Beyond the Whistle: Mapping Global Trends in Physical Education Teaching Methods through Bibliometric Analysis

Objectives. Focusing on the increasing importance of new pedagogies that incorporate technology, inclusivity, and student-centered approaches, this bibliometric study examines the development and current trends in physical education (PE) teaching methods from 2020 to 2024. In order to guide future research and practice, the study aimed to map the field’s intellectual structure, identify significant contributors, and highlight emergent topics. Materials and methods. The study employed bibliometric techniques, including co-citation and co-word analysis, to rigorously assess publishing patterns, influential works, and theme clusters using data from 278 articles that were retrieved from the Web of Science. Results. The results show a notable rise in scholarly output, which peaked in 2022 and was mostly contributed to by China and Spain. Key players include universities like the University of Extremadura and core writers like Feu and Ibanez. Dominant foci, such as curricular innovation, technological integration (e.g. gamification and the Internet of Things), and motivational techniques, are highlighted by thematic clusters. The interaction of pedagogy and technology is emphasized by high-impact research, comprising those conducted by Demchenko et al. on inclusive teaching and by Ding et al. on digital tools. Sub-themes such as teacher roles in health promotion and game-based learning are further defined by co-word analysis. Conclusions. The findings of this study underscore a move towards multidisciplinary and hybrid approaches, which is consistent with worldwide trends in education. However, issues like resource inequalities and teacher readiness still exist. In order to close the gaps between theory and practice, the study concluded with recommending focused professional development, fair resource distribution, and additional research. This study acts as a fundamental resource to promote collaborative innovation in the field and advance evidence-based physical education pedagogies.