NETWORK SPORTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: Challenges and Strategies for expanding content in Physical Education classes
Physical Education, Public Education, Net Sports
Physical Education in the context of public schools faces significant challenges related to the lack of infrastructure, materials, and qualified human resources, which directly impacts the quality of teaching and the holistic development of students. This reality is even more evident in many public schools, where poor infrastructure and the absence of adequate spaces hinder students' access to sports practices and the culture of physical movement. The main objective of this study is to present pedagogical possibilities for the democratization of net sports teaching in public education, proposing strategies that enable access for all students, regardless of structural limitations. Specifically, the study aimed to develop a didactic unit that facilitates the teaching of these sports in public schools, describing the implementation of this proposal in a municipal school in São Gonçalo do Amarante-RN, and reflecting on the methodologies that can be applied to overcome the difficulties faced in schools. The research, of qualitative nature and characterized as action research, was conducted with 8th-grade students from the final years of elementary school, using participant observation, interviews, and photographic records as data collection instruments. The results show that, even in the face of limitations, it is possible to implement an inclusive and accessible pedagogical proposal for teaching net sports, promoting active student participation, respect for differences, and valuing Physical Education as an essential component of students' holistic development. The research contributes to the reflection on the importance of adapting pedagogical practices to the conditions of public schools, aiming for a democratic and accessible Physical Education for al