Sportsmanship and Teamwork through Cooperative Games among College Students: A Mixed Method Study

Cooperative games have emerged as a promising pedagogical tool for enhancing sportsmanship and teamwork among college students, addressing the growing need for collaborative skills in both academic and real-world settings. This mixed-methods study investigated the impact of cooperative games on teamwork skills within the Physical Activities Towards Health and Fitness One (PATH-FIT 1) curriculum at a Higher Education Institution in Rizal, Philippines. Drawing on a descriptive-correlational design complemented by thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, data were collected from 60 college students to quantitatively assess key aspects of teamwork—such as communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution—while qualitatively exploring personal experiences and perceptions of cooperative gameplay. The results revealed an overall positive perception of teamwork, with high mean scores in areas including active cooperation, effective communication, and mutual support, and demonstrated that age significantly predicts improvements in teamwork skills. In contrast, gender does not exert a notable effect. The thematic analysis further underscored the importance of effective communication, inclusivity, reflective debriefing sessions, and the incorporation of real-world scenarios into game design. These findings suggest that integrating cooperative games into the curriculum bolsters sportsmanship and interpersonal relationships and provides actionable insights for educators to create more engaging and supportive learning environments. Recommendations include emphasizing communication and role assignments, promoting inclusivity through team rotation, shifting focus from competition to collaboration, and providing professional development for PATH-FIT instructors to design practical cooperative activities.