NURTURING STRONG AND HEALTHY BODIES: SOCCER AND BODY MODELING AT COLÉGIO DIOCESANO PIO X – JOÃO PESSOA - PARAÍBA (1910-1954)

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing the presence of soccer in a physical education program and how it was used as a tool to shape bodies at the educational institution Colégio Diocesano Pio X from 1910 to 1954. To achieve this goal, this qualitative documentary research explored medical and pedagogical discourses published in newspapers and magazines edited in Paraiba, Brazil, from 1910 to 1954. As for the theoretical and methodological frameworks, the study drew on Michel Foucault’s work on Disciplinary Power to reflect upon the construction of a project on body education of the aforementioned institution. Accordingly, it also engaged in dialogue with the field of History of Health, Education, and Body so as to shed light on the areas of research under study. Results emphasized that both soccer and physical education were responsible for enacting an educational project that acted upon the body of the youth to have this body shaped, disciplined, trained, medicalized, and taught.