Deine Schulpadellobby
In Absprache mit der Realschule Herrsching durfte der Journalist und Buchautor Christian Bonk den folgenden Artikel veröffentlichen!
Christian Bonk wrote an article for his blogs about the school integration of padel in Herrsching. You can check out the english version at the end of the article!
Montag hatte die Klasse 7D der Realschule Herrsching einen besonderen Wandertag: Sie verbrachten einen spannenden Vormittag mit der neuen Sportart Padel auf den Plätzen von Hermann Zima, die nur 50 Meter von der Schule entfernt sind. Geleitet wurde der Sporttag von Herrn Ehstand, dem Sportwissenschaftler und Klassenlehrer, sowie einem Referendar. Für die 23 Schüler*innen, darunter 6 Jungs, war dieser Tag nicht nur sportlich herausfordernd, sondern auch eine tolle Gelegenheit, sich besser kennenzulernen und neue Freundschaften zu knüpfen.
Die gesamte Aktivität dauerte drei Stunden, wobei die Vor- und Nachbereitung jeweils eine Stunde in Anspruch nahmen. In der Vorbereitungszeit wurde neben der Besprechung der Abläufe auch das benötigte Material wie Schläger und Bälle organisiert. Die Schüler*innen wurden in Gruppen eingeteilt und ihnen wurden grundlegende Techniken und Regeln vermittelt, damit sie gut auf die Praxis vorbereitet waren. In der Nachbereitung hatten die Schüler*innen die Möglichkeit, über ihre Erfahrungen zu sprechen, Feedback zu geben und zu reflektieren, was ihnen besonders gefallen hat oder wo sie noch Schwierigkeiten hatten.
Vor Beginn wurden die Grundlagen erklärt und beeindruckende Ballwechsel auf den digitalen Tafeln im Klassenzimmer gezeigt. Zum Abschluss gab es in der Stadt und am See einen kleinen Brunch, um sich zu stärken. In der ersten Stunde erhielten die Schüler*innen durch spannende Videos und die besten Szenen aus dem Profisport einen Einblick in die Dynamik und Faszination von Padel. Diese Eindrücke weckten die Begeisterung der Teilnehmer*innen.
Nach einer kurzen zehnminütigen Einführung und der Einteilung der Teams begann die praktische Einführung: Für eine halbe Stunde wurden Übungen zur Ballkontrolle gemacht, bei denen die Schüler*innen lernten, den Ball mit der Hand zu kontrollieren und auf dem Schläger zu balancieren. Auch die Glaswand, die das Spiel so einzigartig macht, wurde spielerisch in die Übungen eingebunden. Diese Grundlagen halfen dabei, ein Gefühl für die Sportart zu entwickeln.
Nach der Einführung hatten die Schüler*innen eine Stunde Zeit, um frei zu spielen. Dabei wurden sie von Herrn Ehstand und dem Referendar unterstützt, die ihnen Tipps gaben und sie motivierten. Diese Phase war geprägt von Ausprobieren, gegenseitigem Helfen und jeder Menge Spaß. Die Schüler*innen zeigten großen Einsatz und Freude, während sie die Techniken, die sie gelernt hatten, anwendeten. Viele entwickelten schnell ein besseres Ballgefühl und verbesserten ihre Schlägerführung. Es war schön zu sehen, wie die Schüler*innen sich gegenseitig unterstützten und sich über jeden gelungenen Ballwechsel freuten. Zum Abschluss des Vormittags spielten sie für eine halbe Stunde Matches gegen den Referendar – eine spannende Gelegenheit, das Gelernte in einem Wettkampf zu erproben.
Es wäre eine große Chance, wenn Schulen in der näheren Umgebung gemeinsam AGs und Aktivitäten starten würden, um voneinander zu profitieren. Zum Beispiel gibt es auch eine Padel-AG an der Realschule Gauting, und das Gymnasium Starnberg überlegt, sich ebenfalls im Padel zu engagieren. Solche Kooperationen könnten den Austausch zwischen den Schulen fördern und die Entwicklung der Sportart weiter vorantreiben.
On Monday, Class 7D from the Realschule Herrsching enjoyed a unique excursion day, spending an exciting morning learning the new sport of padel on the courts owned by Hermann Zima, just 50 meters from the school. The day was led by sports scientist and class teacher Mr. Ehstand, along with a trainee teacher. For the 23 students, including six boys, it was not only a physically challenging day but also a fantastic chance to get to know each other better and form new friendships.
Preparation and Introduction: An Insight into Padel
The entire activity lasted three hours, with preparation and follow-up taking one hour each. In the preparation time, along with discussing the procedures, the necessary equipment such as rackets and balls was organized. Students were divided into groups and taught basic techniques and rules to prepare for the practice. In the follow-up, they had the chance to share their experiences, provide feedback, and reflect on what they enjoyed most or found challenging. Before the activity, basics were explained, and impressive rallies were shown on the classroom’s digital boards. To wrap up, the students enjoyed a small brunch in town by the lake to recharge. During the first hour, they got a glimpse of the dynamics and appeal of padel through exciting videos and highlights from professional sports, which sparked their enthusiasm.
After a brief ten-minute introduction and team allocation, the practical introduction began: for half an hour, ball-control exercises were conducted, allowing students to practice hand control over the ball and balancing it on the racket. The glass wall, unique to padel, was playfully incorporated into the exercises, helping the students get a feel for the sport.
Free Play and Exciting Matches
After the introduction, the students had an hour of free play, supported by Mr. Ehstand and the trainee teacher, who offered tips and motivation. This phase was marked by experimentation, mutual support, and lots of fun. The students displayed great enthusiasm, applying the techniques they had learned. Many quickly developed better ball control and improved their racket handling. It was heartwarming to see them supporting each other and celebrating every successful rally. To conclude the morning, they played matches against the trainee teacher for half an hour—an exciting opportunity to test their skills in competition.
Health and Social Benefits of Padel in School Life
Padel is not only a fun sport but also offers numerous health and social benefits, especially from an educational perspective. Studies have shown that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve cognitive performance. Furthermore, participating in team sports like padel promotes social skills and strengthens important abilities like teamwork and communication. Regular exercise as part of school sports enhances physical health, strengthens the cardiovascular system, and improves students' coordination. Participation in the padel club positively impacts mental health, reducing stress and boosting well-being. The social aspect is equally important: team play fosters skills in teamwork, communication, and fairness. Thus, padel in the school setting not only contributes to physical fitness but also supports the social and emotional development of students.
Hermann Zima as the Ideal Partner
Thanks to the support of Hermann Zima, who provided the rackets and balls, the excursion day was perfectly organized. The proximity of the padel courts to the school made it easy to make the best use of time. Students only had to pay a small fee, while Mr. Zima provided comfortable deck chairs and a Bavarian flag to create a relaxed atmosphere. The collaboration between the school and Mr. Zima was a resounding success and offers plenty of opportunities for future projects.
Relaxing by the Lake and a Quick Supermarket Visit
After the sporty part of the excursion, the class went to the nearby lake to enjoy the sunshine and relax. A quick visit to the supermarket rounded off the day—a perfect way to satisfy a small hunger after physical exertion.
Shared Activities as a Great Opportunity
It would be a wonderful opportunity for nearby schools to join forces for clubs and activities, allowing them to benefit from each other. For example, there’s already a padel club at Realschule Gauting, and Gymnasium Starnberg is also considering engaging in padel. Such collaborations could foster exchange between schools and further the development of the sport.
Support from P4U
P4U (Gaston Streiger) provided 20 rackets and balls, supporting school sports with its Bullpadel brand. This contribution has enabled the school to further establish padel and provide students with the necessary equipment.
New Elective Course in Padel: An Offer for Various Grades
Thirty-six children from grades 5 to 8 participate in the new elective course in padel, practicing in 16-student groups every other Monday afternoon for 45 minutes. The rackets were swiftly delivered by P4U (Gaston Streiger), who actively supports school sports. Until April, basics will be taught in the new triple gym at Realschule Herrsching, after which sessions will be held on Hermann Zima's courts next door. This elective provides students with a fantastic opportunity to learn the basics of padel, enjoying exercise and a sense of community.
School Sports as a Driver of Sport Development
School sports can be a huge asset for nearby sports clubs and the emerging trend of padel. For clubs, this creates financial advantages through new members and increased use of facilities. Schools benefit from nurturing talented students who can further develop by regularly participating in padel clubs. This collaboration creates a win-win situation, bringing value to both schools and clubs. Promoting padel in schools is a great way to drive sports development in Germany and increase the popularity of this growing sport. Especially integrating padel into programs like "Germany Trains for the Olympics" should be a top priority for associations to foster young talent and expand enthusiasm for padel. The partnership between schools and clubs offers a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Visit Fascination Padel by Christian Bonk to delve deeper into the fascinating world of padel. Check out Padeleros by Christian Bonk, the author of this article, and the website of Andreas Ehstand at Padel Tennis Lobby to learn more about the world of padel.
More comin' soon!