On this 5 October – World Teachers’ Day – we join the world in honoring the profound and lasting contribution that teachers and coaches make to society. This day was established by UNESCO in 1994.
Teachers do far more than transmit knowledge: they inspire curiosity, nurture confidence, foster critical thinking, and empower individuals from all walks of life. They help shape active citizens, resilient communities, and inclusive societies. In the world of sport, their influence is often indirect but essential: they instill discipline, teamwork, respect, and a love of learning that extends into all arenas of life — including the playing field.
As President of the International Fistball Association, I see a natural kinship between teaching and sport. In both, diversity is a strength: diversity of backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and perspectives makes our communities richer and more creative. Sport offers a unique arena in which diversity can be celebrated, inclusion practiced, and barriers broken. On this World Teachers’ Day, we reaffirm that the values teachers instil — fairness, respect, persistence, empathy — are also foundational to sport.
To all teachers, coaches, physical education instructors, and mentors everywhere:
- Thank you for your tireless dedication to shaping minds and hearts.
- Thank you for believing in each student’s potential, often beyond what they see in themselves.
- Thank you for laying the groundwork for inclusion — in classrooms, in communities, and in sport
At the IFA, we commit to supporting educational initiatives, promoting access to sport for all, and collaborating with schools and teachers to bring Fistball and values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into the lives of young people.
Let us celebrate not only today, but every day, the essential role teachers play — as guides, as changemakers, and as enablers of a more just, united, and vibrant world.
With deep gratitude and respect,
Gastão Englert
President, International Fistball Association
#WorldTeachersDay #SportDiversity #Education #Inclusion #Fistball
