The joint project "Ball sports groups for primary school children" is entering its third phase. Since 2015, the Institute of Sport and Sports Science at the University of Kassel and MT-Melsungen have been successfully implementing the conception, establishment and evaluation of ball sports groups in the North Hesse region. The cross-grade groups are set up in extracurricular school sports and introduced to target shooting games (handball, soccer and basketball) according to an integrative teaching concept.

The focus of the project work lies in the continuation and further development of the partner program, which is accompanied by scientific studies. In the third phase, the cooperation project will focus on the following tasks from July 2023 to December 2027

• Partner program and network building: The partner schools program introduced in the second project phase, in which over 20 elementary school are currently involved, will be continued and expanded. The participating schools organize the ball sports programme independently and are supported by training and further education offers, teaching materials and ball sports packages. One focus of the project work will be on networking and the development of information and communication structures between the partners and institutions involved. This is also linked to the objective of improving cooperation between elementary school and local sports clubs. The annual tournament event Tag der ballstars (Day of the Ballstars ) is intended to contribute to network building.
• Education and training: With the expansion of the partner program, the demand for a corresponding educational offering in the area of inclusive sports game teaching is also increasing. In addition to a training course as part of the teacher training program, the aim is to continue the cooperation with the Central Office for School Sport and Physical Activity Promotion (ZFS). The training and further education courses are intended to meet the needs of the participating elementary school for qualified group leaders (teachers, students, exercise instructors). In addition, the program will be presented at workshops and conferences.
• Scientific monitoring: The scientific monitoring of ballstars will continue in the third project phase. Following the successful development of special survey procedures and the investigation of sports game-related performance development, further research perspectives are to be adopted. (1) In the course of the intended network formation and cooperation, the processes taking place and the results achieved will be evaluated. (2) On the subject of movement and sports careers, the ballstars children who have received support will be asked about their further sports activities after leaving elementary school. (3) Based on the developed game collections and tested teaching units, reference will be made to further didactic issues (e.g. videographic and didactic development of game forms and lessons, use in training and further education).