Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of designing school sports events with an approach focused on the prevention of social harms.

Materials and Methods: In terms of purpose, this study was applied in nature and was conducted using a qualitative method with a thematic analysis strategy. The research participants included sport science faculty members, experts in physical education from the Ministry of Education, specialists from the Student Sports Federation, and experienced physical education teachers. Fourteen participants were selected through purposive sampling, and sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and analyzed following the six phase framework of thematic analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006).

Findings: Data analysis led to the identification of six main themes, thirteen subthemes, and seventy eight initial codes. The main themes included sport as a cultural tool; family and local community interaction in school sport events; empowering the younger generation; teaching social skills and developing supportive infrastructures; the transformative role of school sport in enhancing social capital; and the role of indigenous and school sports in promoting sustainable local community development.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the effectiveness of school sporting events in preventing social harms depends on their purposeful and participatory design, the integration of social skills education into these events, the active engagement of families and local communities, and the incorporation of indigenous and traditional games aligned with students’ cultural contexts.