Teacher Age and Didactic Preferences in Team Sports Pedagogy: Evidence from Slovak Physical Education Teachers

Team sports are an important component of physical education (PE), and teachers’ instructional decisions shape students’ learning experiences and outcomes. This study examined associations between teacher age and didactic preferences in team sports pedagogy among 1856 Slovak PE teachers. A cross-sectional survey design was used, and participants were categorized into three age groups (≤30 years, 31–50 years, and ≥51 years). Associations between age and didactic preferences were analyzed using chi-square tests, adjusted standardized residuals, and ordinal and multinomial logistic regression models. Significant age-related differences were identified for didactic approach (χ2(4) = 14.67, p = 0.005, V = 0.063), teaching style (χ2(4) = 15.25, p = 0.004, V = 0.064) and methodological-organizational form (χ2(8) = 21.71, p = 0.006, V = 0.076), although effect sizes were small. Teachers aged ≤30 years had higher odds of preferring a technical rather than combined approach than teachers aged 31–50 years (OR = 1.958, 95% CI = 1.344–2.852, p < 0.001) and teachers aged ≥51 years (OR = 1.563, 95% CI = 1.019–2.399, p = 0.041). Teachers aged 31–50 years showed stronger preferences for practical rather than command teaching styles than both younger (OR = 1.455, p = 0.018) and older teachers (OR = 1.386, p = 0.023). Pearson’s chi-square test did not identify significant associations with teaching-unit duration (p = 0.052); however, ordinal logistic regression indicated significant overall age-group effects (p = 0.022). No significant age-related association was observed for preferred game activity (p > 0.05). The findings indicate that teacher age is associated with selected didactic preferences in team sports instruction. Although the observed associations were small, they may reflect variation in professional socialization and teaching experience and may have implications for PE teacher education and professional development.