The Benefits of Ultimate and Disc Sports for Physical and Social Development in Portuguese Schools

Authors

  • José Pedro Amoroso ESECS - Polytechnic of Leiria/CIEQV- Life Quality Research Center. Polytechnic of Leiria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7901-5568
  • Luís Coelho https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0515-3466
  • Christie Christie M. González-Toro Manhattan College, Department of Kinesiology, Bronx, NY, USA
  • Luciano Almeida Farroupilha Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology - Santo Augusto Campus, Brasil; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8022-0094
  • Efstathios Christodoulides University of Central Lancashire Cyprus, School of Sciences, Sport and Exercise Sciences, 12 – 14 University Avenue, Pyla, 7080, Larnaka, Cyprus https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6423-7002
  • Wouter Cools Vrije Universiteit Brussel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2553-5602
  • Dean Dudley Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5140-9533
  • Ming-Yang Cheng School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, No. 48 Xinxi Road, Haidian District, 100084, Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2079-1164
  • Luís Calmeiro Nanyang Technological University, National Institute of Education, Singapore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.39516

Keywords:

Pedagogy, Sports, Curriculum, Spirit of the game, Ethics

Abstract

Training in Ultimate and disc sports started in Portugal in 2005. The aim of the study is to find out to what extent Physical Education teachers already know and recognise the value and potential of disc sports and ultimate, and what contribution this can make to achieving the predetermined learning outcomes in pupils. This analytical study used a cross-sectional survey design to investigate the perceived importance of disc sports among 450 physical education teachers. Approximately 54.0% of Physical Education teachers use Ultimate because they think it is a different sport, 48.7% because pupils like it and 40.3% because it is self-refereed. The results show that 92.3% of Physical Education teachers believe that disc sports improve pupils’ motor skills. This study highlights the potential of disc sports to enhance Physical Education. The findings suggest the potential for widespread implementation of disc sports in different educational settings and countries.

Author Biographies

José Pedro Amoroso, ESECS - Polytechnic of Leiria/CIEQV- Life Quality Research Center. Polytechnic of Leiria

1 ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
2 CIEQV- Life Quality Research Center. Polytechnic of Leiria 2411 Leiria, Portugal

Luís Coelho

1 ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
3 CIDESD - Research Center in Sport, Health, and Human Development, 5000-558 Vila Real, Portugal

Christie Christie M. González-Toro, Manhattan College, Department of Kinesiology, Bronx, NY, USA

4 Manhattan College, Department of Kinesiology, Bronx, NY, USA

Luciano Almeida, Farroupilha Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology - Santo Augusto Campus, Brasil;

5 Farroupilha Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology - Santo Augusto Campus, Brasil;

Efstathios Christodoulides, University of Central Lancashire Cyprus, School of Sciences, Sport and Exercise Sciences, 12 – 14 University Avenue, Pyla, 7080, Larnaka, Cyprus

6 University of Central Lancashire Cyprus, School of Sciences, Sport and Exercise Sciences, 12 – 14 University Avenue, Pyla, 7080, Larnaka, Cyprus

Wouter Cools, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

7 Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Multidisciplinair Instituut Lerarenopleiding, Brussels Research Institute for Teacher Education and Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance research group, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels (Belgium),
8 Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Dean Dudley, Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia

9 Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia

Ming-Yang Cheng , School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, No. 48 Xinxi Road, Haidian District, 100084, Beijing, China

10 School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, No. 48 Xinxi Road, Haidian District, 100084, Beijing, China

Luís Calmeiro , Nanyang Technological University, National Institute of Education, Singapore

11 Nanyang Technological University, National Institute of Education, Singapore

12 Institute of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

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Published

2025-12-15

How to Cite

Amoroso, J. P., Coelho, L., Christie M. González-Toro, C. ., Almeida, L. ., Christodoulides, E. ., Cools, W., … Calmeiro , L. (2025). The Benefits of Ultimate and Disc Sports for Physical and Social Development in Portuguese Schools. Motricidade, 21, e39516. https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.39516

Issue

Vol. 21 (2025): Motricidade

Section

Original Article

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