Improving the Learning Process of Athletic Events by Emphasizing Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Mass Participation

Abstract

Background: Athletics is one of the most suitable and appreciated means of achieving the objectives of physical education in primary education, as it is a discipline that develops physical abilities and coordination. The "school of athletics," with its three main subdivisions—running, jumping, and throwing—is present at all levels of education. Their importance is particularly significant in the early school years when pupils learn the basic mechanisms specific to athletic events. The objective of this study is to apply the postmodern concept of IAAF Kids’ Athletics in physical education lessons to determine the extent to which it contributes to improving children's performance in running, jumping, or throwing skills. Results: The research was conducted during physical education classes in the primary cycle between March 2023 and June 2024. The study involved 80 primary school pupils. All participating student groups underwent both an initial and a final assessment using selected IAAF Kids’ Athletics tests. The final results of the experimental groups demonstrated the effectiveness of applying the IAAF Kids’ Athletics teaching concept. The progress recorded by these groups was significantly higher than that of the control groups. Conclusions: The hypothesis that "the progress achieved by pupils in primary school physical education lessons could be significantly greater through the implementation of the IAAF Kids’ Athletics concept in classes" was confirmed. The study was validated both by the pupils’ concrete results and by the statistical interpretation of the data.