This paper dwells on the model of sports and education integration of ice hockey clubs of Chinese youth. To combat the existing problems of disconnection between physical education in schools and professional training, developmental gaps in the young athletes, and lack of motivation to participate, this research project develops the effectiveness assessment system based on the motivation to participate, the development of skills, and the long-term development. According to the follow-up data of 42 youth ice hockey clubs in 8 provinces (municipalities) in China between 2019 and 2025, 1286 valid samples were obtained. The mechanism of action of the implementation path of sports and education integration was analyzed with the help of structural equation modeling (SEM). The approaches were: (1) to develop an indicator system that included motivation dimensions, training conditions, and academic level of integration in the form of questionnaires and interviews; (2) to test the validity of the indicators with the help of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); and (3) to create a dynamic tracking model that should examine the effect of various integration strategies on technical and tactical progress, psychological resilience, and retention rate. Results showed that the technical scoring error range for athletes in clubs with high integration degree was between 0.04 and 0.07, and the fluctuation in academic performance was controlled within ±2%. The study proposes optimization pathways: improving the dual-mentor system, establishing a collaborative assessment system for academic and physical education, and strengthening the linkage between family support intervention and policy incentives.

Weizhao Kong. Effectiveness Evaluation and Optimization Path of the "Sports-Education Integration" Model in Chinese Youth Ice Hockey Clubs—Based on Tracking Data of Participation Motivation and Long-Term Development. Frontiers in Sport Research (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 3: 21-27. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSR.2026.080304.

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