Do Sports Really Make Kids Team Players?
- 17.08.2026
- Research
Movement that strengthens education. An offer for schoolchildren, for greater skills, self-efficacy and resilience.
Can sport help children develop social skills? An international pilot project is now investigating whether and how physical activity can promote children's social skills – with scientific support from the Institute for Sport & Sustainable Development at Kufstein University (HOK).
To scientifically examine the impact of physical activity on children's personal and social development, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Germany, Austria and the Institute for Sport & Sustainable Development at HOK are launching a comprehensive evaluation and monitoring partnership.
Values in Physical Education
The focus is on so-called "Sport for Good" sessions. Seven partner organizations are conducting programs that specifically combine physical activity with socio-emotional learning. The goal: children should not only become physically fit, but also learn to better manage their own emotions, resolve conflicts, and treat each other respectfully in everyday school life. The project is initially launching at selected schools in Germany and is planned to be expanded to Austria in the long term.
The project kicked off on July 10th with a joint meeting of all participants. Experts from HOK, Laureus, and the participating organizations laid the foundation for the scientific monitoring.
This project gives us the opportunity to better understand whether and how sport can promote personal and social development. At the same time, we are directly involved in practical application in the field.
Louis Moustakas
Head of Institute Sport & Sustainable Development
Science Supports Practice
The research aims to demonstrate whether the sports programs are truly effective in everyday life. To this end, the HOK team will monitor the children throughout the entire school year.
The institute does not view impact measurement as a purely numerical analysis. Rather, the researchers will work closely with the coaches and teachers on-site to develop the results and gain practical insights.
The first surveys at the schools will begin after the summer holidays. Classroom visits and interviews will follow throughout the year, culminating in the final evaluation at the end of the school year. In this way, HOK is making a valuable contribution to the question of how sport can sustainably strengthen children's social interaction.
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