For the first time in Upper Austria, the Neuhofen elementary school in the Innkreis will have its own sports focus class from the 2022/23 school year: In cooperation with the education department, the concept that has been developed over the past few months can be put into practice from autumn, according to Manuela Gross, director of the Neuhofen elementary school .
The encouragement in advance is great, also from the municipality as the school maintainer. “Fun in exercise as well as coordination, skill, movement sequences and team spirit are important foundations for growing up healthy and balanced,” says Mayor Johann Augustin. In the course of school autonomy, the curriculum was adapted, the number of physical education lessons was increased, and cooperation with various umbrella sports organizations has been agreed.
Lack of exercise due to Corona
“It’s only possible to really put new ideas into practice with a very dedicated team at your side,” says director Manuela Gross. Exercise is a basic need for children, while physical, motor, psychosocial and mental development is encouraged.
In many cases, the corona pandemic and lockdowns have led to a lack of exercise – coupled with the question of how this can be compensated for in elementary school. “At our school, we have long since set ourselves the goal of integrating learning with more exercise into everyday school life and anchoring it there. In recent years, there have been clear deficits, particularly in the subjects exercise and sport,” says the headmistress. Motion sequences, such as those required for rolling forwards, climbing, throwing and catching, are often insufficient. “This was also confirmed by colleagues from sports schools.”
At the elementary school in Neuhofen, the idea developed to expand the movement events and to introduce a class with a sporting focus. However, it is important to note that this class should not be compared to a competitive sports class, as is known from higher schools. In the sports focus class of the VS Neuhofen, every child must be allowed to have their place, regardless of what sporting requirements they bring with them.
Motor skills training
The focus is on promoting basic sporting skills and abilities appropriate to children’s ages. According to the school, the training of basic motor skills and coordination skills, the improvement of condition and the strengthening of the muscles are just as important as learning to play sports and getting to know different types of sports.
Coordination with sports clubs has already started: with the volleyball players from UVC Ried, all classes regularly have the opportunity to develop a feel for the ball with a wide variety of balls. Since February, a gymnastics lesson has been held with an external movement coach under the title “Children moving healthily 2.0”.
With the “Ugotchi” campaign, children can collect points in the areas of sport, nutrition, mindfulness and “Simply Strong Exercises”. On the side, everyone participates in “The Daily Mile”, a social and physical project where children run at their own pace in the fresh air.
Source: Nachrichten
