Abstract:

The article provides a theoretical substantiation of the pedagogical potential of sport-oriented disciplines in the formation of soft skills of higher education students within the framework of the competency-based paradigm of professional training for future specialists in the field of physical culture and sports. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing role of universal supra-professional personal qualities in the structure of professional competence and the need to identify effective pedagogical resources for their purposeful development in higher education institutions.

The paper analyzes scientific approaches to interpreting the essence of soft skills as an integrative outcome of the educational process, formed within activity-based, learner-centered, and competency-based dimensions. The feasibility of considering sport-oriented disciplines as an effective pedagogical environment for the development of social and communicative, organizational, leadership, reflective, and self-regulatory soft skills of higher education students is substantiated.

An analysis of the educational programs «Physical Culture and Sports» and «Secondary Education (Physical Culture)» at the first (Bachelor’s) level of higher education is conducted, along with the instructional and methodological support of the educational components «Theory and Methodology of Teaching Sports Games» and «Theory and Methodology of Teaching Athletics». The findings indicate that the content, intended learning outcomes, organization of practical classes, and assessment criteria of these educational components contribute to the purposeful development of soft skills through active educational, training, game-based, and competitive activities.

Within the study, a comparative analysis of the impact of team sports and athletics on the development of soft skills among higher education students is carried out. It is established that sports games predominantly foster the development of social and team-oriented soft skills, whereas athletics primarily contributes to the formation of personal self-regulatory qualities, including selfdiscipline, perseverance, responsibility, and the ability for self-reflection. The study concludes that the integration of team-based and individual sport-oriented disciplines within educational programs creates a holistic pedagogical environment for the comprehensive development of soft skills among higher education students and enhances their level of professional readiness for future pedagogical and coaching activities.

Keywords: soft skills, sport-oriented disciplines, higher education institutions, professional training, physical culture and sports, team sports, individual sports, pedagogical potential.

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