Parents & Carers Professional Development

AMI Montessori Sports Fundamentals Certificate

Discover the Montessori approach to sports with this AMI-accredited course for teachers, coaches and parents.

Overview
Video: Montessori Sports Origins
What Students Say
What Will I Learn About?
Course Fee

Apply now

Overview

Discover the Montessori approach to sports and how to integrate Montessori principles into sports education to foster independence, confidence and movement-based learning.

Montessori Sports Fundamentals is an AMI-accredited course suitable for Montessori teachers and classroom assistants as well as other teachers from mainstream schools, sports coaches and parents. You will learn structured approaches to sports that align with children’s developmental needs, enabling you to support children from the age of three years onwards and even into adolescence.

Details

course Part time

Location Blended

Next course 23rd April - 6th July 2025

Course format Three online sessions, self-study through an online platform and two in-person sessions including a practical assessment and feedback with an AMI trainer

Entry requirements None

Who is this course for? Teachers and classroom assistants, sport/ PE teachers, sports coaches and parents

Maria Montessori: “Movement is an essential factor in intellectual growth.”

Rooted in the Montessori philosophy, this course provides a structured approach to physical education that aligns with the developmental needs of children across all age groups. This course is ideal for Montessori educators, PE instructors, coaches, and school leaders looking to seamlessly integrate sports into their existing Montessori programs while maintaining the child-centred approach at the core of Montessori philosophy.

What Students Say

Heidemarie
AMI 3-6 Montessori teacher

“The training gave me self assurance and self confidence that I was lacking for a long time.”

Kishore
AMI 6-12 Montessori teacher

“I was of the opinion that sports can't be introduced to younger children. The way sports can be introduced for children under 12 was an eye opener.”

Niti
AMI 0-3 trained and school administrator

“The course helped me recall my own time of sports played in my earlier years and inspired me to plan sports activities for children in my Montessori school.”

What Will I Learn About?

How Montessori principles apply to sports and movement education
The Importance of Sports in Contemporary Society
How sports contribute to physical, emotional, and social development
The long-term impact of sports on child development
Traditional vs. Montessori-based sports education
Understanding different models of sports coaching
How physical abilities evolve at different stages of development
Adapting sports activities for different age groups
How to create a Montessori-aligned sports setting or environment.
Encouraging independence and collaboration in movement activities.
The role of the adult in the sports environment including observation and guidance instead of direct instruction
How to create a supportive yet autonomous learning atmosphere

What Can I Do After Taking This Course?

Understand Montessori principles in relation to sports

Be able to design and implement a Montessori-aligned sports environment

Observe and guide children in movement activities

Encourage children's independence, confidence, and teamwork through sports

Adapt physical activities across developmental stages

Understand the role of sports in child development and its impact on lifelong learning

Be confident coaching within a Montessori-based framework

Gain knowledge about different sports education models and how they align with Montessori

Course Dates and Times

This is a 40 hour blended course with online and in-person elements:

Live Online Sessions:

23 April 2025 – 6.30-8.30 pm UK time – a ‘kick off” meeting with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer

14 May 2025 – 6.30-8.30 pm UK time – Q and A session with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer

4 June 2025 – 6.30-8.30 pm UK time – Assessment preparation with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer

Online Learning in Your Own Time:

Self-study through e-learning platform in your own time is interspersed throughout the course.

In-person Sessions:

5 and 6 July 2025 – Practical assessment and feedback with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer held at the Maria Montessori Institute school site in Hampstead

Workload – excluding in-person element – 40 hours.

Trainer: Ruben Jongkind

Ruben Jongkind is a Dutch sports professional and expert in talent development, best known for his work at AFC Ajax, where he co-authored and implemented the Plan Cruyff, revolutionizing the club’s youth academy. He is the co-founder and director of Montessori Sports, leading the integration of sports into Montessori education to promote holistic child development. Ruben has also served as Director of Youth Development at FC Volendam, emphasizing a player-centered approach. With a background in Environmental Sciences and Business Administration, he combines analytical expertise with a passion for sports innovation, shaping the future of youth development in both football and education.

Trainer: Patrick Oudejans

Patrick Oudejans is a sports professional and co-founder of Montessori Sports. With a background in sports management and experience at AFC Ajax, Cruyff Football and FC Volendam, where he integrated Montessori principles into sports education. His work focuses on enriching children's learning experiences through movement, including developing AMI-accredited programs for schools and educators that emphasize holistic development through sport.

Course Fee

Course fee for 2024-25 academic year: £465

20% discounted fee for current AMI Diploma students: £372. Please email course@mariamontessori.org telling us the name of your course and training centre.

AMI Trainers or Trainers in Training are free, please email course@mariamontessori.org

Ask a course advisor

Apply for this course

Part time

Register for AMI Montessori Sports Fundamentals Certificate (individual)

£465

Next course dates

23rd April 2025 - 6th July 2025
Course format

Three online sessions, self-study through an online platform and two in-person sessions

Discover the Montessori approach to sports and how to integrate Montessori principles into sports education to foster independence, confidence and movement-based learning.

Apply Now More info

Part time

Register multiple students for AMI Montessori Sports Fundamentals Certificate (bookings for schools/ organisations)

£465

Next course dates

23rd April 2025 - 6th July 2025
Course format

Three online sessions, self-study through an online platform and two in-person sessions

Discover the Montessori approach to sports and how to integrate Montessori principles into sports education to foster independence, confidence and movement-based learning.

Apply Now More info

Frequently Asked Questions

Training Information Session

Will I gain a certificate for this course?

Participants will receive a Association Montessori Internationale Montessori Sports Fundamentals certificate upon completion of the course.

Where is the training located?

The training combines three online sessions, self-paced online learning and two in-person sessions at the Maria Montessori Institute Hampstead school site in London.

What are the hours of the course?

This is a 40 hour blended course with online and in-person elements:

Live Online Sessions:

23 April 2025 – 6.30-8.30 pm UK time – a ‘kick off” meeting with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer

14 May 2025 – 6.30-8.30 pm UK time – Q and A session with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer

4 June 2025 – 6.30-8.30 pm UK time – Assessment preparation with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer

Online Learning in Your Own Time:

Self-study through e-learning platform in your own time is interspersed throughout the course.

In-person Sessions:

5 and 6 July 2025 – Practical assessment and feedback with AMI Montessori Sports Trainer held at the Maria Montessori Institute school site in Hampstead

Workload – excluding in-person element – 40 hours.

What if English isn't my first language?

You need a good level of English to succeed on our courses. You will need to be able to understand and express yourself in both written and spoken English.

What will I need to do to gain the certificate?

You will be required to attend the live online and in-person sessions.

During the self-paced online learning you will receive the following assignments to complete each section of the online learning:

● Questionnaires
● Practice own sports skills (you will be asked to send in videos)
● Observations (not every chapter)

You can upload all these assignments on the online course platform. A Montessori Sports Trainer will evaluate your assignments.

Additionally your final assignment is a presentation of a sport activity to a group of children or an individual child. Alongside this you will be asked to write a paper in which you explain why and how the Montessori theory applies to that activity.

In order to obtain the Montessori Sports Fundamentals certificate all assignments will be checked and approved* by the Montessori Sports team. After the viva voce, the participant will receive the certificate.
*If the assignments are not approved, the participant needs to complete an alternative assignment.