How can physical education be taught in a modern and safe way while engaging as wide a range of pupils as possible? These were some of the key questions addressed at the two-day POHYB PRAHA 2026 conference, held at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of Charles University on 27 and 28 August. The programme combined expert lectures with practical workshops and exercise sessions, while also providing opportunities for professional discussion, sharing experiences and networking.

The two keynote lectures focused on topics that directly affect contemporary school physical education. Kamil Kotlík from the Department of Social Sciences in Kinanthropology at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, addressed the rights and responsibilities of teachers and pupils in physical education, looking not only at teaching itself but also at the broader context of how schools operate.

“Last year, the keynote lecture at the POHYB PRAHA conference focused on safety aspects of multi-day school events. This topic was selected in response to strong demand from teachers. This year, we therefore naturally followed up with a related topic – the rights and responsibilities of teachers and pupils in physical education. In addition to the specific aspects of the rights and responsibilities of both sides, we also placed the topic in the broader context of the school as a whole,” explained Kamil Kotlík.

The second keynote lecture, delivered by Jaroslava Argajová from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Comenius University in Bratislava, focused on changing teachers’ perspectives on learning, movement and the role of pupils. The expert programme was complemented by Tomáš Kočíb’s lecture “Spirit of the Game”.

Practical workshops formed a major part of POHYB PRAHA. Lukáš Psohlavec and Tomáš Brtník from the Department of Athletics, Outdoor Sports and Activities introduced ways of teaching orienteering indoors, while Jana Černá from the Department of Gymnastics and Combat Sports demonstrated the use of skipping ropes and tennis balls to develop coordination, including exercises for pairs and groups. Parkour athlete and coach Jaroslav Chum led a practical parkour session and demonstrated how parkour can be incorporated into physical education. Adam Zdobinský from the Department of Gymnastics and Combat Sports focused on ways of incorporating self-defence into physical education lessons, from verbal assertiveness to physical intervention.

Inclusive physical education was another important part of the programme. Ilona Pavlová from the Department of Adapted Physical Education and Sports Medicine offered practical strategies, work with equipment and specific games designed to enable pupils with different needs to participate in physical education. Jitka Vařeková and Klára Daďová, also from the Department of Adapted Physical Education and Sports Medicine, presented modern approaches to health-oriented physical education through practical exercises and demonstrated how they can be applied in schools.

Veronika Kramperová from the Department of Swimming, Water and Technical Sports focused on the assessment of movement skills and gave participants hands-on experience with assessing motor competence using the CAMSA test. The simple obstacle course can serve teachers not only as a diagnostic tool but also as an engaging warm-up activity in physical education lessons.

The conference programme also included practical exercise sessions offering specific ideas for use in school physical education. Aleš Kaplan, Radim Jebavý and their colleagues from the Department of Athletics, Outdoor Sports and Activities focused on developing speed, reaction, acceleration, deceleration and agility, while Michal Dobeš and Dušan Blažek focused on bodyweight strength training and the correct execution of basic exercises.

“Speed has many different aspects. We demonstrated exercises focusing on reaction, acceleration, deceleration and agility, primarily in game-based formats popular in primary and secondary schools. We also included basic bodyweight strength exercises for the upper and lower limbs and the trunk, with variations suitable for pupils with different levels of fitness. Teachers could therefore practically try out, for example, several levels of squats or push-ups according to difficulty,” explained Radim Jebavý, Head of the Athletics Section at the Department.

The connection between expert knowledge and specific methods and exercises that can be used directly in teaching was one of the key principles of POHYB PRAHA 2026. The conference therefore offered teachers not only new knowledge, but above all practical inspiration that they can bring into their lessons.

The two-day programme presented contemporary physical education in all its breadth – from the legal and educational framework through inclusion and the assessment of motor competence to specific physical activities and practical inspiration for school settings.

Alongside POHYB PRAHA 2026, the Faculty also hosted a conference of the UNCE project – the University Centre for the Development of Human Motor Skills and Influencing Motivation for Physical Activity (2024–2029), led by Prof. PhDr. Martin Musálek, Ph.D. One of the topics addressed the question: “Can school change a child’s relationship with physical activity?” As part of a three-year experimental study, the research team is following children from Grades 3 to 5 to investigate whether positive experiences with physical activity at school can strengthen their motivation to be physically active in their free time. A key element of the study is tandem physical education five times a week, with a coach working alongside the teacher. The aim is not only to develop children’s movement skills and physical fitness, but above all to foster a lasting and natural relationship with physical activity.