Traditional sports games during school recess: A resource to promote inclusion and gender equality

This study aims to examine the presence of traditional sports games during recess in primary education centers in Galicia, analyzing the behavioral patterns exhibited by students and the interactions between groups that stem from these practices. A total of 1,014 students (505 boys and 509 girls), ranging in age from 6 to 12 years, participated in the study. Therefore, an ad hoc observation instrument was developed to register the behaviors displayed by the students through non-participant direct observation. The results reveal a 34.52% participation rate of students in traditional sports games during recess, with a 55.22% interaction rate among participants of different genders. Statistically significant differences were observed in the variables of gender and age concerning the practice of traditional sports games (greater participation of girls and students in the early grades of primary education), attributing a higher occurrence of prosocial behaviors and positive emotions to the practice of traditional games as observed in the participants. In conclusion, the study confirms that traditional sports games can play a pivotal role in school inclusion.