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Between Research and Practice: Advancing Inclusion in Sports

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Open Humboldt
Prof. Dr. Steffen Greve's "Open Humboldt Freiräume" project at Humboldt-Universität works with Special Olympics Germany to strengthen inclusive coaching and translate research into lasting educational practice.

How inclusion becomes more than an abstract concept

When athletes with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together, inclusion becomes more than an abstract concept, it becomes something that is achieved through experiences and learning on the playing field. This is the starting point for Prof. Dr. Steffen Greve's “Open Humboldt Freiräume” project: “Development of Special Olympics Unified Sports® – Strengthening the Teaching Competencies of Coaches Working with Athletes With and Without Intellectual Disabilities." Dr. Steffen Greve is a Professor of Sport Pedagogy at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. His research focuses include diversity, the importance of social skills, and the teaching of technical and tactical skills in school sports, as well as sports game research in schools and clubs. 

At the heart of the project is Special Olympics Unified Sports®, where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities compete as teammates pursuing shared goals. “Unified Sports is one of the most tangible examples of inclusion in action," Greve says. “People with and without intellectual disabilities are not simply participating alongside one another, they are working together as teammates with shared goals." That creates opportunities that extend far beyond sport itself. Understanding how these teams succeed and where challenges arise can inform more inclusive approaches across community sport and education.

Working in close partnership with Special Olympics Germany (SOD), Greve is investigating how coaches can be better supported in creating inclusive sporting environments and how research can be translated into practice in ways that have a lasting impact. The project builds on the findings of the completed “Universelle Wettkampfentwicklung im Unified Sports® in den Sportarten Handball, Basketball und Floorball bei Special Olympics Deutschland” (UWentUS: Universal Competition Development in Unified Sports® for Handball, Basketball, and Floorball at Special Olympics) research project, which examined inclusive training and competition in Special Olympics Unified Sports®. One insight stood out clearly. "UWentUS gave us a much better understanding of how Unified Sports works in practice," says Greve. "One of the clearest findings was that coaches make an enormous difference. They are the people who create the conditions for successful inclusion on the field."

Closing the gab between research and practice 

Many coaches were looking for opportunities to exchange experiences and develop new approaches to inclusive coaching. "That made us ask the next logical question," Greve explains. "How can we translate these research findings into practical education that genuinely supports coaches in their everyday work? This project is really about closing that gap between research and practice."

Rather than ending with publications, the project begins where many research projects stop: by working directly with the people who can put new knowledge into practice. Over the course of the project, education workshops for coaches will be offered across Germany in collaboration with Special Olympics Germany. During the 2026 National Games in Saarland, the research team also observed Unified competitions and conducted interviews with coaches, sports coordinators, parents and athletes. These findings will then feed directly back into the educational materials, creating a continuous cycle of research, reflection and improvement.

"The workshops and the field research complement each other perfectly," says Greve. “During workshops we can share evidence-based approaches with coaches and discuss their experiences. Then, at the National Games, we can observe inclusive sport in action and talk to coaches about what works, what remains challenging, and what they still need." Such insights are then directly implemented in the improvement process of related educational materials.

The coaches are experts in their own practice. By involving them as research partners instead of simply collecting data from them, we gain a much richer understanding of inclusive sport. At the same time, they benefit from reflecting on their own experiences through the lens of research.

Prof. Dr. Steffen Greve

Prof. Dr. Steffen Greve

Practitioners as research partners

For Greve, this requires recognising coaches not simply as recipients of research, but as research partners. "For me, research only becomes meaningful when it reaches the people who can actually use it," he says. "Coaches are the ones shaping everyday training sessions, and Special Olympics Germany has an incredible amount of practical expertise." The collaboration is deliberately designed as dialogue. Coaches contribute their own experiences and practical solutions, while researchers provide evidence-based perspectives that can strengthen coach education." The coaches are experts in their own practice," Greve explains. "By involving them as partners instead of simply collecting data from them, we gain a much richer understanding of inclusive sport. At the same time, they benefit from reflecting on their own experiences through the lens of research."

The project also creates new opportunities for students at Humboldt-Universität. By participating in field research during the National Games and contributing to data analysis, students encounter inclusion not only as a theoretical concept but as lived practice. "Especially for future teachers, these experiences are invaluable because they show what inclusive sport truly looks like in practice,” Greve says. 

Making this kind of collaborative research possible requires more than scientific expertise. It also requires time to build relationships, develop educational programmes, travel across Germany, and work alongside partners throughout the research process. That is where the Open Humboldt Freiräume programme plays an important role. “Without the freedom created by the Open Freiräume programme, it would hardly be possible to carry them out with this level of intensity.", Greve elaborates. The project's ambitions also extend beyond its funding period. The educational materials developed through the collaboration are intended to become part of Special Olympics Germany's regular coach education programme, while SOD staff will be trained to continue delivering them independently. Greve notes; "I hope the project demonstrates how valuable it is to develop research together with practitioners. Too often, science and practice remain separate. Our approach shows that both sides benefit when they work closely together." Ultimately, he hopes the project will encourage people to think differently about inclusion itself.

I hope people see that inclusion is not simply about opening doors—it's about creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and grow," he says. "Sport is a particularly powerful setting for this because it connects people through shared experiences. If this project encourages more people to see diversity as a strength rather than a challenge, I think we have achieved something meaningful.

Prof. Dr. Steffen Greve

Prof. Dr. Steffen Greve

Author: Lena Vallejo

Open Humboldt Freiräume Programme

„Open Humboldt Freiräume“ supports Humboldt-Universität researchers in developing knowledge exchange with society and public engagement projects with partners outside academia. The programme's main goal is to create time for collaboration with society by providing funds for a teaching buyout or additional student assistant position for the project.

More about the programme
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Wissen & Gesellschaft