Exploring alternative sports. Conceptions and perceptions in students of a Colombian university

Alternative sports are a methodological alternative in higher education classes, as they motivate students and offer them other possibilities for interaction in learning. The objective of the study was to describe the conceptions and perceptions that students at a university in the municipality of Bello (Colombia) have about alternative sports. A qualitative approach and a single case study methodological design were used, through semi-structured interviews (n=17 students) and three focus groups with participants in the university's emerging Alternative Sports training course. The results showed that students recognize alternative sports as strategies that can transform group classes and community realities into more dynamic, inclusive, and participatory spaces. The study suggests that alternative sports have great potential in educational and work contexts, as they promote motivation and learning. In conclusion, it is important to carry out more interventions and research with alternative sports, so that future teachers and professionals have knowledge about how to energize and recognize the potential of their population through practices that stimulate motor skills, interpersonal relationships, and learning in multiple areas of knowledge.