Sports Values and Their Role in the Athletic Excellence of Premier League Football Players

This study aims to highlight the role of sports values in achieving athletic excellence among players of Premier League football clubs. It emphasizes the importance of values such as fairness, integrity, cooperation, respect for opponents, and self-discipline as complementary elements to physical and technical skills. These values contribute to shaping the ideal athlete’s character and enhancing team performance. The research problem lies in the presence of behavioral disorders among some players despite their high technical skills, which calls for investigating the impact of moral dimensions on athletic performance. The researcher adopted the descriptive-analytical method to examine the relationship between sports values and athletic excellence. The research sample included 460 players from Iraqi Premier League clubs for the 2024–2025 season, selected intentionally. Data was collected using two scientifically designed questionnaires one measuring sports values and the other athletic excellence. The questionnaires covered multiple areas and were validated through internal consistency and Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficients. The results revealed a statistically significant correlation between sports values and the level of athletic excellence, indicating that behavioral values contribute to enhancing players’ efficiency on the field, while also positively influencing their psychological stability and behavioral discipline. The study recommends integrating value-based education into official training programs and empowering coaches and administrators to promote ethical practices among players, with the aim of fostering a competitive, healthy, and balanced environment that combines high performance with upright conduct.