From Exam Orientation to Educational Value: Rethinking Junior High School Football Education in China

Abstract

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.