women football coaches' perceptions of fair play: a metaphorical journey from uefa a, b and c licensed coaches

This study aims to deeply examine the perceptions and attitudes of women football coaches towards the concept of fair play through the use of metaphors. the research involved gathering qualitative data from 41 women football coaches holding uefa a, b, and c licenses through an open-ended questionnaire. the participants described fair play using metaphors associated with core values such as justice, balance, honesty, and empathy, revealing the multidimensional nature of the concept. the study demonstrates that fair play is not only a sporting principle but also an ethical value that supports social change. in this context, strategic recommendations for the promotion of fair play have been proposed. these include fostering discipline, restructuring athlete education based on fair play principles, and implementing awareness-raising campaigns in society. this research presents a multidimensional analysis of women football coaches' metaphorical perceptions of fair play. it highlights that fair play is not merely a value in sports but also a concept grounded in universal values such as justice, equality, and empathy. this underscores the importance of women coaches' leadership roles in establishing a sustainable framework for sports ethics.