If students in high school are to participate in sports, teachers at the upper elementary and middle school levels need to help these students establish a strong base of skills and tactical awareness in all classifications. It is only when students in the lower grades begin to work on these skills in an integrated curriculum that they will complete their education with the preparation they need to become lifelong participants in physical activity. In this article, the authors discuss the importance of developing a strong skill base, game sense, and tactical awareness at the elementary and middle school levels. The authors use the National Association for Sport and Physical Education's national standard and the sport education model as a basis for this article. (Contains 2 tables and 1 diagram.)