Summer Camp: Practicing Inclusion in Sports Teacher Education

"Sports with Individuals Facing Cognitive Challenges: Inclusion in Physical Activities" was the title of a seminar led by Professor Nadja Schott and research assistant Inaam El-Rajab from the INSPO Chair of Sports Psychology and Human Movement Science, alongside Tim Messerschmidt, a special education teacher. Fourteen students from the Master’s study program Physical Education Teaching Qualification received theoretical insights into pedagogical, sociological, training science, and psychological topics, along with guidance on planning an inclusive sports event. They then collaboratively designed and organized the summer camp.

The three-day event brought the students together with 20 people with cognitive and/or motor impairments during the summer vacation. Whether running, jumping, physical fitness training, throwing and catching, or conquering obstacle courses: In all the sports activities that the students had planned, all participants showed impressive skills and a strong team spirit, regardless of their individual abilities.

“In this seminar, the prospective teachers are on equal terms with people with intellectual challenges instead of 'only' taking on the role of teacher,” says Professor Schott. “We believe that the experience of interacting with neurodiverse people on equal terms changes students' perspectives and attitudes, reduces their fear of the unknown and gives them the opportunity to understand what they will be asking of their future students in school.”

For special education teacher Messerschmidt, the event was a success. "The summer camp demonstrated impressively that individuals with and without special educational needs can collaborate and learn from each other—a true example of how inclusive cooperation can thrive in society, highlighting the opportunities and possibilities it can create," he emphasized.

The students clearly had fun during the summer camp in an atmosphere characterized by joy and solidarity. When asked what she liked most, one prospective teacher responded, "The time spent with the participants. Each day and every moment was special and will have a lasting impact on me. If there's one thing that sticks in my mind, it's the sheer joy of the participants, especially when the certificates were presented.

It is clear to Schott why the seminar was based on sport: “Exercise and sport are a medium in which people can meet on equal terms and express their authentic selves without having to fulfill certain requirements. Sports have a therapeutic power and can foster the development of emotions, cognition, creativity, and motor skills. Various forms of movement and sport enable individuals to work in different ways, whether collaboratively or independently, and have the potential to foster deep communication and connections between people. Creating together can create community, solidarity and collective identity.” Schott's department will continue to dedicate itself to the topic of “inclusive sport” in research and teaching.