Konstantinos Goltsos: An investigation in the need of school championships in high school physical education level.
Under supervision of Associate Professor Soulas DimitriosThe aim of the present research was to investigate the necessity of school championships in the school sport education and also to study possible differences concerning constraints, motives, satisfaction and commitment, in relation to demographic and other factors. In this study 2535 students participated from 10 th , 11 th and 12 th grade from 16 senior high schools, aged 15 to 18 years old, (M=16,45) in 8prefectures of Greece (semi-urban, urban and big urban regions). The results showed that in the school championships more students participate from semi-urban regions of 11 th and 10 th grade, in team sports mainly who are also athletes of sport clubs, mainly boys. They prefer as motives of participation "bonus of entrance to university education" from the state and they consider the school championships necessary because they contribute to their psychological and physical improvement. During their participation in the school championships the most considerable constraints they face is the "lack of time" and the "individual/psychological" while as the most important motives of they participation they consider the "improvement of their skills" and the "relaxation-escape from the everyday routine". They are satisfied enough from their personal performance and also from the guidance and the behaviour of their trainer but not from the level of organisation, safety and the refereeing of school championships. However they declare their commitment to follow healthier and moral attitudes and behaviours in the future meaning to be physically active to avoid sedentary life, alcohol, smoking, illegal substances, violent and aggressive behaviour and generally to live a healthy way of life. In conclusion, high school sports championships are essential in providing psychosomatic improvements in male and female students alike, and in promoting the adoption of healthy and moral attitudes and behavior for the rest of their lives.