Playing for Life
Resources for coaches and teachers using active games to develop children's physical literacy, skills, and interest in sport and physical activity.
Playing for Life uses games rather than drills to introduce the skills and tactics of a particular sport, or structured physical activity. The emphasis is on providing safe, fun, engaging activities that ensure maximum participation from all children, regardless of their level of ability.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC), in partnership with National Sporting Organisations, developed a variety of resources to assist people to deliver Playing for Life sport activities initially as part of the Active After School Communities (AASC) program. These resources remain useful for teachers, coaches and others interested in developing sport and physical activity skills for children and young adults
In August 2015, the ASC updated the Playing for Life resources to align with the draft Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum through the Sporting Schools program and again in 2019 to include the elements of physical literacy.
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
Activity Cards
- Playing for Life activity cards (2019)[PDF • 9.58 mb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Cooperative (2019)[PDF • 1.6 mb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Energiser (2019)[PDF • 682.48 kb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Finish-up (2019)[PDF • 444.99 kb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Group management (2019)[PDF • 259.91 kb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Invasion games (2019)[PDF • 2.84 mb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Movement exploration (2019)[PDF • 902.91 kb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Striking and fielding (2019)[PDF • 1.9 mb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Target (2019)[PDF • 2.16 mb]
- Playing for Life activity cards: Net and court Games (2019)[PDF • 2.05 mb]
Activity Cards
- 2 square bounce (2015)[PDF • 507.6 kb]
- 3 Hands 2 Feet (2015)[PDF • 180.51 kb]
- 4 Square (2015)[PDF • 451.72 kb]
- 5 Point Player (2015)[PDF • 358.35 kb]
- 6 or safe (2015)[PDF • 318.73 kb]
- All-in tag (2015)[PDF • 299.54 kb]
- Back to back pass (2015)[PDF • 382.04 kb]
- Balancing act (2015)[PDF • 158.15 kb]
- Base run (2015)[PDF • 407.2 kb]
- Bat tapping (2015)[PDF • 229.07 kb]
- Beat the ball (2015)[PDF • 332.85 kb]
- Beat the bucket (2015)[PDF • 260.51 kb]
- Birthday groups (2015)[PDF • 543.18 kb]
- Blanket ball (2015)[PDF • 1.52 mb]
- Boccia (2015)[PDF • 345.36 kb]
- Bombard (2015)[PDF • 587.65 kb]
- Boundary pass (2015)[PDF • 382.41 kb]
- Bowler goaler (2015)[PDF • 169.27 kb]
- Bucket and hoop (2015)[PDF • 470.34 kb]
- Bullseye (2015)[PDF • 400.95 kb]
- Catch me (2015)[PDF • 201.42 kb]
- Catching challenge (2015)[PDF • 241.96 kb]
- Circle and push and retreat (2015)[PDF • 217.58 kb]
- Circle fun (2015)[PDF • 194.97 kb]
- Circle sit (2015)[PDF • 201.57 kb]
- Collect 3 (2015)[PDF • 229.58 kb]
- Continuous cricket (2015)[PDF • 344.74 kb]
- Continuous tennis (2015)[PDF • 784 kb]
- Cork screw tag (2015)[PDF • 181.53 kb]
- Corner Bowls (2015)[PDF • 611.63 kb]
- D1 and D2 (2015)[PDF • 266.38 kb]
- Defend the zone (2015)[PDF • 653.27 kb]
- Defenders on the line (2015)[PDF • 313.44 kb]
- Dribblers and robbers (2015)[PDF • 497.74 kb]
- End ball (2015)[PDF • 383.92 kb]
- End to end (2015)[PDF • 316.37 kb]
- Engage all (2015)[PDF • 461.46 kb]
- Everybody (2015)[PDF • 282.97 kb]
- Find the goal line (2015)[PDF • 261.32 kb]
- Fish in the net (2015)[PDF • 256.29 kb]
- Flip it (2015)[PDF • 277.39 kb]
- Follow the line (2015)[PDF • 224.66 kb]
- Footy golf (2015)[PDF • 1.84 mb]
- Form a group (2015)[PDF • 308.82 kb]
- Four bowler cricket (2015)[PDF • 459.63 kb]
- Four corners (2015)[PDF • 185.27 kb]
- Freeze frame (2015)[PDF • 180.45 kb]
- French cricket (2015)[PDF • 284.13 kb]
- Frogs and lily pads (2015)[PDF • 211.59 kb]
- Frost and thaw (2015)[PDF • 335.46 kb]
- Frozen tag (2015)[PDF • 333.91 kb]
- Fun on the spot (2015)[PDF • 335.46 kb]
- Get the bean bag (2015)[PDF • 296.83 kb]
- GoalBall (2015)[PDF • 668.24 kb]
- Great work (2015)[PDF • 195.29 kb]
- Group balance (2015)[PDF • 617 kb]
- Hearts clubs diamonds spades (2015)[PDF • 176.61 kb]
- Here, there, nowhere (2015)[PDF • 290.34 kb]
- Hit 4 and go (2015)[PDF • 289.79 kb]
- Hit the target (2015)[PDF • 512.43 kb]
- Hockey (2015)[PDF • 1.44 mb]
- Hoop races (2015)[PDF • 161.96 kb]
- Hoop stretch (2015)[PDF • 202.06 kb]
- Hospital tag (2015)[PDF • 256.29 kb]
- How high (2015)[PDF • 206.71 kb]
- How many bean bags (2015)[PDF • 487.98 kb]
- In the zone (2015)[PDF • 494.62 kb]
- Interceptor (2015)[PDF • 278.2 kb]
- Keep the ball up (2015)[PDF • 496.52 kb]
- Keep the ball (2015)[PDF • 250.56 kb]
- King Queen of the court (2015)[PDF • 118.94 kb]
- Left or right (2015)[PDF • 201.57 kb]
- Left, right and more (2015)[PDF • 201.57 kb]
- Lets see it (2015)[PDF • 195.29 kb]
- L-o-n-g throw (2015)[PDF • 293.39 kb]
- Look out for others! (2015)[PDF • 157.22 kb]
- Loose carriage (2015)[PDF • 770.04 kb]
- Low 5s - high 5s (2015)[PDF • 174.07 kb]
- Mexican wave (2015)[PDF • 535.81 kb]
- Mini golf (2015)[PDF • 559.66 kb]
- Mini pyramids (2015)[PDF • 173.26 kb]
- Mini tee-ball (2015)[PDF • 506.66 kb]
- Mini volleyball (2015)[PDF • 377.12 kb]
- Musical statues (2015)[PDF • 398.57 kb]
- Names (2015)[PDF • 325.86 kb]
- Newcombe ball (2015)[PDF • 556.58 kb]
- Newspaper hockey (2015)[PDF • 188.67 kb]
- No-go (2015)[PDF • 559.98 kb]
- Nose and toes tag (2015)[PDF • 333.91 kb]
- Number change (2015)[PDF • 146.8 kb]
- Numbers (2015)[PDF • 196.6 kb]
- On-court off-court rapid pass (2015)[PDF • 342.6 kb]
- Over the pit (2015)[PDF • 401.51 kb]
- Pairs passing (2015)[PDF • 338.23 kb]
- Partner tag (2015)[PDF • 326.6 kb]
- Pass and run (2015)[PDF • 307.16 kb]
- Pepper (2015)[PDF • 274.83 kb]
- Pick some spots, join the dots (2015)[PDF • 398.43 kb]
- Pirates gold (2015)[PDF • 340.1 kb]
- Polybat (2015)[PDF • 725.18 kb]
- Puppeteer (2015)[PDF • 180.45 kb]
- Put it away (2015)[PDF • 195.29 kb]
- Racket relay (2015)[PDF • 213.25 kb]
- Rally around (2015)[PDF • 761.37 kb]
- Rebound ball (2015)[PDF • 415.14 kb]
- Relaxation (2015)[PDF • 217.58 kb]
- Run the circle (2015)[PDF • 289.28 kb]
- Shadow sparring (2015)[PDF • 220.4 kb]
- Shapes in space (2015)[PDF • 633.09 kb]
- Shuttle ball (2015)[PDF • 234.17 kb]
- Skip to my lou (2015)[PDF • 146.8 kb]
- Snakes alive (2015)[PDF • 644.98 kb]
- Spaghetti bodies (2015)[PDF • 279.06 kb]
- Speed gate (2015)[PDF • 281.48 kb]
- Splitting pairs (2015)[PDF • 220.89 kb]
- Spot turns (2015)[PDF • 164.63 kb]
- Stone, bridge and tree (2015)[PDF • 602.38 kb]
- Stork tag (2015)[PDF • 172.54 kb]
- S-T-R-E-T-C-H (2015)[PDF • 201.57 kb]
- Take a seat (2015)[PDF • 363.81 kb]
- Target and intercept (2015)[PDF • 505.56 kb]
- Targetball (2015)[PDF • 1.28 mb]
- Target relay (2015)[PDF • 282.69 kb]
- Target throw and run (2015)[PDF • 180.19 kb]
- Team alphabet (2015)[PDF • 473.47 kb]
- Teeball (2015)[PDF • 969.99 kb]
- Throlf (2015)[PDF • 585.97 kb]
- Throw throw throw (2015)[PDF • 263.92 kb]
- Treasure (2015)[PDF • 162.61 kb]
- Triangle roll (2015)[PDF • 262.1 kb]
- Trust me (2015)[PDF • 217.58 kb]
- Tunnel and laps (2015)[PDF • 393.29 kb]
- Underarm return relay (2015)[PDF • 162.52 kb]
- Untie the knot (2015)[PDF • 290.34 kb]
- Video ref (2015)[PDF • 362.05 kb]
- Volleyball (2015)[PDF • 690.13 kb]
- Wall tennis (2015)[PDF • 465.53 kb]
- Warriors and dragons (2015)[PDF • 254.66 kb]
- What did you learn (2015)[PDF • 195.29 kb]
- What did you like (2015)[PDF • 617 kb]
- What happens (2015)[PDF • 438.16 kb]
- What's ahead (2015)[PDF • 180.45 kb]
Activity Cards
- Aquathlon (2010)[PDF • 328.3 kb]
- Go Slow and Stop and Go (2010)[PDF • 303.49 kb]
- Mini Triathlon (2010)[PDF • 458.84 kb]
- Ride a Course (2010)[PDF • 368.33 kb]
Tools and guides
- Playing for Life: Behaviour Management Card 1 (2009)[PDF • 798.25 kb]
- Playing for Life: Behaviour Management Card 2 (2009)[PDF • 777.69 kb]
- Playing for Life: Behaviour Management Card 3(2009)[PDF • 793.29 kb]
Activity Cards
- 3 Hands 2 Feet (2007)[PDF • 114.94 kb]
- 3 Step Sparring (2007)[PDF • 135.02 kb]
- 4/4 Body Beat (2007)[PDF • 225.46 kb]
- Balancing Act (2007)[PDF • 100.85 kb]
- Bat Tapping (2007)[PDF • 101.72 kb]
- Birthday Groups (2007)[PDF • 658.06 kb]
- Blind Run (2007)[PDF • 423.57 kb]
- Bowler Goaler (2007)[PDF • 116.38 kb]
- Catch Me (2007)[PDF • 119.93 kb]
- Catching Challenge (2007)[PDF • 146.51 kb]
- Circle Fun (2007)[PDF • 146.37 kb]
- Clown Bow (2007)[PDF • 120.67 kb]
- Coach Says (2007)[PDF • 195.2 kb]
- Collect 3 (2007)[PDF • 309.99 kb]
- Cork Screw Tag (2007)[PDF • 121.95 kb]
- Criss Cross (2007)[PDF • 180.96 kb]
- Diamond Cricket (2007)[PDF • 188.33 kb]
- Finish Up 04 (2007)[PDF • 328.58 kb]
- Fish in the Net (2007)[PDF • 263.85 kb]
- Flip It (2007)[PDF • 408.8 kb]
- Follow the Line (2007)[PDF • 135.94 kb]
- Four Bowler Cricket (2007)[PDF • 89.61 kb]
- Frogs Lily Pad (2007)[PDF • 155.66 kb]
- Frozen Tag (2007)[PDF • 139.37 kb]
- Hearts–Clubs–Diamonds–Spades (2007)[PDF • 169.21 kb]
- Hit and Catch (2007)[PDF • 231.74 kb]
- Hoop Races (2007)[PDF • 108.6 kb]
- Hoop Stretch (2007)[PDF • 94.44 kb]
- Hospital Tag (2007)[PDF • 263.86 kb]
- Human Machine (2007)[PDF • 119.63 kb]
- Juggle Applause (2007)[PDF • 113.39 kb]
- King/Queen of the Court (2007)[PDF • 225.55 kb]
- Let’s Dance (2007)[PDF • 216.43 kb]
- Line Dance (2007)[PDF • 171.64 kb]
- Long Throw (2007)[PDF • 388.61 kb]
- Look out for Others (2007)[PDF • 332.79 kb]
- Loose Carriage (2007)[PDF • 391.29 kb]
- Low 5s – High 5s (2007)[PDF • 500.26 kb]
- Mexican Wave (2007)[PDF • 148.9 kb]
- Mini Golf (2007)[PDF • 269.69 kb]
- Mini Pyramids (2007)[PDF • 202.08 kb]
- Mini Tee-Ball (2007)[PDF • 158.46 kb]
- Mirror, Mirror (2007)[PDF • 169.44 kb]
- Musical Statues (2007)[PDF • 113.2 kb]
- Nose and Toe Tag (2007)[PDF • 139.37 kb]
- Number Change (2007)[PDF • 148.34 kb]
- Numbers (2007)[PDF • 287.14 kb]
- Pick Some Spots, Join the Dots (2007)[PDF • 102.73 kb]
- Pirate’s Gold (2007)[PDF • 101.36 kb]
- Prop Dance (2007)[PDF • 236.62 kb]
- Racing Relay (2007)[PDF • 146.75 kb]
- Rebound Ball (2007)[PDF • 320.2 kb]
- Ring Master Says (2007)[PDF • 125.1 kb]
- Shapes in Space (2007)[PDF • 155.96 kb]
- Shout (2007)[PDF • 119.82 kb]
- Spaghetti Bodies (2007)[PDF • 122.13 kb]
- Splitting Pairs (2007)[PDF • 623.77 kb]
- Speed Touch (2007)[PDF • 103.66 kb]
- Spinning Plates (2007)[PDF • 193.06 kb]
- Spot Turns (2007)[PDF • 78.73 kb]
- Stone, Bridge and Tree (2007)[PDF • 121.17 kb]
- Squeeze Step (2007)[PDF • 141.21 kb]
- Take a Seat (2007)[PDF • 416.98 kb]
- Target Throw & Run (2007)[PDF • 433.19 kb]
- Team Alphabet (2007)[PDF • 169.48 kb]
- Team Passing (2007)[PDF • 378.21 kb]
- Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (2007)[PDF • 156.15 kb]
- Treasure (2007)[PDF • 103.09 kb]
- Trust Trains (2007)[PDF • 201.01 kb]
- Tunnel Crawl (2007)[PDF • 154.73 kb]
- Underarm Return Relay (2007)[PDF • 331.26 kb]
- Up, Down, All Around (2007)[PDF • 117.21 kb]
- Walk Right Through (2007)[PDF • 182.26 kb]
- Walk in Line Hup La (2007)[PDF • 140.21 kb]
- Walk the Line (2007)[PDF • 125.73 kb]
- What Happens (2007)[PDF • 135.56 kb]
- Youth Ultimate Frisbee (2007)[PDF • 250.04 kb]
- Zone Ball (2007)[PDF • 208.93 kb]
Tools and guides
Activity Cards
- 2 Square Bounce (2005)[PDF • 679.58 kb]
- 4 Square (2005)[PDF • 1.07 mb]
- 5 Point Player (2005)[PDF • 756.28 kb]
- All-in Tag (2005)[PDF • 562.19 kb]
- Back to Back Pass (2005)[PDF • 595.05 kb]
- Base Run (2005)[PDF • 924.06 kb]
- Beat The Ball (2005)[PDF • 587.85 kb]
- Beat The Bucket (2005)[PDF • 372.98 kb]
- Blanket Ball (2005)[PDF • 688.95 kb]
- Boccia (2005)[PDF • 1.1 mb]
- Bombard (2005)[PDF • 681.02 kb]
- Boundary Pass (2005)[PDF • 559.25 kb]
- Bucket and Hooper (2005)[PDF • 767.27 kb]
- Bullseye (2005)[PDF • 564.07 kb]
- Continuous Cricket (2005)[PDF • 596.4 kb]
- Continuous Tennis (2005)[PDF • 989.85 kb]
- Corner Bowls (2005)[PDF • 608.13 kb]
- D1 and D2 (2005)[PDF • 269.24 kb]
- Defenders on the Line (2005)[PDF • 630.9 kb]
- Dribblers and Robber (2005)[PDF • 777.63 kb]
- End Ball (2005)[PDF • 937.45 kb]
- End to End (2005)[PDF • 723.33 kb]
- Engage All (2005)[PDF • 742.05 kb]
- Find the Goal Line (2005)[PDF • 739.91 kb]
- Finish Up 01 (2005)[PDF • 570.96 kb]
- French Cricket (2005)[PDF • 456 kb]
- Frost and Thaw (2005)[PDF • 419.59 kb]
- Get the Bean Bag (2005)[PDF • 334.01 kb]
- Here, There, Nowhere (2005)[PDF • 464.94 kb]
- Hit 4 and Go (2005)[PDF • 466.57 kb]
- Hit the Square (2005)[PDF • 312.97 kb]
- Hit the Target (2005)[PDF • 699.44 kb]
- How Many Bean Bags (2005)[PDF • 716.72 kb]
- In the Zone (2005)[PDF • 802.84 kb]
- Interceptor (2005)[PDF • 638.57 kb]
- Keep the Ball (2005)[PDF • 692.53 kb]
- Keep the Ball Up (2005)[PDF • 394.98 kb]
- Names (2005)[PDF • 786.36 kb]
- Newcombe Ball (2005)[PDF • 673.65 kb]
- Newspaper Hockey (2005)[PDF • 344.86 kb]
- No-go (2005)[PDF • 720.02 kb]
- On-court Off-court Rapid Pass (2005)[PDF • 720.04 kb]
- Over the Pit (2005)[PDF • 627.18 kb]
- Pairs Passing (2005)[PDF • 701.78 kb]
- Racket Relay (2005)[PDF • 569.12 kb]
- Rally Around (2005)[PDF • 959 kb]
- Roll a Course (2005)[PDF • 636.45 kb]
- Run the Circle (2005)[PDF • 850.82 kb]
- Runners V Passers (2005)[PDF • 629.34 kb]
- Shuttle Ball (2005)[PDF • 378.01 kb]
- Sitting volleyball (2005)[PDF • 980.79 kb]
- Skittle and Wall (2005)[PDF • 564.44 kb]
- Snakes Alive (2005)[PDF • 423.99 kb]
- Space Ball (2005)[PDF • 609.79 kb]
- Speed Gate (2005)[PDF • 674.8 kb]
- Target and Intercept (2005)[PDF • 617.18 kb]
- Throlf (2005)[PDF • 804.07 kb]
- Throw, Throw, Throw (2005)[PDF • 436.13 kb]
- Triangle Roll (2005)[PDF • 475.83 kb]
- Tunnel and Laps (2005)[PDF • 861.19 kb]
- Two Halves (2005)[PDF • 397.04 kb]
- Untie the Knot (2005)[PDF • 464.94 kb]
- Wall Tennis (2005)[PDF • 547.85 kb]
- Warriors and Dragons (2005)[PDF • 412.18 kb]
Tools and guides
- Playing for Life: Coach's Guide (2005)[PDF • 4.62 mb]
- Playing for Life: Activity finder (2005)[PDF • 1011.14 kb]
- Playing for Life: Rapid Find card (2005)[PDF • 598.64 kb]
- AFL 9s Manual (2012)[PDF • 4.18 mb]
- Athletics Play Manual (2010)[PDF • 3.9 mb]
- Aussie T-Ball Manual (2011)[PDF • 5.81 mb]
- Basketball Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.19 mb]
- Circus Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 3.08 mb]
- Cricket Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.46 mb]
- Dance Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.38 mb]
- Football Manual (2013)[PDF • 7.52 mb]
- Golf Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.78 mb]
- Gymnastics Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.84 mb]
- Hockey Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.45 mb]
- Lawn Bowls Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.38 mb]
- Martial Arts Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.9 mb]
- Netball Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.91 mb]
- NetSetGo Manual (2013)[PDF • 4.55 mb]
- Rugby 7s Manual (2013)[PDF • 4.6 mb]
- Rugby League Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.77 mb]
- Softball Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.24 mb]
- OzSquash Manual (2012)[PDF • 11.64 mb]
- Table Tennis Manual (2012)[PDF • 4.62 mb]
- Touch Football Manual (2013)[PDF • 4.58 mb]
- Triathlon Companion Book (2010)[PDF • 3.92 mb]
- Ultimate Frisbee Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.95 mb]
- Volleyball Companion Book (2007)[PDF • 2.79 mb]
- Validation of Playing for Life philosophy for children aged five to 12 years: Full Report (2013)[PDF • 1.75 mb]
- Validation of Playing for Life philosophy for children aged five to 12 years: Executive Summary (2013)[PDF • 749.16 kb]
- Validation of Playing for Life philosophy for children aged five to 12 years: Frequently Asked Questions (2013)[PDF • 689 kb]
Content disclaimer: See Clearinghouse for Sport disclaimer
Is this information complete? The Clearinghouse for Sport is a sector-wide knowledge sharing initiative, and as such your contributions are encouraged and appreciated. If you would like to suggest a resource, submit a publication, or provide feedback on this page, please contact us.
