Life Skills Development of Vulnerable Children in Medan through FIFA Football for School

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_26How to use a DOI?

Keywords

life skills; sport for development; football; vulnerable children

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the development of life skills among children from vulnerable backgrounds in Medan through the implementation of the FIFA Football for Schools program. The study is grounded in the issue of limited access to positive social environments and structured learning experiences that support the development of adaptive life skills among vulnerable children. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, involving participants aged 12–14 years from vulnerable communities participating in the program. Data were collected through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns of life skills development. The findings indicate that life skills development occurs multidimensionally, encompassing personal development, social skills, social awareness, decision-making, health awareness, and self-protection. Participants demonstrated increased confidence, improved communication and teamwork, and enhanced awareness of social and health-related issues. However, certain negative behaviors, such as the use of harsh language and minor aggression, were still observed, indicating that the development process is gradual and influenced by prior social conditions. The study concludes that football-based programs provide an effective experiential learning environment that facilitates life skills development through active participation, social interaction, and reflection. The findings highlight the importance of consistent program implementation and the role of coaches as key socialization agents in achieving sustainable outcomes.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Efrida Eriani Hsb
AU  - Rahma Dewi
AU  - Indra Kasih
AU  - Amir Supriadi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/24
TI  - Life Skills Development of Vulnerable Children in Medan through FIFA Football for School
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of Sport Science, Sport Coaching Science, and Physical Education, and Recreation 2025 (ICOSSCOPER 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 268
EP  - 278
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_26
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-591-1_26
ID  - Hsb2026
ER  -