Integrating ecological dynamics in primary school physical education: a systematic review of nonlinear pedagogy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.112112Keywords:
Student centered learning, Nonlinear pedagogy, Physical educationAbstract
Purpose: This literature review aims to investigate the application of nonlinear pedagogy in a sports context, including its impact on game skill acquisition and skill transfer between games. The research background details Nonlinear pedagogy, which is grounded in ecological.
Method: This review included peer-reviewed studies published from 2018 to January 2025, which used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The included studies examined nonlinear pedagogy, with a focus on ecological approach and their relationship to physical education.
Result: present the main findings regarding potential benefits and practical challenges of adopting nonlinear pedagogical frameworks in sports and physical education. The practical ramifications of these discoveries are substantial. for educators, coaches, and sports practitioners who aim to implement nonlinear pedagogy (NP) and ecological dynamics frameworks in their practice.
Conclusion: This Research shows that nonlinear pedagogy and ecological dynamics offer powerful frameworks for understanding skill acquisition and learning in sports. This research establishes a basis for creating more successful teaching and coaching practices that emphasize adaptation, exploration and learner-centered approaches. However, practitioners must remain flexible in applying these methods across different contexts and sports. This study offers scientific insights and practical suggestions for applying nonlinear pedagogy in diverse sports and educational settings.
References
Adé, D., Seifert, L., McGann, M., & Davids, K. (2022). Enactive and ecological dynamics approaches: complementarity and differences for interventions in physical education lessons. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 27(2), 130–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2021.1999919
Araújo, D., Davids, K., & Hristovski, R. (2006). The ecological dynamics of decision making in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 7(6), 653–676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2006.07.002
Araújo, D., Hristovski, R., Seifert, L., Carvalho, J., & Davids, K. (2019). Ecological cognition: expert decision-making behaviour in sport. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 12(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2017.1349826
Astuti, Y., Erianti, E., Amsari, D., & Sari, D. N. (2023). The Effect of Sports Modifications and Mini Games to improve students’ physical fitness in the Adaptive Physical Education Course. Retos, 51, 519–525. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v51.99975
Barth, M., & Güllich, A. (2021). Non-linear association of efficiency of practice of adult elite athletes with their youth multi-sport practice. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(8), 915–925. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1851900
Brocken, J. E. A., van der Kamp, J., Lenoir, M., & Savelsbergh, G. J. P. (2020). Equipment modification can enhance skill learning in young field hockey players. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 15(3), 382–389. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954120918964
Buszard, T., Reid, M., Masters, R., & Farrow, D. (2016). Scaling the Equipment and Play Area in Children’s Sport to improve Motor Skill Acquisition: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 46(6), 829–843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0452-2
Button, K. S., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Mokrysz, C., Nosek, B. A., Flint, J., Robinson, E. S. J., & Munafò, M. R. (2013). Power failure: Why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(5), 365–376. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3475
Chatzipanteli, A., Digelidis, N., Karatzoglidis, C., & Dean, R. (2016). A tactical-game approach and enhancement of metacognitive behaviour in elementary school students. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 21(2), 169–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2014.931366
Chiviacowsky, S., & Drews, R. (2016). Temporal-Comparative Feedback Affects Motor Learning. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 4(2), 208–218. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2015-0034
Chow, B. C., McKenzie, T. L., & Louie, L. (2009). Physical activity and environmental influences during secondary school physical education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 28(1), 21–37. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.28.1.21
Chow, J. Y. (2013). Nonlinear Learning Underpinning Pedagogy: Evidence, Challenges, and Implications. Quest, 65(4), 469–484. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2013.807746
Chow, J. Y., Komar, J., Davids, K., & Tan, C. W. K. (2021). Nonlinear Pedagogy and its implications for practice in the Singapore PE context. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 26(3), 230–241. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2021.1886270
Chow, J. Y., Komar, J., & Seifert, L. (2021). The Role of Nonlinear Pedagogy in Supporting the Design of Modified Games in Junior Sports. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(October). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.744814
Chow, J. Y., Meerhoff, L. A., Choo, C. Z. Y., Button, C., & Tan, B. S. J. (2023). The effect of nonlinear pedagogy on the acquisition of game skills in a territorial game. Frontiers in Psychology, 14(February), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1077065
Correia, V., Carvalho, J., Araújo, D., Pereira, E., & Davids, K. (2019). Principles of nonlinear pedagogy in sport practice. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24(2), 117–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2018.1552673
Côté, J., Turnnidge, J., Murata, A., Mcguire, C. S., & Martin, L. J. (2020). Youth sport research: Describing the integrated dynamic elements of the personal assets framework. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 51, 562–578. https://doi.org/10.7352/IJSP.2020.51.562
Crotti, M., Rudd, J. R., Roberts, S., Boddy, L. M., Fitton Davies, K., O’callaghan, L., Utesch, T., & Foweather, L. (2021). Effect of linear and nonlinear pedagogy physical education interventions on children’s physical activity: A cluster randomized controlled trial (sample-pe). Children, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/children8010049
Güllich, A., Barth, M., Macnamara, B. N., & Hambrick, D. Z. (2023). Quantifying the Extent to Which Successful Juniors and Successful Seniors are Two Disparate Populations: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Findings. Sports Medicine, 53(6), 1201–1217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01840-1
Hacques, G., Komar, J., Dicks, M., Seifert, L., Hacques, G., Komar, J., Dicks, M., & Seifert, L. (2024). Exploring to learn and learning to explore To cite this version : HAL Id : hal-04064193. 85(4), 1367–1379.
Hallé Petiot, G., Aquino, R., Silva, D. C. da, Barreira, D. V., & Raab, M. (2021). Contrasting Learning Psychology Theories Applied to the Teaching-Learning-Training Process of Tactics in Soccer. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(May), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637085
Idarraga, J. F. V., & Valencia-Sánchez, W. G. (2024). Enhancing ball passing creativity and effectiveness in youth women’s football: A single-case study. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 24(1), 172–186. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.01022
Jacobs, J. M., & Wright, P. M. (2018). Transfer of Life Skills in Sport-Based Youth Development Programs: A Conceptual Framework Bridging Learning to Application. Quest, 70(1), 81–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2017.1348304
Lee, H. S., & Lee, J. (2021). Applying artificial intelligence in physical education and future perspectives. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010351
Lee, M. C. Y., Chow, J. Y., Button, C., & Tan, C. W. K. (2017). Nonlinear Pedagogy and its role in encouraging twenty-first century competencies through physical education: a Singapore experience. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 37(4), 483–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2017.1386089
Lee, M. C. Y., Chow, J. Y., Komar, J., Tan, C. W. K., & Button, C. (2014). Nonlinear pedagogy: An effective approach to cater for individual differences in learning a sports skill. PLoS ONE, 9(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0104744
Limpens, V., Buszard, T., Shoemaker, E., Savelsbergh, G. J. P., & Reid, M. (2018). Scaling Constraints in Junior Tennis: The Influence of Net Height on Skilled Players’ Match-Play Performance. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 89(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2017.1413230
Lindsay, R. S. (2022). A Nonlinear Pedagogy Approach to Mental Imagery for Skill Acquisition Riki Steven Lindsay. April.
Machado, J. C., Barreira, D., Galatti, L., Chow, J. Y., Garganta, J., & Scaglia, A. J. (2019). Enhancing learning in the context of Street football: a case for Nonlinear Pedagogy. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24(2), 176–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2018.1552674
Moy, B., Renshaw, I., & Davids, K. (2016). The impact of nonlinear pedagogy on physical education teacher education students’ intrinsic motivation. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 21(5), 517–538. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2015.1072506
O’Sullivan, M., Davids, K., Woods, C. T., Rothwell, M., & Rudd, J. (2020). Conceptualizing Physical Literacy within an Ecological Dynamics Framework. Quest, 72(4), 448–462. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2020.1799828
Oppici, L. (2018). The role of task constraints in promoting development and transfer of perceptual-motor skill in sport.
Pinder, R. A., & Renshaw, I. (2019). What can coaches and physical education teachers learn from a constraints-led approach in para-sport? Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24(2), 190–205. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2019.1571187
Práxedes, A., Del Villar Álvarez, F., Moreno, A., Gil-Arias, A., & Davids, K. (2019). Effects of a nonlinear pedagogy intervention programme on the emergent tactical behaviours of youth footballers. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24(4), 332–343. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2019.1580689
Pushkarenko, K., Causgrove Dunn, J., & Goodwin, D. (2023). The Meaning of Physical Literacy for Instructors of Children Experiencing Disability, from an Ecological Systems Perspective. Children, 10(7), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071185
Raposo, F. Z., Caldeira, P., Batalau, R., Araújo, D., & Silva, M. N. (2019). Self-Determination Theory and Nonlinear Pedagogy: An Approach to Exercise Professionals’ Strategies on Autonomous Motivation. Retos, 40, 680–686. https://doi.org/10.47197/RETOS.V37I37.74355
Rein, R., Davids, K., & Button, C. (2010). Adaptive and phase transition behavior in performance of discrete multi-articular actions by degenerate neurobiological systems. Experimental Brain Research, 201(2), 307–322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-2040-x
Renshaw, I., Araujo, D., Button, C., & Chow, J. Y. (2016). Why the Constraints-led Approach is not Teaching Games for Understanding : A Clarification School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences , Faculty of Health , Queensland University of Technology , Victoria Park Road , Kelvin Grove , Queensland , Australia , 403.
Renshaw, I., Davids, K., O’Sullivan, M., Maloney, M. A., Crowther, R., & McCosker, C. (2022). An ecological dynamics approach to motor learning in practice: Reframing the learning and performing relationship in high performance sport. Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2(1), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajsep.2022.04.003
Rudd, J. R., O’Callaghan, L., & Williams, J. (2019). Physical education pedagogies built upon theories of movement learning: How can environmental constraints be manipulated to improve children’s executive function and self-regulation skills? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091630
Rudd, J. R., Pesce, C., Strafford, B. W., & Davids, K. (2020). Physical Literacy - A Journey of Individual Enrichment: An Ecological Dynamics Rationale for Enhancing Performance and Physical Activity in All. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(July), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01904
Rudd, J. R., Woods, C., Correia, V., Seifert, L., & Davids, K. (2021). An ecological dynamics conceptualisation of physical ‘education’: Where we have been and where we could go next. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 26(3), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2021.1886271
Schöllhorn, W. I., Rizzi, N., Slapšinskaitė-Dackevičienė, A., & Leite, N. (2022). Always Pay Attention to Which Model of Motor Learning You Are Using. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020711
Seifert, L., & Davids, K. (2017). Ecological dynamics: A theoretical framework for understanding sport performance, physical education and physical activity. Springer Proceedings in Complexity, 29–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45901-1_3
Seifert, L., Hacques, G., & Komar, J. (2022). The Ecological Dynamics Framework: An Innovative Approach to Performance in Extreme Environments: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052753
Sullivan, M. O., Woods, C. T., Vaughan, J., & Davids, K. (2021). Towards a contemporary player learning in development framework for sports practitioners. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 16(5), 1214–1222. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541211002335
Thamrin, L., Gustian, U., Suhardi, Zhongfulin, W., & Suryadi, D. (2024). The Implementation of Contextual Learning Strategies to Stimulate Students’ Critical Thinking Skills. Retos, 53, 52–57. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v53.102501
Wibowo, J., & Dyson, B. (2021). A contingency perspective on learning and instruction in physical education. European Physical Education Review, 27(4), 727–742. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X20985884
Woods, C. T., Rudd, J., Robertson, S., & Davids, K. (2020). Wayfinding: How Ecological Perspectives of Navigating Dynamic Environments Can Enrich Our Understanding of the Learner and the Learning Process in Sport. Sports Medicine - Open, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00280-9
Yudanto, Hermawan, H. A., Nopembri, S., Jiménez, J. V. G., & Gani, I. (2024). An analysis of the influence of physical activity break on primary school student fitness. Retos, 52, 482–490. https://doi.org/10.47197/RETOS.V52.102306
Zhou, Y., De Shao, W., & Wang, L. (2021). Effects of feedback on students’ motor skill learning in physical education: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126281
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Pasca Tri Kaloka, Ismail Gani, Hideaki Tanimoto

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.