Amcanion y tu hwnt i’r gêm: Archwiliad o sut y gall pêl-droed hwyliog adeiladu hyder plant ysgol gynradd yn y Gymraeg (Goals beyond the game: An exploration of how fun football can enhance primary school children’s confidence in the Welsh language)

Promoting natural use of the Welsh language among primary school children is essential to achieving the ambitions of Cymraeg 2050. As many children perceive Welsh as a formal classroom language, sport offers an informal and social context for meaningful use. This qualitative study explores the impact of Welsh-medium football sessions on 20 pupils (aged 8–11) in a north Wales primary school, alongside a semi-structured interview with the headteacher. Thematic analysis identified five themes: enjoyment, linguistic confidence, community support, cultural identity, and sustainability. The findings of this study suggest that sport can serve as an effective medium for supporting the natural use of the Welsh language and contributing to its normalisation among primary school children.