Abstract: The problems in the process of cultivating the teaching ability of physical education students of normal universities are explored and suggestions for the improvement are proposed. With the empirical reflections on the formation of teaching ability for physical education students of normal universities, it is held that the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) provides theoretical support for the teaching ability development. The problems of teaching ability cultivation for normal university students are as follows: physical education educators fail to fully grasp the practical requirements of the reform for physical education teaching; the lack of teachers' demonstration affects the formation of students' PCK; the teaching of core courses does not "activate" students' PCK; these students' teaching ability is not fully related to the physical education teaching at grassroots level; the students failed to use relevant professional knowledge to solve the teaching problem related to motor skills. The countermeasures for improvement are put forward: physical education teachers and educators should demonstrate their teaching based on advanced theory and practice; the physical training teaching should improve the teaching ability of students based on the integrated teaching reform; theoretical course teaching should be connected with the physical education teaching practice to "activate" the PCK; teachers should create the situation and use digital to empower physical education; and educational practice quality should be rigidly controlled and study strategies for practical courses be optimized.