INSISTIR, PERSISTIR E NUNCA DESISTIR: Da utopia ao sonho realizado

Abstract

The Professional Internship, included in the curricular plan of the 2nd Cycle of Studies in Teaching Physical Education in Basic and Secondary School System, of the Faculty of Sports of the University of Porto, represents the culmination of all the years of academic training, which were filled with experiences and learning, providing students baggage for their future. It also represents embarking on a journey of constant (re)discovery, personal and professional (re)construction and the incessant search for skills to create a competent professional. This document, prepared by a trainee-teacher (the author), seeks to report the beginning of a dream that, for many years, was postponed - hence the title: "Insist, persist and never give up: from utopia to a dream come true". All the experiences reported were lived at Escola Secundária de Barcelos - a second home for almost a decade. Throughout this report, challenges, difficulties, and successes are reported, which have made this path special and unique, allowing professional and personal growth. In addition to narrating experiences that enabled the author's development as a Physical Education teacher, the impact cthe centre of learning and always meeting their needs, the students were led to the acquisition of significant learning. In the scope of professional development, a study was developed to explore the effect of ball characteristics and defensive constraints on the teaching-learning process in Handball. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that with the use of the soft ball students perform more passes and receptions, giving greater continuity to the game actions; in the 4x3+GR game situation, no differences were detected, with the use of the two balls, in the game continuity indicators studied; and, also, the use of zonal defence in line, allows students to create a continuous and fluid game through many successful passing and receiving actions. Finally, it should be noted that this school year was a very remarkable year, during which all the experiences made learning and new discoveries possible, all essential for the development of the author's professional identity.