Hard times for those who love team sports. The covid restrictions impede any kind of training or competition. Both would, however, favour the development of teenagers in puberty. "They can compete and experience victory and defeat", explains education expert Sebatian Ruin. Consequently, he regards the closing down of sport sites a real problem. „Of course we cannot hold regular competitions during the pandemic. But we ought to offer hobby players - above all the younger ones - some possibilities." He suggests trainings in small groups under strict precautions. The researcher misses a general awareness that matches and sports are more than just functional movements. "In comparison you make very little experiences when you go jogging."
As long as the strict regulations are valid, families should pick up the slack. "We have to make creative offers to motivate the children. A snowball fight could be a good idea, as well as any other kind of game or competition", he suggests. Parents, brothers and sister are to take over the part of the opposing team.
Paying attention to everybody
Sebastian Ruin has been Professor for Movement and Sports Education at the University of Graz since August. He researches into the educational potential of movement, games and sports and seeks for opportunities to make it accessible to marginalised groups of society. Such are disabled people or girls with migratory background. Specific offers for women and girls, the opportunity to do team sports at schools in the afternoons and an end to gender segregation in sports lessons are ways to include them.