ISSN: 2226-6348
Open access
Under the comprehensive reform of the Physical Education Entrance Examination in China, football has become an essential component of junior high school physical education as one of the elective test items. To explore the current situation of football education under exam-oriented pressure, this study selected ten junior high schools in Nanchang City as research subjects. Using questionnaires, literature review, and classroom observation, the study analyzed the implementation of football courses in terms of teaching content, teacher allocation, facilities, student participation, and policy influence. The results show that while the PE entrance examination has increased the importance attached to football education, the curriculum remains largely exam-oriented, with overly simplified teaching content and insufficient focus on tactics, theory, and match experience. The shortage of qualified teachers, uneven resource distribution, and limited professional development opportunities restrict the quality of football instruction. Students’ participation is mainly motivated by exam requirements rather than genuine interest, and the educational and formative value of football has not been fully realized. Moreover, policy implementation at the grassroots level remains weak, showing a gap between official directives and actual practice. The study concludes that to enhance the effectiveness of football education, it is necessary to restructure curricula, strengthen teacher training, improve facility and resource allocation, and reform evaluation mechanisms, thereby transforming football courses from an exam-driven model to an educational and value-oriented one. This transformation will promote students’ physical health, teamwork, and holistic development.
Alesi, M., Bianco, A., Padulo, J., Luppina, G., Petrucci, M., Paoli, A., Palma, A., & Pepi, A. (2015). Motor and cognitive growth following a football training program. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1627.
Alfurqan, A., Syaputri, W., Okilanda, A., Yulianti, A. I., Indra, Y., Hastianah, H., Isnaeni, M., Widyasari, W., & Amrista, R. (2024). Islamic values and cultural identity in world cup football commentary. Retos: Nuevas Tendencias En Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación, 59, 1149–1157.
Broekkamp, H., & Van Hout-Wolters, B. (2007). The gap between educational research and practice: A literature review, symposium, and questionnaire. Educational Research and Evaluation, 13(3), 203–220. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803610701626127
Dixon, C. E. (2020). Teaching physical education in nontraditional settings [PhD Thesis, Auburn University]. https://search.proquest.com/openview/7d85a43455013352b67423a56c95994f/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Dong, J., Mo, L., Shi, Y., Lu, D., Guo, C., Wan, Z., & Wan, B. (2023). Effects of the policy of physical education entrance examination for senior high school on health in middle school students. Sustainability, 15(2), 1701.
Gaoa, A., Chen, Z., Li, S., Zhang, C., & Quan, Z. (2021). Exploring the development of Chinese campus football from the perspective of health. Development, 3(2), 18–20.
García-Ceberino, J. M., Gamero, M. G., Feu, S., & Ibáñez, S. J. (2020a). Differences in technical and tactical learning of football according to the teaching methodology: A study in an educational context. Sustainability, 12(16), 6554.
García-Ceberino, J. M., Gamero, M. G., Feu, S., & Ibáñez, S. J. (2020b). Differences in technical and tactical learning of football according to the teaching methodology: A study in an educational context. Sustainability, 12(16), 6554.
Ghaleb, B. D. S. (2024). Effect of exam-focused and teacher-centered education systems on students’ cognitive and psychological competencies. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach Research and Science, 2(2), 611–631.
Hasballah, T. (2024). Implementasi kurikulum merdeka: Tantangan, kebijakan, dan dampak terhadap pendidikan. Jurnal Ilmiah Edukatif, 10(2), 312–322.
Ismail, G., Ridwan, M., & Ockta, Y. (2024). Analysis of teenage students’ moral through physical education. Journal of Education, Teaching and Learning, 9(1), 1–6.
Jin AiJing, J. A. (2013). Physical education curriculum reform in China: A perspective from physical education teachers. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20133091813
LIU, F., JIANG, B., & SU, Y. (2021). On realistic dilemma and development optimum path of cultivating reserve talents of Chinese campus football. Journal of Southwest China Normal University (Natural Science Edition), 46(10), 141–145.
Lundvall, S., & Fröberg, A. (2023). From individual to lifelong environmental processes: Reframing health in physical education with the sustainable development goals. Sport, Education and Society, 28(6), 684–696. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2022.2062320
Mazlumi, F. (1999). The importance of physical education in schools. Journal of Zivar & Varzesh, 1, 24–28.
Muratov, M. (2025a). Futbol o ‘yinining maktab o ‘quvchilari jamoaviylik va yetakchilik ko ‘nikmalarini shakllantirishdagi pedagogik ahamiyati. TAMADDUN NURI JURNALI, 6(69), 51–53.
Muratov, M. (2025b). Futbol o ‘yinining maktab o ‘quvchilari jamoaviylik va yetakchilik ko ‘nikmalarini shakllantirishdagi pedagogik ahamiyati. TAMADDUN NURI JURNALI, 6(69), 51–53.
Muratov, M. (2025c). Futbol o ‘yinining maktab o ‘quvchilari jamoaviylik va yetakchilik ko ‘nikmalarini shakllantirishdagi pedagogik ahamiyati. TAMADDUN NURI JURNALI, 6(69), 51–53.
Paveling, B., Vidovich, L., & Oakley, G. (2019). Global to local tensions in the production and enactment of physical education curriculum policy reforms. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 10(2), 141–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2019.1583066
Peng, Q., Chen, Z., Li, J., Houlihan, B., & Scelles, N. (2023). The new hope of Chinese football? Youth football reforms and policy conflicts in the implementation process. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(6), 1928–1950. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2083649
Siedentop, D., & Van der Mars, H. (2022). Introduction to physical education, fitness, and sport. Human kinetics. https://books.google.com/books?hl=zh-CN&lr=&id=RTFaEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=The+issues+of+introducing+football+into+elective+physical+education+courses+at+universities&ots=uCwp1X9BnQ&sig=7_fYBXUBZFK5oooGNi5X2lSeH6o
Skelton, C. (2000). ‘a passion for football’: Dominant masculinities and primary schooling. Sport, Education and Society, 5(1), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/135733200114406
Song, K. (2023a). A case study of soccer education in China’s leibo county. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 11(12), 528–547.
Song, K. (2023b). A case study of soccer education in China’s leibo county. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 11(12), 528–547.
Tendinha, R., Alves, M. D., Freitas, T., Appleton, G., Gonçalves, L., Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., & Marques, A. (2021a). Impact of sports education model in physical education on students’ motivation: A systematic review. Children, 8(7), 588.
Tendinha, R., Alves, M. D., Freitas, T., Appleton, G., Gonçalves, L., Ihle, A., Gouveia, É. R., & Marques, A. (2021b). Impact of sports education model in physical education on students’ motivation: A systematic review. Children, 8(7), 588.
Thorburn, M. (2019). ‘when an old cricketer leaves the crease’: Bittersweet reflections on examination awards in physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 24(4), 404–414. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2017.1401533
Yan, J., Smith, J., Morgan, P., & Eather, N. (2021). A historical review of physical education in China (1949-2020). https://openresearch.newcastle.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/A_Historical_Review_of_Physical_Education_in_China_1949-2020_/28997099
Yang, W. (2025). Enhancing governance in Chinese football characteristic schools: A collaborative approach to overcome challenges and promote sports development. International Journal of Education and Humanities, 5(1), 168–178.
Yao, G., Zhang, L., Corpuz, G. V., & Austria, R. S. (2021). Research on the key issues in the development of Chinese campus football. Frontiers in Sport Research, 3(3), 17–25.
Yao, T., Noordin, H., Suppiah, P. K., & Singh, S. S. B. (2023). Lack of interest cultivation: The impact of exam-oriented education on Chinese school physical education. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 12(4). https://www.academia.edu/download/124304038/lack-of-interest-cultivation-the-impact-of-exam-oriented-education-on-chinese-school-physical-education.pdf
Zhang, B., & Tian, Q. (2021). Curriculum ideological and political ideas and exploration of the path to incorporate football curriculum. Frontiers in Educational Research, 4(5). https://francis-press.com/uploads/papers/3Du2Pq94riJY7dSPxK8T33p9iUkw24EYKrj9RwQb.pdf
Zhao, H., & Meng, H. (2021). Research on the connotation and development strategy of Chinese campus football culture from the perspective of the integration of sports and education. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 9(3), 157–163.
?????????, ?. ?., ????????, ?. ?., & ?????, ?. A. (2023). Football as a basic tool of physical education for higher education acquires. ???????? ??????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????????? ????? ??????? ???????????. ????? 15, 3K (162), 21–25.
Lei, Y., & Morazuki, S. R. (2025). From Exam Orientation to Educational Value: Rethinking Junior High School Football Education in China. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 14(4), 1342–1354.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode