Bewegungsbande brings sport to elementary school in Kassel

"Under the guiding principle of Bewegungsbande, a sustainable network is being created that will motivate children in all-day elementary school to be more physically active," say Mayor and Head of Schools Nicole Maisch and Head of Sports Heiko Lehmkuhl with conviction.

As recently as February 2026, the city council passed a resolution to develop a project idea to systematically promote sport and physical activity among children and young people. With the launch of a city-wide exercise concept, the city of Kassel is implementing the resolution together with the University of Kassel (task) and numerous sports clubs, thus sending a strong signal for more exercise, health and participation. This is made possible above all by the funding of the project by Techniker Krankenkasse.

What is the Bewegungsbande?

In the first phase of the project, the focus is on all-day activities at elementary school: The legal entitlement to all-day care, which is being implemented in all grades of elementary school in Kassel, opens up the opportunity to integrate more exercise and sport into everyday school life. Through closer cooperation with sports clubs and other child and youth welfare providers, the school day will be enriched with attractive exercise and sports activities in future. "This will give children and young people additional, low-threshold and free opportunities to exercise regularly, get to know new types of sport and strengthen their social skills," explains Mayor Nicole Maisch. "Ideally, this early activation leads to a lifelong sports biography," emphasizes sports department head Heiko Lehmkuhl.

Project funding from Techniker Krankenkasse

The prevention project is sponsored by Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) in Hesse. This means that the Bewegungsbande can be accompanied and supported in its implementation by researchers from the University of Kassel. "Health promotion must start where children spend their everyday lives. Low-threshold offers enable them to try out different forms of exercise, experience community and gain self-confidence. Exercise is an essential basis for their physical, cognitive and psychological development. As a statutory health insurance provider, it is our task to strengthen prevention and health promotion. That is why we are taking the opportunity to support this scientifically supported project, which really gets children moving," says Martin Trost, Regional Head of Health Management at TK.

From mid-May, the city and the University of Kassel will be organizing information events on the Bewegungsbande for the clubs. The aim is to explain the project and collect any offers from the clubs. "Advantage for the clubs: Their exercise instructors are paid by the schools for the courses they offer and at the same time they advertise their club to the children and their parents with their school offer. Especially in times of dwindling membership, we hope to be able to support the clubs in this respect," says sports department head Lehmkuhl.

Why is the University of Kassel involved in the Bewegungsbande?

The University of Kassel, in the form of the Institute for Sport and Sports Science, is an equal partner in this major project. Accordingly, the project is being scientifically supported: "The aim of our efforts and the scientific support is to systematically network and further develop existing sport and exercise programs across children's everyday lives, especially at school. In particular, we want to inspire those who have so far benefited less from exercise and sport," explains project coordinator Dr. Julia Limmeroth.

Thanks to the Transfer and Application Center for Sport in Kassel (task), a cooperation structure between the city and the university, it was possible to initiate this joint undertaking in the first place. "Transfer is a central task for us as part of the University of Kassel. Numerous studies have shown for years that people in general, and children and young people in particular, do far too little exercise. This is exactly where this project comes in," explains Prof. Dr. Norbert Hagemann, Managing Director of the Institute. The city can already draw on existing urban projects such as "Fit like Hercules".

Contact:

Dr. Julia Limmeroth
University of Kassel
https://www.uni-kassel.de/fb05/fachgruppen-und-institute/sport-und-sportwissenschaft/dr-julia-limmeroth.html