Anxieties of Physical Education Students on first teaching practice

Introduction Teaching practice has been identified as the most important part of initial teacher education programmes (Locke, 1979; Mancini, Goss & Frye, 1982; Tannehill & Zakrajsek, 1988). Meanwhile, research has shown teaching practice to be a cause of anxiety for students in general, and physical education students in particular (e.g. Behets, 1990; Capel, 1992, 1993; Hart, 1987; Paese & Zinkgraf, 1991; Wendt & Bain, 1989). Many causes of this anxiety have been identified, including control and discipline, how to motivate pupils and maintain their interest, conflict with pupils, coping with the ability range of pupils within a class, practical skills of teaching, techniques of lesson preparation, adequacy of subject matter, the supervisor