ASVÖ demands clear answers about the future of the movement unit!

ASVÖ demands clear answers about the future of the movement unit!

The ASVÖ Burgenland is facing challenges in connection with the daily exercise unit in schools and kindergartens. President Robert Zsifkovits expresses concern about the planned extension and expansion of this program. While the continuation of the initiative is generally welcomed, Zsifkovits sees significant financial risks. The special federal sports funding could probably be reduced by ten million euros, which would place a heavy burden on the clubs.

In addition, the three umbrella organizations are being asked to make a higher contribution of their own, which could put further pressure on club funding. According to Zsifkovits, this means a threat to support for the 5,557 member clubs of the ASVÖ. He therefore urgently calls for clarity from political decision-makers and a further conversation to clarify the existing uncertainty and find solutions.

Promoting physical activity for children

The “Children Move Healthily” program was successfully carried out from 2009 to 2019 and is now entering a new phase. Since the 2019/20 school and kindergarten year, the initiative has been combined with the “Daily exercise and sports unit” program, TBus for short. Today the updated program is called “Children moving healthily 2.0”. The aim is to increase the amount of exercise children and young people do in kindergarten and primary school. The daily exercise unit started in nine pilot regions in autumn 2022.

The initiative aims to promote exercise behavior through a three-pillar model. The first pillar aims at a cultural change towards more exercise, the second includes additional exercise units by external exercise coaches, while the third is intended to develop individual, needs-oriented offers at the educational location. These approaches are part of the national evidence for healthy physical activity behavior in children and young people.

Sport and exercise at school

When promoting exercise and sport in schools, the Ministry of Education and Sports aims to create motor development stimuli. Children should not only be encouraged to participate in sports, but also gain positive experiences that go beyond competitive sports. The compulsory subject of “exercise and sport” is anchored in all schools and supplemented by non-binding exercises, optional subjects and school sports competitions.

The “Healthy and Alive” project, for example, uses exercise diaries to convey progress in the area of ​​exercise in primary schools. Performance profiles from sports motor tests also help teachers to optimally plan lessons and recommend individual exercise programs for students. Schools that make special efforts to promote physical activity can be awarded the Austrian School Sports Seal of Quality.

The ASVÖ Burgenland and the political decision-makers therefore face a significant responsibility to ensure that the daily exercise unit and other exercise initiatives continue to be successfully integrated into the educational landscape. The coming discussions will be crucial to ensure stability and financial support for the clubs and future physical education.

Further sources are available for detailed information on ongoing projects and initiatives: bvz.at, [asvoe-burgenland.at].