Measuring Fair Play in Inclusive Sports: Insights from SportWay Italy 2025

Fair play is more than a code of conduct; it is the cornerstone of any truly inclusive sports experience. Within the framework of SportWay Italy 2025, fair play was not only encouraged—it was actively measured, promoted, and celebrated as an essential value to ensure that all participants, regardless of age, background, or ability, could fully engage in a safe, respectful, and empowering environment.

The Italian edition of SportWay, held in Possagno on 16–17 May 2025, adopted a systematic and evidence-based approach to evaluating fair play during its inclusive sports activities. Through the implementation of a standardized Fair Play Checklist, completed by workshop facilitators and sports coaches at the end of each session, the project aimed to monitor the behavioural quality of interactions and identify best practices that support mutual respect, cooperation, and non-discrimination.

This strategic focus on measuring fair play was aligned with the broader goals of the Erasmus+ Sport programme: to promote social inclusion through physical activity and to foster intercultural dialogue, civic values, and solidarity. The Italian case study therefore offers valuable insights for any future initiative seeking to combine sports-based learning with inclusive community-building.

The use of the checklist served multiple purposes:

• It provided immediate, structured feedback on participant behavior.
• It enabled organizers to assess the effectiveness of inclusive strategies.
• It created a shared vocabulary around fairness, inclusion, and teamwork.
• It ensured that inclusion was not just aspirational, but observable and measurable.

SportWay Italy 2025 thus established a replicable model for assessing fair play in mixed-ability and multicultural contexts, where sport becomes a powerful tool for education, social transformation, and cohesion.

Why Measure Fair Play in Inclusive Events?

Measuring fair play in inclusive sports events is not a symbolic gesture—it is a strategic and essential action to ensure that the values of inclusion, equity, and respect are not only promoted but also monitored, validated, and improved over time. In the context of SportWay Italy 2025, this measurement was integral to assessing the true quality of interaction among participants, especially in a setting that brought together individuals of varying ages, backgrounds, physical abilities, and social conditions.

Fair play in inclusive sport extends far beyond adherence to the rules of the game. It encapsulates the entire ethical framework of participation: the willingness to support others, the capacity to adapt one’s actions to accommodate different needs, the use of respectful language, the acceptance of diverse outcomes, and the active engagement in creating a safe and supportive environment for all. Particularly in mixed-ability settings, where individuals with and without disabilities interact on equal footing, fair play becomes a critical indicator of social cohesion, psychological safety, and interpersonal growth.

The systematic assessment of fair play offers a number of strategic benefits:

• Reinforcement of Ethical Values: Monitoring fair play reinforces fundamental values such as respect, cooperation, empathy, and integrity among all participants—including players, coaches, facilitators, volunteers, and spectators.
• Qualitative Evaluation of Engagement: The checklist tool allows organizers to gather qualitative data on how participants interact with each other and with the context. This helps to capture nuances that go beyond technical skills, such as emotional intelligence, peer support, and group dynamics.
• Evidence-Based Event Planning: By analyzing fair play scores and feedback across different sports and workshops, organizers are able to identify strengths and gaps, and to design future events that build on effective strategies while addressing areas for improvement.
• Transparency and Accountability: Introducing fair play measurement as a standard component of event evaluation promotes a culture of accountability among implementing partners and communicates a clear commitment to inclusive excellence.
• Promotion of Reflective Practice: Facilitators and sports coaches benefit from the checklist as a reflective tool, encouraging critical thinking about their own methods, communication style, and capacity to foster inclusive interactions. This creates opportunities for professional growth and peer-to-peer learning.

Ultimately, the deliberate choice to measure fair play positions inclusive sports not merely as physical activity, but as a structured and transformative educational practice—where respect is practiced, cooperation is celebrated, and inclusion is made tangible.

The Methodology: The Fair Play Checklist

In order to evaluate the level of fair play during the SportWay Italy 2025 event, a structured observational tool—the Fair Play Checklist—was implemented across all inclusive sports workshops and tournaments. This tool was designed to collect standardized yet flexible data that could reflect both quantitative and qualitative aspects of participant behavior and interpersonal dynamics in real time.

Each coach or representative from the responsible sports association was required to complete the checklist immediately following the conclusion of their session or match. The checklist consisted of nine core statements, each rated using a Likert scale from 1 (do not agree) to 5 (absolutely agree). These statements were carefully designed to measure key indicators of fair and inclusive behavior, and encompassed the following thematic areas:

• Equal Opportunity to Play – Evaluating whether all participants, regardless of ability, background, or experience, were given a meaningful chance to take part in the activity.
• Use of Respectful Language – Assessing verbal interactions to ensure they were appropriate, inclusive, and non-discriminatory.
• Absence of Offensive Behavior – Observing if participants refrained from mocking, excluding, or negatively judging others during the activity.
• Adaptation of Gameplay – Verifying whether participants voluntarily adjusted their level of play to accommodate peers in situations of lesser physical or technical capacity.
• Trainer’s Cooperative Attitude – Considering the role of the trainer or facilitator in promoting collaboration and encouraging ethical behavior.
• Acceptance of Game Outcomes – Checking if participants demonstrated emotional resilience and positive attitudes regardless of winning or losing.
• Willingness to Collaborate Across Differences – Measuring openness to teamwork with individuals of different abilities, age groups, or cultural backgrounds.
• Post-Game Appreciation – Observing whether participants congratulated one another after the session or game, recognizing each other’s efforts.
• Rule Compliance without Cheating – Ensuring that the spirit of the rules was respected and that no unsporting conduct was observed.

In addition to the numeric scoring, the checklist included an open-ended comment section. This field served a crucial purpose: it allowed coaches and facilitators to provide qualitative feedback, such as anecdotes, noteworthy behaviors, exceptional acts of kindness or leadership, and contextual factors that may have influenced dynamics during the activity. These observations enriched the data collected and offered deeper insight into the lived experience of participants.

This methodology ensured a multi-dimensional evaluation of fair play—not just based on predefined metrics, but also grounded in direct human observation. The results gathered from these checklists played a pivotal role in identifying the recipient of the Fair Play Cup, while also serving as a formative assessment tool to improve future programming.

Here is the Fair Play Checklist used below:

Tournament in (select): ______________________________________ 

Choose accordingly (1 – do not agree, 5 – absolutely agree): 

Statement	1	2	3	4	5
All of the participants had a chance to play.
Participants used appropriate language.
Participants did not offend the opponent or co-player.
If needed, participants adapted their level of playing in accordance with their opponent (being in a  weaker situation).
Trainer (mentor/teacher) supported his team in a spirit of cooperation.
The participants accepted any kind of result from their game.
The participants were ready to cooperate with any kind of individual in their team (regardless of their abilities).
After the game, the participants congratulated each other.
Participants respected the rules of the game without cheating.
Any other observations:

I filled in the questionnaire as (select): trainer / mentor / teacher / accompanying person / referee / other:____________

Key Findings from SportWay Italy 2025

The implementation of the Fair Play Checklist across 21 inclusive sports disciplines at the SportWay Italy 2025 event yielded consistently high results, confirming the strong alignment between the project’s objectives and the lived experience of its participants. The data collected, both quantitative and qualitative, highlighted several key dimensions of success that exemplify the transformative power of sport as a tool for inclusion and social cohesion. The following insights were particularly noteworthy:

1. Universal Participation
   All coaches and facilitators reported that every participant—regardless of physical ability, cognitive condition, or sporting experience—was given an equal opportunity to engage in the activity. This was particularly evident in disciplines such as inclusive rugby and baskin (inclusive basketball), which are inherently structured to offer adaptive roles suited to each individual. These sports provided a tangible demonstration of functional inclusion, with every role being meaningful and every contribution valued.
2. Language and Respect
   Across all workshops and matches, no incidents of inappropriate language or disrespectful behavior were reported. Participants consistently exhibited a high degree of empathy, emotional regulation, and social awareness. These attributes were especially pronounced in activities such as pet therapy and inclusive karate, where the relational dimension between participants—and in some cases between humans and animals—was central to the experience. The respectful atmosphere fostered a strong sense of safety and mutual recognition.
3. Adaptability in Gameplay
   In several disciplines, including inclusive football, inclusive table tennis, and paragolf, experienced athletes spontaneously adjusted their performance levels to match those of their teammates or opponents with different abilities. This behavioral flexibility demonstrated an advanced understanding of peer support, and was explicitly mentioned in multiple checklists as a best practice in facilitating inclusive sport. The capacity to adapt in real time emerged as a key indicator of fairness, solidarity, and ethical sportsmanship.
4. Emotional Maturity and Team Spirit
   Particularly moving was the feedback from the Abi Rugby inclusive match, where players consistently celebrated each other’s efforts, regardless of technical success or match outcome. The spirit of gratitude and mutual encouragement that characterized the session illustrated the profound social and emotional learning embedded in inclusive sport. Such moments underscore how inclusive environments can foster not only technical learning, but also emotional intelligence, resilience, and interpersonal competence.
5. Trainers as Role Models
   The presence and attitude of trainers, facilitators, and volunteers emerged as a critical success factor across all activities. Their non-competitive framing of exercises, verbal encouragement, and visible support of participants contributed significantly to shaping the climate of inclusion. Trainers were instrumental in modeling respectful interaction, promoting team cohesion, and ensuring that every participant was valued beyond performance outcomes.
6. Cultural and Structural Inclusion
   Activities that moved beyond traditional sport formats—such as the guided parcours for blindfolded participants and the inclusive zumba workshop—offered powerful examples of how movement can serve as a medium for cultural expression, trust-building, and human connection. These sessions emphasized co-presence over competition, and were often described by coaches as the most impactful in terms of emotional engagement and group bonding.

Overall, the consistently high Fair Play scores and rich narrative feedback reflect the depth of inclusion achieved during SportWay Italy 2025. They also provide an evidence-based foundation for the continued development and replication of inclusive sporting models across Europe.

Recognizing Excellence in Fair Play

Among the numerous workshops and disciplines showcased during SportWay Italy 2025, one stood out in particular for its extraordinary demonstration of inclusive values, ethical conduct, and team spirit. The SportWay Fair Play Cup — the event’s highest recognition for exemplary behavior — was awarded to Abi Rugby, whose inclusive workshop embodied the essence of fair play in every dimension.

Over the course of both days, the Abi Rugby team consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to mutual support, active listening, and emotional inclusion. Participants celebrated not only individual effort but collective growth, regardless of differences in ability, age, or background. Facilitators noted that players spontaneously rotated roles to ensure that everyone could engage meaningfully, and that team members regularly paused to encourage one another, offer assistance, or recognize each other’s achievements.

This environment of mutual respect and solidarity turned the rugby session into more than just a sport activity — it became a transformative social space, where empathy, dignity, and joy coexisted through physical movement and teamwork. Abi Rugby’s inclusive approach served as a compelling illustration of how sports can become a vehicle for changing mindsets, dissolving stereotypes, and building enduring bonds between individuals and communities.

The awarding of the Fair Play Cup to Abi Rugby not only celebrates a moment of excellence but also reinforces the SportWay project’s central message: inclusion is a shared responsibility, and fair play is the foundation upon which inclusive sport must stand.

Looking Forward: Recommendations and Next Steps

The successful implementation of the Fair Play Checklist during SportWay Italy 2025 highlights the value of systematically monitoring ethical and inclusive behaviors in the context of adaptive and mixed-ability sports events. The outcomes underscore the potential of such tools not only to capture qualitative insights but also to inform evidence-based improvements for future activities.

To further strengthen the culture of inclusion and fair play across the SportWay partnership and beyond, we recommend the following next steps:

1. Embed Fair Play Indicators from the Start
   Future events should integrate Fair Play criteria as early as the activity design phase. Clear indicators related to inclusion, cooperation, empathy, and ethical behavior should be established alongside technical and logistical requirements, ensuring they are part of the event’s conceptual framework.
2. Train Coaches and Facilitators on Inclusive Practices
   Organizers should offer dedicated training modules or briefing sessions to prepare facilitators to identify, encourage, and reinforce inclusive behaviors. This includes understanding how to mediate conflicts, adapt gameplay to diverse abilities, and promote group cohesion through positive reinforcement.
3. Introduce Self-Assessment Tools for Participants
   Empowering participants to reflect on their own behavior through simplified, age-appropriate versions of the Fair Play checklist can enhance self-awareness and ownership. Involving athletes in the evaluation process can deepen their understanding of inclusion as a personal and collective responsibility.
4. Conduct Post-Event Analysis and Reporting
   The aggregated data and qualitative comments collected through the checklist should be systematically reviewed after each event. This process can help identify recurring strengths and challenges, highlight exemplary practices, and inform the development of tailored improvements for subsequent activities.
5. Create a Shared Repository of Good Practices
   Fair Play data and insights should be curated into a transnational repository — a digital toolkit of inclusive sport strategies — to be shared across all SportWay partners and made available to other Erasmus+ and EU-funded initiatives. Such a resource would foster mutual learning and enhance the sustainability and scalability of inclusive sport interventions across Europe.

By formalizing these recommendations, the SportWay project not only upholds its commitment to fairness and inclusion but also contributes to shaping a more cohesive, respectful, and empowering European sport landscape for all.

Measuring fair play in inclusive sports is not merely about evaluating behavior — it is about nurturing a culture of dignity, cooperation, and joy. At SportWay Italy 2025, the Fair Play Checklist became a compass for both facilitators and participants, guiding them toward deeper connection and mutual growth. The overwhelmingly positive feedback confirms that sport — when practiced inclusively — becomes a powerful driver of social change.

By continuing to track and promote fair play, SportWay strengthens its role as a European model for inclusive sporting practices, affirming that the game is never just about the score — it’s about how we play, together.