Development of an Integrated Life Skills-Based Football Program to Promote Fair Play among Youth Players Aged 14–17

This study aimed to: (1) develop a model construct of integrated life skills to enhance fair play in football; (2) evaluate the validity of the integrated life skills model; (3) assess the practicality of the model's user guide; and (4) examine the effectiveness of the model in promoting fair play among youth football players. This research employed a Research and Development (R&D) design using the 4D model—Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate. The validation process involved seven expert validators, while feasibility was assessed by seven coaches from five football academies. The practicality test was conducted by six coaches from three academies. For the effectiveness test, a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group was used, involving 38 players aged 14–17 from two football academies. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, observations, and documentation. Aiken's V was used for content validity analysis, descriptive statistics were applied to analyze feasibility and practicality, and an independent sample t-test was conducted to assess effectiveness. The study successfully developed an integrated life skills-based football training model to foster fair play. The feasibility test yielded an average score of 4.53 in the initial trial and 4.75 in the subsequent trial. The practicality test produced an average score of 4.90. The effectiveness test resulted in a significance value (2-tailed) of 0.004 (p < 0.05), indicating a statistically significant effect of the model on improving fair play among youth football players. Beyond its statistical contribution, the model provides practical guidance for coaches in embedding life skills into training sessions, supports football academies in cultivating ethical behavior among players, and offers policymakers a framework for integrating fair play education into national youth development and coach licensing programs.