INJURY PREVENTION AND ASPECTS OF DEVELOPING A SAFE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES: THE VOLLEYBALL MODULE CASE STUDY

Abstract

The article examines the topical issue of school injury prevention within the physical education system, with a specific focus on volleyball. The relevance of the study is driven by alarming statistics from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, which recorded over 21,000 cases of student injuries between 2020 and 2024; notably, 76.7% of these accidents occurred during physical education lessons, active games, and breaks. The paper substantiates that creating a safe, health-preserving environment requires a systematic algorithm integrating organizational, methodological, administrative, and material-technical components. The study provides an analysis of external and internal risk factors, identifying shortcomings in lesson organization, insufficient physical fitness, and safety violations as dominant factors. Particular attention is paid to the specifics of volleyball as one of the most popular yet injury-prone modules in the school curriculum. The article presents the results of an online survey of 52 physical education teachers from various regions of Ukraine. Empirical data confirmed that the most common injuries in volleyball are finger injuries (85.3%), ankle sprains (35.3%), and bruises. It was established that 88% of injuries are of mild severity; however, they negatively impact student motivation. The research findings indicate that the primary causes of injuries during volleyball lessons are students' inadequate physical fitness (52.9%) and improper technique in executing game elements (50%). The paper systematizes practitioners' recommendations for risk minimization, including: the implementation of specialized preparatory exercises for joints, mandatory training in self-protection and proper landing skills, and monitoring the quality of equipment and facilities. The necessity of a differentiated approach to preventive measures based on students' age and health status is emphasized.