School Sports Day: 200 teachers focus on new exercise trends!

School Sports Day: 200 teachers focus on new exercise trends!

On September 24, 2025, almost 200 sports teachers from all types of schools from the Detmold administrative district met at Bielefeld University for the 40th day of school sports. The event, which had the theme “Multi-perspective physical education,” offered a platform for the exchange of innovative teaching methods in physical education.

The participants were given the opportunity to take part in both practical and theoretical workshops that dealt with new trend sports and topics relevant to teaching. The focus was particularly on the workshops on “Indiaca – a rebound sport”, “Dealing with menstruation in physical education lessons” and “Digital physical education lessons – using iPad apps with students”.

Opening ceremony and keynote speech

The event opened with a welcome from Professor Dr. Valerie Kastrup and Frank Spannuth initiated by the Detmold district government. A special highlight was the main lecture by Professor Dr. Eckhart Balz from the University of Wuppertal on the topic of “Multiple perspectives – an evergreen in sports didactics?” This lecture was intended to inspire teachers and encourage reflection on physical education.

In addition to the workshops, there was a presentation on “Gymnastics design on the air track” as well as a joint warm-up training that actively introduced the participants to the day. The event was characterized not only by technical input, but also by practical elements such as team training and a workshop with the topic “Moving with the ball – with a difference!” in which tricks for handling the exercise ball were taught.

An initiative with tradition

The School Sports Day initiative is based on the efforts of Professor Dr. Dietrich Kurz, a long-time sports educator at Bielefeld University, who started a tradition with this event that promotes and supports the development of physical education in the Detmold administrative region. In the 40 years since the first event, the topics and methods have evolved, but the goal of enriching and modernizing physical education teaching has always remained at the forefront.

With a gymnastics show on the air track and a focus on modern teaching design, the event shows how important it is to adapt physical education to the needs and challenges of today's society. The focus in this context is on the exchange between sports teachers and shared learning. The feedback from the participants shows that the concept of the multimedia and multi-perspective approach is well received in physical education lessons and offers valuable inspiration.

For further information please refer to the Bielefeld University website: aktuell.uni-bielefeld.de.