategies. This conference sought to both challenge and support the work of educators and coaches enabling them and their players to learn and execute technical and tactical skills in creative and practical ways.

This conference was one of the largest professional learning opportunities for Game Based Approaches (GBA) to teaching and coaching of its kind in Australia and the Asia Pacific region during 2017and featured some of the leading figures in game-based approaches for teaching and coaching from Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Most importantly the conference provided a forum in which academics and practitioners could meet, engage in dialogue, learn and develop the teaching of games and sport in a collaborative environment. As part of this dialogue a group of experienced and early career researchers (ECR) met at Pre-Conference Meeting to discuss the ECR’s research and support their work.

I commend these papers by early career researchers to you and acknowledge the fine work of Professor Murray Drummond, Academic Chair of the Conference in preparing these papers from the conference for publication. I also want to acknowledge and sincerely thank the associate editor, Dr Don Vinson at GJSEPER for his support in publishing this special issue. The work of the team in publishing this unique journal is greatly appreciated by our academic community around the world.

Acknowledgement and thanks:

ACHPER (SA) appreciates and acknowledges the contribution of a number of key people who have assisted with the development of this conference. ACHPER (SA) thanks and wishes to acknowledge over 25 presenters who have generously supported this conference and others who have assisted to bring this conference together.

ACHPER (SA) appreciates the support of the following contributors to the planning process:
• Rick Baldock (Conference Director)
• Mike George
• Craig Johncock
• Christina Curry
• Richard Light (Co-chair 2015 Game Sense Conference, New Zealand)
• Murray Drummond (Academic Chair)
• Russell Brown

Event Management and Coordination, ACHPER (SA) Staff:
• Matt Schmidt, Executive Director         
• Anna Colley, Office Coordinator
• Emma Flanagan, Event Coordinator          

Rick Baldock
Director
5th International Game Sense Conference 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS’ AND SPORT COACHES’ DISPOSITIONS TOWARD GAMES TEACHING AND THE INFLUENCE OF GBA
Bianca Couto de Aguiar & Richard L. Light

THE INFLUENCE OF GAME SENSE ON A NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH’S PRACTICE
Ricardo M. Pimenta & Richard L. Light

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF POSITIVE PEDAGOGY FOR COACHING
Mohammad S. B. Razak & Richard L. Light

Please note that GJSEPER makes no representation or warranty whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the content of any article. Any opinions and views expressed in articles published in GJSEPER are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by GJSEPER. The accuracy of the content of any article should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. GJSEPER will not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the content of any article.