sportkunde

Sportkunde, literally “sport knowledge” or “sport studies,” is a field that combines the scientific investigation of sport with the pedagogical practice of teaching physical activity. In German-speaking countries the term historically referred to the integrated domain of sport science and physical education, including theory, research and applied pedagogy for health, fitness, and performance. In contemporary higher education the field is more commonly called Sportwissenschaft (sports science), while Sportkunde remains a traditional term that may appear in secondary education curricula or in older institutional contexts.

Core topics cover the physiology of exercise, biomechanics, motor learning and control, psychology of sport, sociology of sport, nutrition, and health promotion. It also includes coaching science, performance analysis, and sport pedagogy—the methods and content of teaching sport and physical education. Research methods span laboratory testing, field measurements, observational studies, and qualitative inquiries.

Education and career paths vary by country. University programs typically bear the label Sportwissenschaft, Bewegungswissenschaft, or Sportdidaktik and prepare students for careers as teachers, researchers or practitioners. In teacher training, graduates may obtain a Lehramt in Sport, qualifying them to teach physical education at schools. Other outcomes include work as sport scientists, coaches, fitness professionals, or rehabilitation specialists.

Sportkunde thus represents a historic and transitional framing of sport studies that emphasizes both scientific inquiry and the instructional dimensions of sport and physical activity.