The Latvian Academy of Sport Education is the only education institution of a specialized university type in Latvia that trains sports specialists. The Academy was founded on September 6, 1921, as the Latvian Institute of Physical Education, but in 8. In November 1991, it was renamed the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE). LASE is an accredited (14.07.1998) state higher education institution; the studies are held in the Latvian language. The Constitution of the Academy was affirmed on July 8, 1998, by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Republic of Latvia Nr 352.
The Latvian Academy of Sport Education is a state higher education institution that realizes accredited study programs to train specialists to work in education, sport, state, municipal institutions and organizations as they have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead and organize education, sport, health-promoting, and other activities.
LASE graduates are trained specialists to work in education, sports, state and local government institutions, organizations, and business companies. They have acquired the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to run and organize education, sport, health strengthening, and other activities.
During 95 years of its existence, about 10 000 sports specialists have graduated from the Latvian Academy of Sport Education.
The necessity for establishing a particular education institution arose in spring 1919 when the progressive press noted that physical education theoretical issues and forms of its organization require their scientific foundations. The Latvian Ministry of Education accepted this necessity of society, and on September 6, 1921, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to establish the Latvian Institute of Physical Education (LFII). Student theoretical education was started in Riga, Nikolaj (now: Valdemara) Street 1, and practice sessions were organized in school gyms and stadiums.
The goal of the Institute was to train teachers of physical education, work out theoretical and practical issues of physical education, supervision of physical development, and physical education in the country. The first leader of the Institute was Rumpmuiža school teacher Mārtiņš Krūze (Martin Kruze). Institute training lasted for two years and involved 1400 hours of theoretical and practical study courses. In specialist, preparation emphasis was put on their practical training, which accounted for 65.3% of the study volume. In turn, in practical preparation, gymnastics and physical activities connected with gymnastics prevailed. This emphasis was influenced by the fact that at that time, physical education was called gymnastics, but the teachers - teachers of gymnastics. On November 3, 1922, the study plan, realized at the Institute, was reviewed, introducing the condition that students will take an exam in each of 21 study subjects at the end of studying. On November 15, 1922, doctor Dr. Jēkabs Dille was the Head of the Institute.
Considering the importance of physical education and the need to have Physical Education teachers at schools, on October 2, 1926, within Latvian Folk University was opened Institute of Physical Education (LTU FAI).
At the basis of the activity of LTU FAI, the organization, the general character of studies, and requirements of the former Institute were used. The Institute worked according to plans and programs, affirmed by the Ministry of Education, the duration of studies was three years. Voldemārs Cekuls, the inspector of Physical Education of the Ministry of Education, was appointed to be the head of LTU FAI. During its existence (1929-1940), LTU FAI prepared 189 specialists of Physical Education, from which 179 received the Diploma, confirming graduation from the Institute, but 10 – about having attended classes as listeners. LTU FAI ceased its work in 1940, and its head Voldemārs Cekuls was deported from Latvia on June 14, 1941. In the period from 1921 to 1940, the Institute was graduated by 267 teachers of Physical Education.
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