Positive Pedagogy in Physical Education and Sport Contexts

Dear Colleagues,

Positive pedagogy consists of an educational approach that focuses on the strengths of the learners to optimise learning and human development. It is an approach that, in line with theoretical frameworks of positive psychology, emphasises flourishing, thriving and optimal functioning. The purpose of this Special Issue is to gather the most contemporary research in Physical education and sport on topics that impact researchers and practitioners involved in delivering educational interventions in line with the principles of positive pedagogy. The topics include broad areas such as teacher and coach education, teaching-and-learning, performance, and health and human development. We invite you to submit original research articles (quantitative or qualitative), systematic reviews, or opinion papers on the following topics (or others closely connected):

• Innovative Teaching Approaches in Physical Education. Exploring creative, student-centered methods, including game-based and project-based learning.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in PE and Sports. Addressing the need for inclusive practices in PE for students of all backgrounds and abilities.
• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through Physical Education and sport. Integrating SEL in physical education and sports settings to develop self-awareness, teamwork, empathy, and compassion.
• Digital Technologies and E-Learning in Physical Education and Sport. Exploring the use of apps, wearable devices, and virtual learning in PE. How emerging technologies (e.g., VR, AR, data analytics) are transforming coaching methods, athlete feedback, and performance monitoring.
• Assessment and Evaluation in Physical Education. Best practices for assessing physical skills, knowledge, and student progress in PE.
• Teacher Training and Professional Development in Sport Pedagogy. Effective strategies for training PE teachers and sport coaches, including ongoing professional development. Best practices in coach training, certification programs, and the evolving role of formal and mediated forms of education in developing effective coaches.
• Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching Tactical and Strategic Skills: Methods and theories on how best to teach game sense, decision-making, and adaptability in different sports.
• Health and Wellness Education in Physical Education Curriculum. Approaches to integrating health education, nutrition, and wellness in PE programs.
• Environmental and Outdoor Education in Physical Education. Teaching PE outside traditional gym settings, focusing on outdoor education and nature-based learning.
• Physical Literacy and Lifelong Physical Activity. Examining how physical literacy impacts lifelong engagement in physical activities and how PE and sport facilitate physical literacy development. Strategies for effective PE programs that promote healthy weight and active lifestyles.
• Positive Youth Development in Sport: Exploring age-appropriate training, long-term athlete development models, and psychological considerations for young athletes.
• Mental Health and Well-being in Sport: Strategies for promoting mental health in coaching, addressing burnout, stress management, and resilience-building for athletes. The role of Mental Health Literacy in shaping pedagogical approaches.
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Coaching: How coaches’ emotional intelligence impacts athlete motivation, team dynamics, and overall performance.
• Ethical and Moral Development through Sport: The role of coaches in teaching values, ethics, and life skills through sport, and the impact on athletes' personal development.
• Environmental and Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting Sport Pedagogy: Examining how social, economic, and environmental contexts influence coaching practices and athlete outcomes. The role of parents and peers in athlete development and wellbeing.

Dr. Luis Calmeiro
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• adolescents
• coaching effectiveness
• education
• flourishing
• learning
• positive psychology
• psychosocial health
• schools
• teacher training
• wellbeing