Further information of the the Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences
The Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences is closely linked to the Faculty of Medicine in its research projects. In addition, the Institute is seen as a critical driver for future sports design in the metropolitan region and is responsible for Germany's largest project on the subject of High-Performance Sports and University Studies. In research association with the University of Tübingen, the Institute is currently evaluating the most comprehensive talent development project worldwide – the "Stützpunkt System" by the German Football Association (DFB) – with over 15,000 children and young adults. On a national level, the Institute maintains a long-term funded research association with the University of Tübingen and has played a significant role in the largest empirical study on school sports conducted in cooperation with the sports science institutes in Augsburg, Essen, Frankfurt and Paderborn as well as the German Sport University Cologne. On an intramural level, the Institute conducts joint projects with the Faculty of Medicine and the Psychological Institute.
Furthermore, work is being conducted on the interdisciplinary subject of Education and Development through the Life Span in close cooperation between Education Sciences, Psychology, Gerontology and Sports Sciences.
Besides empirical research on school sports, there is a particular focus on the investigation of movement based learning and educational processes, their contribution to cognitive, social and personal development as well as to physical health during childhood and youth.
The interdisciplinary subject of Consultation, Training and Therapy integrates the research foci and core competencies of the Institute of Education Sciences, the Psychological Institute, the Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences and the Institute of Gerontology. Programs for the promotion of health, competence and performance capacity are developed and evaluated using two complementary approaches: interventions based on individuals as well as attempts to create environments, infrastructures and organizational structures conducive to development. Over the coming years, the research profile of the Institute of Education Sciences will place a stronger emphasis on consultation issues. Moreover, the issue of change in educational institutions – not least the development of schools – is a central research topic. The research activities at the Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences focus on further theoretical developments, the empirical evaluation and the implementation of innovative child sports and health programs.
Regarding content, the Institute will put an even stronger emphasis on the area of children and youth sports which is seen as part of a holistic approach to development and education. Thus, the Institute makes a substantial contribution to the faculty's central topic of "Education through the Life Span". In this context, cooperation was recently established with the Institute of Psychology and the Faculty of Medicine [cognitive and motor development; intercultural comparison studies on development; movement and dietary therapy for obese children]. A special feature of the current and planned research projects at the Institute is that they take into account the whole breadth of programs, from prevention and rehabilitation during childhood and adolescence to programs for the [sports] elite.
Movement and Training: The research activities focus on the theoretical development, the empirical evaluation and the establishment of innovative child sports programs. The internationally recognized program at the Ballschule Heidelberg will be made accessible to further target groups. In cooperation with the child and youth clinic, the effects of a resource-oriented movement program for children with chronic diseases will be systematically analyzed. The secondary focus of the Institute is research on motor development. Central to this is the completion of a large intercultural comparison study with 8,000 children and young adults from four continents. Furthermore, studies on the mutual impacts of cognitive and motor development are conducted in cooperation with the Institute of Psychology.
Sports and Education: The research activities focus on the theoretical development and the empirical investigation of the educational potential in informal and institutionalized child and youth sports as well as in school sports and teaching research. An additional focal point will be the further development and evaluation of concepts of physical education in nurseries. In the context of the [in future modularized] teaching certification there will also be a stronger emphasis on research activities establishing links between teaching methodology and empirical education research.
Sports, Individual and Society: The focal points are child and youth sports as well as the transfer of knowledge to teaching and training practice. In addition, the investigation examines the influencing factors as well as the effects of physical sports activities at middle age.
Sports and Health: The work focuses on the conception and evaluation of programs of company health management, on the development of rehabilitative physical programs as well as on the health-related promotion of physical activity for children. This builds on existing links with research organizations [ZI, DKFZ, National Center for Tumors] as well as with local businesses [Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, MVV, SAP].
The Institute offers the following degree courses: Since the winter semester 2007/2008, it offers a BSc in Sports Sciences, as well as a Master's degree majoring in Sports Sciences and a Master's degree with sports in the area of prevention and rehabilitation as a minor. And additionally the Teaching Certificate in Sports. The winter semester 2009/2010 will see the introduction of the Master's degree in Child and Youth Sports.
