The article justifies the necessity of training a future teacher of physical education to teach students of a general secondary education institution the basics of self-defense. The content of the course «Theory and method of teaching self-defense» is presented. Specific aspects of work with schoolchildren, which aim to expand the content of teacher training from self-defense techniques to the problems of his psychological and pedagogical support, are considered. It is emphasized that the readiness of the future physical education teacher to teach schoolchildren the basics of self-defense should combine both technological and psychological aspects, provide for the availability of relevant legal knowledge and the ability to organize educational activities with schoolchildren on a communicative basis, jointly modeling the problem and finding out acceptable and unacceptable ways to its solution. The children's audience has a number of specific characteristics that must be taken into account when forming the ability of self-defense in students, and the teacher must be aware of his responsibility to them as a person who teaches not only how to defend against attackers, but also how to consciously and versatile approach the situation, make optimal behavioral choice. Therefore, the teacher's preparation for teaching schoolchildren the basics of self-defense should also include the development of his ability to effectively organize the necessary communication with students, choose relevant examples, freely operate with legal provisions and adequately illustrate their content and meaning.

The article reveals the content and structure of the program of the educational discipline «Pedagogy of physical culture and sports activities», in accordance with the educational and professional training program for applicants of the second (master's) level of higher education in the specialty 014 Secondary education (Physical culture), which was introduced into the educational process of the Faculty of Physical Education of the Poltava Korolenko V.G. National Pedagogical University, the purpose of which is to form in students a system of knowledge and professional and pedagogical skills necessary for organizational, methodical and educational work on issues of physical and sports education.The expected results of training in the discipline are: to name the theoretical foundations of the process of physical and sports education of children of different ages and sexes; theoretical and methodological foundations of physical education in educational institutions of various types; patterns of physical development of children of different ages and sexes; creatively apply the acquired knowledge from the theory of physical and sports education when solving pedagogical, educational, scientific and methodological tasks, taking into account the age and individual differences of children; evaluate and analyze the level of physical development and physical readiness of children of different ages for a certain type of sport; to plan, organize and carry out work on physical and sports education of children of different ages and genders; to form in children a system of knowledge, skills and a conscious need for systematic physical education and sports and a healthy way of life.Scientific studies devoted to the problem of professional and pedagogical training of a physical education teacher have been analyzed.