Only 15 percent of children and teens are physically active at least one hour a day. This is the challenge faced by the initiative “SMS. Be smart. Join in. Be fit." of the German Diabetes Center. It receives support from various organizations , including the Düsseldorf Sports Club 1899. Under the direction of Gabi Schöwe, silver medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games in hockey and SMS sponsor, the pupils of the Matthias Claudius School and the KGS Mettmanner Straße gained insight into the sport of hockey. Through exercises and different ways of playing, the children learned how to control the ball and to pass and receive the ball with the hockey stick. During a goal shooting session, they were able to test their accuracy.
“Hockey combines the components coordination, speed, agility and versatility and is excellently suited as team sport to convey joy in physical activity to children,” said Gabi Schöwe, explaining the special features of the hockey sport. "Together with the DSC 99, we are very pleased to be able to present a new sport to the children of the SMS initiative and to inspire them to exercise regularly," added Professor Karsten Müssig, project leader of the SMS initiative.
The initiative “SMS. Be smart. Join in. Be fit." led by Professor Karsten Müssig at Düsseldorf primary schools seeks to counteract overweight/obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases in childhood and adolescence. The children earn their “aid” nutrition pilot license in cooperation with the Educational Center for Dietary Assistants of the Kaiserswerther Diakonie and take part in the exercise program for primary schools “Fitness for Kids” developed by sports scientist Professor Kerstin Ketelhut.
In addition, the pupils experience the perception of their own body in the sensory classroom of the Präha Weber School in a motor skills training course. They are also taught relaxation exercises in cooperation with the initiative “Physical Activity during School Recess” of the Dietrich Grönemeyer Foundation and the Deichmann company. The two health insurance companies IKK classic and KKH, the organization diabetesDE - German Diabetes Aid, the Sports Department of Düsseldorf and other renowned partners and prominent people support the project and provide the participating school children with additional attractive venues for learning outside of school. The patron of the initiative is Thomas Geisel, mayor of the state capital Düsseldorf. In 2015 the SMS initiative was awarded the support logo of IN FORM – Germany’s initiative for a healthy diet and more exercise, and in 2016 was awarded the GUT DRAUF label of the German Center for Health Education (BZgA)..
More information about the initiative can be found at: www.sms-mach-mit.de (German only)