Theoretical Rationale and Pathways for Ideological and Political Education in University Public Football Courses from the Perspective of Moral Education and Talent Cultivation

Focusing on the theoretical foundation and practical strategies for ideological and political (I&P) education within university public football courses, this study takes International College of Football Tongji University as a single-case reference. Guided by Marx's concept of all-round human development, hidden curriculum theory and constructivist pedagogies, the research explicates five core dimensions — "cultivating morality via football, inspiring intelligence via football, strengthening physical fitness via football, nurturing aesthetics via football, and promoting labor spirit via football" — to illustrate the comprehensive educational value inherent in football training. Through an in-depth analysis of curriculum design, faculty development and evaluation mechanism at Tongji University, the findings show that a multi-faceted approach combining explicit instruction and implicit immersion, supported by a systematic teacher training plan, effectively enhances students' sense of responsibility, teamwork, labor awareness and overall competencies. Meanwhile, a dynamic evaluation framework ensures the sustained realization and continuous refinement of course I&P objectives. The study concludes that, to implement football course I&P education successfully, universities must integrate contextual resources, tailor teacher capacity building, and establish robust feedback loops, thereby contributing to an integrated reform model that advances both "sport-education synergy" and "values-based cultivation".