The role of folk physical education traditions and national outdoor games in the process of sports and patriotic education of adolescents

Abstract

The article examines the role of Ukrainian folk traditions of physical education and national active games in the process of sports-patriotic education of adolescents. It is emphasized that physical culture is an important component of national culture and contributes to the formation of students’ civic and patriotic identity. Folk traditions of physical education combine physical activity, cultural heritage, and social interaction, ensuring comprehensive personal development of adolescents – physical, moral-ethical, patriotic, and socio-civic. Analysis of scientific sources has shown that folk active games promote the development of strength, agility, endurance, coordination, and reaction speed, as well as fostering moral qualities, communication skills, and an active civic stance. Special attention is paid to the classification of national active games according to origin, age orientation, dominant physical qualities, competitiveness, complexity, number of participants, spatial conditions, and educational focus, which allows for effective selection of games for adolescents in accordance with their psychophysiological characteristics. The importance of the age principle and the cultural-emotional significance of the game for the formation of patriotic values and harmonious personal development is emphasized. It is concluded that the integration of folk games into the educational process of secondary schools ensures comprehensive and harmonious physical, cultural, and patriotic education of students, combining health-improving, educational, and upbringing functions. At the same time, it is noted that further research is needed to develop practical recommendations for the application of folk physical education traditions and national games in modern conditions, determine the optimal frequency and duration of their use, and provide methodological support for implementing these traditions in the sports-patriotic education of adolescents.