WINTER SPORTS ACTIVITIES COURSE FOR FUTURE KINESIOLOGISTS: TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a model of winter sports activities course organized for bachelor students of kinesiology during 2010 through 2017 with the aim of acquiring two main competencies: (i) methods for and approaches to promoting an effective use of leisure time for individuals and groups through outdoor activities in winter time, and (ii) understanding the content, purpose and process of outdoor winter sports activities. A total of 70 kinesiology students (26 men and 43 women, age 21.5±2.3 years) collaborated in the survey (26.5 % response rate, N=264). Students classified their initial level of skiing knowledge as: 16 % beginners, 39 % average skiers, 23% good skiers and 22 % very good skiers. Students detected significant progress in their skiing knowledge (11% excellent progress, 63 % good/substantial progress and 26 % only slight progress). However, students did not differ in their progress according to their initial ski knowledge (χ2(9)=7.466, p<0.05). 21% of the students achieved the Ski Instructor qualification at the end of program. Ski progress plays an important role in the evaluation of satisfaction with the professional knowledge applicable to future work as a kinesiologist (χ2(2)=7.245; p=0.027) and the course performance from the view of acquired knowledge usefulness applicable to future work as a kinesiologist (χ2(2)=10.289; p=0.006). Results open up new possibilities for further improvements of the winter camp and its activities. Because of the sports field legislation change in 2017, new organizational adjustments are expected.