Why Transfer of Learning Matters — And How to Teach It in PE
- Pete Charrette
- Aug 10
- 7 min read
Helping Students Build Skill Connections That Last
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What Is Transfer of Learning in PE?
Transfer of learning refers to the process by which knowledge or skills gained in one setting are applied to another. In physical education, it means helping students recognize how the movements, techniques, and strategies they learn in one game or activity can benefit them in others — and even outside of school.
Imagine a fourth grader who’s been practicing tossing beanbags underhand in a target game. Weeks later, during a bowling unit, they instinctively use that same underhand motion to roll the ball smoothly toward the pins. That’s transfer of learning in action.
This concept is central to creating physically literate students. It’s about helping them see
that the skills they work so hard to learn in PE don’t live in isolation — they have value in many sports, games, and daily life activities. When students recognize and understand those connections, their learning sticks, their confidence grows, and their engagement skyrockets.
As PE teachers, we have the opportunity to make these connections visible and meaningful. Transfer of learning doesn’t happen by accident. It’s something we can intentionally nurture in our instruction, our feedback, and our learning environment.
Why Transfer of Learning Matters
Understanding and applying the concept of transfer is a game changer for physical education—especially at the elementary and middle school levels. It transforms your gym from a place of isolated skill practice to a space of integrated, long-term learning.
Here’s why it matters so much:
1. It Deepens Understanding
When students apply a skill across multiple activities, it shows true comprehension. They're not just following directions—they understand the mechanics, the purpose, and the why behind the movement.
2. It Builds Confidence Across Contexts
A student who realizes that their soccer dribbling can help them in hockey or basketball begins to see themselves as capable across a variety of games. That confidence carries over to recess, after-school sports, and lifelong physical activity.
3. It Supports Lifelong Physical Literacy
Transfer isn't just about school-based PE. It’s about preparing kids for a lifetime of movement. Helping them generalize skills across settings lays the groundwork for a physically active life—whether they join a team, hike a trail, or play with their kids down the road.
Types of Transfer: Positive, Negative, and Zero
Understanding the different types of transfer can help you anticipate how students will respond when transitioning between activities.
➡️ Positive Transfer
This is the goal. A previously learned skill supports a new one. For instance, learning how to throw a ball with proper arm mechanics helps when a student tries serving in volleyball. The motor pattern is familiar and can be refined in a new setting.
➡️ Negative Transfer
Sometimes a learned movement can actually interfere with a new one. A classic example is swinging a baseball bat and then trying to swing a tennis racquet with the same horizontal motion—despite the need for a more vertical path.
➡️ Zero Transfer
This occurs when no meaningful connection exists. A student might be great at swimming but won’t necessarily have any advantage when roller skating. Still, understanding zero transfer is useful—it reminds us not every skill automatically crosses over.
Real-Life Examples of Transfer in PE
Here are some common skill examples that naturally lend themselves to transfer across units, sports, or games:
Throwing
A foundational PE skill that supports football passing, baseball pitching, ultimate frisbee, and even overhand serving in volleyball.
This visual clearly illustrates the wide reach of one simple skill. Students see how learning to throw in PE connects to real-life games and fun experiences—like skipping rocks or playing backyard football. It’s one of the most impactful posters in the series.
Dribbling
Students who develop ball control with hands in basketball can transfer that sense of timing and spatial awareness to sports like team handball or soccer.
Striking with Implements
Once students learn how to coordinate swinging a bat, they can apply that to tennis, pickleball, badminton, and even hockey.
Rolling and Tossing
Skills like underhand rolling in bowling or tossing beanbags can later help with shuffleboard-style games, fitness circuits, and target practice.
Catching
Being able to catch a soft foam ball transfers into flag football, flying disc activities, and even cooperative group challenges like parachute games.
5 Teaching Strategies to Encourage Transfer
You don’t have to overhaul your teaching to promote transfer. A few intentional strategies can go a long way:
1. Explicitly Point Out Connections
Help students see the link between today's activity and what they’ve learned before. Say
things like:
“Remember how we practiced tossing last week? That underhand motion is exactly what we’ll use today in bowling.”
Use visuals here to reinforce this connection—pointing to the “Tossing” poster when starting a beanbag relay, for example.
2. Use Skill Progressions That Build Over Time
Introduce a skill in its simplest form, then build toward more complex applications.Start with rolling → underhand tossing → overhand throwing → striking with a paddle.
By sequencing units this way, you create a natural transfer path that helps students layer skills gradually.
3. Incorporate Games That Blend Multiple Skills
Use modified games or station setups that require students to apply several previously taught skills in new combinations.
Example: A small-group game that requires tossing, catching, and running mimics gameplay found in ultimate frisbee, handball, and even flag football.
Watch Out For…
Avoid jumping to advanced skills too quickly. Without a strong foundation, students may struggle to transfer effectively.
4. Prompt Student Reflection
Ask your students how today’s skill might help them in other games. Questions like:
“Where else have you used this skill before?” or “What other sport might use this type of motion?”
You’ll be surprised at how insightful even younger students can be when given the chance to reflect.
5. Display Skill Transfer Posters in Your Space
Display visuals illustrating how one skill connects to others. Refer to them during lessons to make the connections stick.
This is one of the most effective, low-prep ways to keep transfer top of mind. When your students see visuals that show how catching, throwing, or kicking can be applied across many different sports and settings, they begin to internalize the value of every PE activity.
Check out the full poster bundle here: Transfer of Learning Poster Series on TPT
Visuals That Reinforce the Concept
To support these strategies, I created a set of Transfer of Learning visuals that highlight how core manipulative skills can carry over to many other activities. These posters use student-friendly language and vibrant action images to make abstract ideas more concrete.
Skills Featured:
Catching
Dribbling & Ball Control
Kicking
Rolling
Striking
Throwing
Tossing
Volleying/Striking with Hands
Each visual uses a consistent phrase:
“Learning to [Skill] in PE Can Help You…”...followed by 9 different application visuals that kids recognize and relate to.
They’re colorful, engaging, and ideal for gym displays, bulletin boards, or as station markers.
Whether you use them as part of your bulletin board, station visuals, or skill review, these posters can serve as a daily reminder to students that what they’re learning matters—and will show up again and again in their physical activity journey.
Final Thoughts: Make Learning Stick
If we want to create physically literate students, we need to go beyond teaching isolated skills. We need to build bridges. Transfer of learning is the bridge that connects a child’s early movement experiences to the games, sports, and physical activities they’ll participate in for years to come.
Pro Tip: When students experience a transfer moment, point it out right away — it helps reinforce the concept and builds motivation.
As PE teachers, we’re in a unique position to guide this process. By being intentional in our instruction, reflective in our questioning, and strategic in how we present visual support, we help students not just learn a skill—but own it, adapt it, and apply it wherever life takes them.
So whether your students are tossing beanbags, playing soccer, or practicing paddle strikes, you’re helping them build a movement toolbox they’ll carry for a lifetime.
Let’s make every movement count—and every lesson transfer.
Need some FREE resources?
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A Mega Bundle of Large Group Games
If you're looking for a way to improve your physical education curriculum, check out Cap'n Pete's Large Group PE Games - Triple Series Mega Bundle. In the mega bundle, there are 36 quality games designed to be engaging, student-friendly, and highly active.
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Each game comes with a detailed lesson plan consisting of 1. Overview and Purpose, 2. SHAPE AMERICA Standard 3. Learning Outcomes, 4. Essential Questions, 5. Differentiation/Modification, 6. Game Setup and Procedures (Instructions for Play), 7. Materials and Resources, 8. Safety and 9. Assessment Suggestions. An easy to follow, full page graphical diagram is also included for each game in the Large Group Game Mega Bundle.
