This article reports on the pedagogical changes that the author experienced as a teacher engaged in an action research project. In her role as teacher-as-researcher the author sought to implement a new pedagogical approach, in the form of cooperative learning, and bring about a positive change in the form of enhanced pupil learning. The article argues that cooperative learning allowed the author to place social and academic learning goals on an even footing, which in turn placed a focus on pupils' understanding and improvement of skills in athletics alongside their interpersonal development.