The history of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports dates back to 19 August 1930, when the Institute of Agricultural Engineering was opened and a special physical training course was launched at the military department. The department was headed by Mykhailo Novinskyi, Master of Sports in Gymnastics.
Unfortunately, in 1932-1933, physical education at the institute had to be cancelled due to the famine. Only in 1934 did physical education at the institute revive: sports sections in volleyball, basketball, football, gymnastics, tennis and shooting began to function successfully. By the end of 1934, all 175 students of the institute had undergone physical training and fulfilled the regulatory requirements, receiving TRP awards upon graduation, including: 5 of them were awarded the title of "Best Athlete", and 60 students were awarded the title of "Class Athlete".
The most popular sport at that time was volleyball. The Institute's volleyball team participated not only in intercity competitions but also in interregional ones.
In 1937, the Institute launched sports sections for gymnastics, shooting, and basketball. Thus, the training work of mixed partner (boys and girls) gymnastics was organised by a student Mykola Kyseliov, who was the coach of the team that in 1936 became a prize-winner of the All-Union competition in Moscow and received the right to perform in the Moscow circus. However, the students did not use this right and, after graduating, went to work in production. The institute's shooting team won the championship at the level of Poltava.
In 1937, the Department of Physical Education was officially opened, consisting of only 2 teachers who provided the organisation and conduct of physical education among all students of the institute (about 200 people).
From the time of the Great Patriotic War until 1948, the course of physical education was not taught at the Institute. Only in 1948 the work of the Department of Physical Education was resumed, and Ivan Kotovenko was appointed as its head. Since then, the teaching staff has been actively recruited and replenished with sportsmen. At that time, 4 hours per week were allocated for the study of the discipline "Physical Education" in all courses. In addition, the work of sports sections was resumed, which contributed to the creation of football (coach - I.Y. Kotovenko), volleyball (women's) (coach - G. Sherman), handball and basketball (coach - M.I. Khomutov), weightlifting (I.Y. Kotovenko) student teams
In 1948-1953, student athletes became champions of the Poltava region. Thus, L.G. Yerisova - in 100 m running, K.I. Shashko - in discus throwing and F. VilCSur - in 5000 m running..
In 1954, I.O. Shulezhko came to work at the Department of Physical Education and became a silver medallist at the Ukrainian Athletics Championships (hurdles). His students from the athletics section L.H. Yerisova and K.I. Marchenko (javelin throwing) become champions of Poltava region.
For 9 years (1956-1965), the teachers of the Department of Physical Education trained 3 masters of sports in bullet shooting and gymnastics among the students.
In 1956-1976, the staff of the Department of Physical Education was replenished with qualified teachers and coaches and consisted of 14 people.
In 1948-1953, student athletes became champions of the region. Thus, L.G. Yerisova - in 100 m running, K.I. Shashko - in discus throwing and F. VilCSur - in 5000 m running.
From 1976 to 1990, senior lecturer Volodymyr Ivanovych Tkachenko was appointed the Head of the Department. These years are marked by a special intensity in the training of athletes, masters of sports, badges holders of the General Physical Education, instructors, and judges. A sports club became the centre of the Institute's sports life. For seven years, student-athletes of the Institute have been winning first places among sports clubs of higher education institutions of the city. The boxing team has won the Poltava Region Cup many times. The sambo and judo wrestling sections under the leadership of V. M. Choni had significant sporting achievements.
In 1980, the Institute's athletes were awarded the right to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of Poltava.
The peculiarity of physical education in the 70s and 80s was its mass character. The Institute had 20 sports sections in 15 sports. This was the key to the fact that in 1981, at the sports competitions of the Spartakiad of Ukraine among sports clubs, in which 74 higher education institutions toCS part, the athletes of our institute won the seventh place in the team competition and the third place in the youth swimming games. A youth sports school was opened at the sports club, where more than a hundred children were trained in sambo and judo.
In the period from 1976 to 1990, the staff of the department trained national teams and individual athletes for competitions of various ranks - from the USSR and Ukrainian SSR championships to local ones. Under the guidance of the Department's teachers, primarily P.Y. Mandia, H.V. Prudka, A.M. Bazelyevich, V.M. Choni, about 30 students-athletes fulfilled the standard of Master of Sports.
The staff of the department consisting of 22 people (17 teachers and 5 support staff) and individual teachers of other departments of the institute were repeatedly awarded with diplomas and various awards by the Head of the USSR Athletics Federation and the editorial board of the Izvestia newspaper, the Committee of the Central Committee of the USSR DOSAAF, the Ministers of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR, the Presidium of the Burevestnik Central Committee, the chairmen of the regional, city and district Councils of People's Deputies, the regional Council of Trade Unions, and the administration of our educational institution.
From 1991 to 1997, the Department of Physical Education was headed by Volodymyr Pashchenko. Under his leadership, a working curriculum on physical education for university students was developed, differentiated examinations were introduced for the first and third years of study, and an exam was introduced for the fourth year. Practicals were aimed at improving students' physical training in one of the sports of their choice. Sports and recreational activities were organised by a sports club headed by labour and sports old-stager Pavlo Yakovlevych Mandia. These were sports competitions among teams of freshmen, faculties, and dormitories. Every year, 12 sports sections worked, where more than 300 athletes improved their sports skills. As a result of this work, in 1991-1997, the department trained 2 masters of sports, 22 candidates for master of sports, 161 athletes of the first category, 305 of the second category, 687 of the third category, 140 public coaches and 105 sports judges.
The greatest contribution to the training of highly qualified athletes was made by such teachers-coaches as: Pavlo Yakovlevych Mandia, Anatolii Andriiovych Maneylov, Oleksandr Hryhorovych Myakota, Mykola Pylypovych Petrenko, Valentyn Arseniiovych Yushyn and others. Pupils of these coaches have successfully competed in sports competitions in the city, region and Ukraine.
From 1997 to 2002, the department was headed by Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Borys Fedorovych Boychenko, a football coach. During this time, the department paid great attention to improving the sports facilities, actively involving the university's sports and recreation camp in the village of Vakulentsy. Under the guidance of teachers and coaches, the university teams toCS part in international, national, regional and city competitions. The greatest success was achieved by the women's futsal team, which became the champion of Ukraine in 1998 (coach S. Yahodkin). In an international tournament in Poltava, the same team confidently defeated three teams from Australia, two from Russia and the Ukrainian youth team. The team consisted of the following players: CSsana Tkachuk, Larysa Butko, Oleksandra Lyaskovska, Nina Pantelei, Tetiana Yakymchuk, Olha Yahodkina, Olha Tkachuk and Nataliia Kryvonishyna.
In 1998, Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic was chosen to host the Ukrainian Powerlifting Championship for the first time. Out of 19 teams participating in this competition, the university team won the third place. The champions of Ukraine among students in their weight categories were: Andriy Zhygilyi (Faculty of Electromechanics) and Ruslan Yurchenko (Faculty of Civil Engineering). Ruslan Kalinichenko (Faculty of Electromechanics) toCS the second place, Oleg Borysenko (Faculty of Civil Engineering) the third and Oleg Bezruk (Faculty of Civil Engineering) the fourth. In the same year, the university team in kettlebell lifting won the first place among the higher education institutions of Poltava.
In 1998, the university sports club trained: 1 master of sports, 3 candidates for master of sports, 20 athletes of the first category, 33 - of the second category, 72 - of the third category, 45 athletes of youth categories, 18 public coaches, 15 sports judges.
In 2001, the department was headed by Volodymyr Ivanovych Tkachenko for the second time. The main efforts of the teaching staff were aimed to the organisation and carrying out of the educational process in physical education of students, sports and recreational work. In 2002, the Nika University women's futsal team once again became the champion of Ukraine.
In 2003, student-athletes of the University represented the higher education institution with dignity at the sports competitions of the VI Universiade of Ukraine: Maksym Lakhno (judo), Oleg Golub (judo), Anatolii Podrobakha (football), who won important points for the university at these competitions. This year, the university's women's futsal team became the champion of Ukraine.
In 2003, student Tetiana Brykina became the champion of Ukraine in kettlebell lifting.
In 2004, Yurii Khimchenko became the World Champion in kettlebell lifting, and Dmytro Vasylenko became a silver medallist (coach P.Y. Mandia).
Andrii Pashetnykh (athletics), Master of Sports Mykola Avdeev (swimming), Oleksandr Skolyboh, Anastasiia Moroz, Dmytro Lazarev (kettlebell lifting) and others successfully compete at the Ukrainian championships.
In 2005, the department's teachers trained 5 masters of sports of Ukraine, 9 candidates for master of sports, dozens of first-class athletes, and more than 200 athletes of mass categories.
In October 2005, Volodymyr Pashchenko was appointed acting head of the department. The sporting achievements of 2006-2008 include the performances of student-athletes at sports competitions of the Ukrainian championships and international competitions. In particular, Dmytro Vasylenko (501-SE) won a bronze medal at the Ukrainian Weightlifting Championship (coach P. Mandia). Eduard Tkachenko (402-EI) won the Ukrainian Powerlifting Championship among university students, Iryna Vitryska (401-BA) and Yurii Zepko (503-MN) were second in these competitions (coaches Yurii Gordienko and Oleksandr Gordienko). The university team performed quite well at the sports competitions of the Club Championship of Ukraine (Regional Competition League) in table tennis, led by the Rector of the University, candidate for master of sports Volodymyr Onyshchenko.
In 2006, the teachers of the Department of Physical Education trained 1 master of sports (Vsevolod Yevstropov - 101-BP), 12 candidates for master of sports (Dmytro Zbarskyi - 301-BM, Serhii Bozhenko - 401-MN, Yurii Filenko - 203-MV, Oleh Verbych - 303-MA, Denys Hrytsenko - 201-EI, Iryna Vitrynska - 401-BA, Yurii Zhepko - 503-MN, Serhii Belenko - 403-MA, Valerii Tkachenko - 501-MV, Taras Kachan - 501-BPS, Artur Aroian - 301-AD), 40 first category athletes, 197 mass category athletes. The number of students attending sports sections has increased significantly - 391 people, which demonstrates the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the development of student sports.
From 2012 to 2019, Yurii Moroz, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, was appointed Head of the Department of Physical Education, Sports and Human Health.
In 2012, the Department of Physical Education was renamed to the Department of Physical Education, Sports and Human Health. It successfully passes the licensing of the major 010203 "Human Health" and begins training future specialists in physical rehabilitation (first (bachelor's) level of higher education).
In 2016-2017, the School licensed and started training masters in the speciality 017 "Physical Culture and Sports" (2016) and bachelors in the speciality 017 "Physical Culture and Sports" (2017).
The pride of the university in student sports today is:
Daria Brazhnyk - International Master of Sports of Ukraine in Powerlifting, winner of the 2019 World Junior Championships, 2019 European Junior Championships, winner of the Person of the Year Award in the Athlete of the Year of Poltava nomination.
Kovalchuk Anastasiia Oleksandrivna - International Master of Sports of Ukraine in billiards, winner of the 2019 Dynamic Pyramid Championship of Ukraine, bronze medallist of the 2019 World Championship.
Olga Korsun - International Master of Sports of Ukraine in athletics.
Bedukha Maksym Ruslanovych - Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine in volleyball, silver medallist of the Cyprus Championship and Cup as a member of the Olimpias Frenap team.
Yevhen Vitaliiovych Politko - Master of Sports of Ukraine in volleyball, bronze medallist of the 2018 Ukrainian Cup, bronze medallist of the 2018 Ukrainian Super League Volleyball Championship.
Onipko Bohdan Serhiiovych - Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine in volleyball, participant of the 2019 World University Games as a member of the Ukrainian national team (Naples, Italy).
Denys Shcherbak - Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine in table tennis, participant of the IX European University Games among students in table tennis (EUSA) (Camerino, Italy), silver medalist of the Club Championship of Ukraine, Major League among men's teams in 2018-2019.
Kateryna Petrenko - Champion of Ukraine in Dragon class rowing (27-29.09.2019, Horishni Plavni)
Didura Romana and Kupriianova Yana - Champions of Ukraine in Dragon class rowing (27-29.09.2019, Horishni Plavni).
Nikita Solovey - Champion of Poltava region in the military-sports all-around in the P-3 exercise (October 2019).
Anton Zaporozhets - Champion of Ukraine as a member of the men's national team in classic powerlifting (2018, 2019