Montessori Sports

“In the last decade I’ve observed the greatest football academies and many recreational clubs around the world and studied the empirical data. I’ve concluded that in this football world it is not about the child, but it is about the coach, the result, the parent or the club. Fortunately there is an environment that is prepared for the enormous benefits of this great game, and that is the Montessori environment.”

Ruben Jongkind – Founder / CEO Montessori Sports

Barcelona Montessori School will also offer a sport curriculum which unique within Europe; Montessori Sports.

The curriculum is certified by the AMI, this is the first time in over a 100 years that the AMI have approved an extension of curriculum. It is designed to teach the fundamentals and benefits of sports through self awareness, body control, team work and mental preparation, without the competition aspect to sport.

The formation will take place during the month of August and will concern all of our AMI trained staff, it will be run by Ruben Jongkind himself. After the training we will send videos back to Montessori Football staff so that they can check we’re doing the exercises the way they should be. The formation and the activities will evolve as the children grow and the primary children will play regular games of football once they’re level will be good enough.

Montessori sports already have plans for other sports such as Tennis, Basket and more. As of now Montessori football will only be available to the children of our school but we are not against the idea of offering after school Montessori football club later down the line.The plans for our garden currently involve space for greenery, plants and trees. Visitors might be surprised to know that these plans will not change greatly and we certainly do not need to add a football pitch. Instead we will be adapting the current plans so that children can develop their football skills alongside nature.

Who is Ruben Jongkind?

Ruben Jongkind is the man behind the Talent Development of the Academy at AFC Ajax Amsterdam, that lead to the revolutionary team that went all the way to the semi finals last year at the champions league. He is behind Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt and the co-writer of the Plan Cruyff.

More about him here and there.

“Tennis, football and the like do not have for their sole purpose the accurate moving of a ball but they challenge us to acquire a new skill -something lacking before – and this feeling of enhancing our abilities is the real source of delight in the game”

Maria Montessori (Absorbent Mind, chapter 17)