zohreh karimi; ali mohammad safania; Ali Zarei; Hossein Poursoltani Zarandi; reza nikbakhsh
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this research is to provide a model of organizational resilience in Iranian sports organizations. Methodology: This research is a type of combined research. In the qualitative part, foundation data theory with Strauss and Corbin's approach is used, and in the quantitative part, ...
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Objective: The purpose of this research is to provide a model of organizational resilience in Iranian sports organizations. Methodology: This research is a type of combined research. In the qualitative part, foundation data theory with Strauss and Corbin's approach is used, and in the quantitative part, the survey method is used. The research community was university experts and senior and intermediate managers and experts with experience in the field of sports who participated in the interview process using a targeted sampling approach. With 20 people, the research reached information saturation and the theory was completed. Data analysis was done using Maxqda12 software in three stages of open coding, central coding and selective coding, and based on that, the qualitative research model was designed. Results: More than 300 initial concept codes were extracted from the interviews, which were reduced to 104 codes after refining the codes and getting credit, which are in the form of 34 concepts and 12 categories in the framework of the paradigm model, including organizational resilience as a central category and causal conditions (planning and implementation, causes political, legal reasons), background factors (economic reasons, management system), intervention conditions (social attitude, cultural reasons), strategies (financial actions, comprehensive approach) and consequences (reduction of financial losses, national and international successes, socio-cultural advantages) ) it placed. Finally, the obtained model was tested among the sports community of 384 people and after fitting the model, the final model of organizational resilience in Iranian sports organizations was obtained.
MohammadAmin Sayadi; Negin Ahmadi; Iraj Mehdizadeh; Omid Fathullahi
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to Analysis of empowerment indicators for the sustainable development of sports halls using by green energy in west Azerbaijan province.Methodology: The research methodology was descriptive-analytical with qualitative approach. Statistical population was university professors ...
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Objective: This study aimed to Analysis of empowerment indicators for the sustainable development of sports halls using by green energy in west Azerbaijan province.Methodology: The research methodology was descriptive-analytical with qualitative approach. Statistical population was university professors specializing in sports management, civil engineering, architecture, and environmental sciences. Eleven individuals were selected as real samples for semi-structured interviews. The research instrument utilized was in-depth semi-structured interviews. To check the validity of the research, the respondent validation method was used and it was found that the comprehensive, organizing and main themes of the current research were consistent with the obtained conceptual model. The internal consistency of the research findings with the data collected by the central focus group was confirmed to evaluate the study's reliability.Results: The thematic analysis of this study was presented following a review and discussion with the central focus group members. The findings revealed that the most comprehensive themes of research, encompassed two themes: Software empowerment: encompassing human resource, education, attitude, economy and law and regulation. Hardware empowerment: encompassing physical, technological and environmental empowerment.Conclusion: To achieve the sports halls sustainable development with green energy, first of all, there is a need for specialized human resources that they should take action to change people's attitudes towards the optimal use of green energy in sports halls with technological knowledge and proper training. Subsequently, securing legal support is crucial to augmenting the quantity and quality of green energy utilization in these facilities.
Samar Atta Jafar; Rahim Ramezani nejhad; Nooshin Benar
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of the present research was to present a smart sports tourism model in order to develop sustainable sports tourism in the Kurdistan Region based on structural modeling.Methodology: This research is quantitative in terms of implementation, applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey ...
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Objective: The purpose of the present research was to present a smart sports tourism model in order to develop sustainable sports tourism in the Kurdistan Region based on structural modeling.Methodology: This research is quantitative in terms of implementation, applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey type. The statistical population of the research included all tourists in the tourist areas of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq who were selected through purposeful and accessible sampling (223 people). For measurement, a researcher-made questionnaire with 71 items and a Likert scale scoring system were used, and SmartPLS version 4 software was used for data analysis and modeling.Results: The results showed that in the designed model of smart sports tourism, the requirements for the development of smart sports tourism (smart economy, smart society, smart governance, and smart technologies) with an impact coefficient of 0.932 had an impact on smart sports tourism services (smart nutrition, smart attraction, smart transportation, smart shopping, and smart payment) with an impact coefficient of 0.423 on the sustainable development of smart sports tourism, and the conceptual model of the research was confirmed.Conclusion: Implementing the requirements for smart tourism in all four macro-level areas, such as governance, society, economy, and technology, will lead to the development of sustainable sports tourism, and managers and responsible institutions must strengthen smart platforms in these sectors so that smart services in sports tourism can have an impact on the development of sports tourism.
Mohammad Sadegh Vaghar; Hamidreza Goharrostami; Rahim Ramzaninezhad
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to propose a framework for aligning sports development pathways by leveraging the capacities of sports organizations in Iran.Methodology: This qualitative research employed thematic analysis with the participation of 16 experienced sports management professors and managers. ...
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Objective: This study aims to propose a framework for aligning sports development pathways by leveraging the capacities of sports organizations in Iran.Methodology: This qualitative research employed thematic analysis with the participation of 16 experienced sports management professors and managers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and systematic literature review. The validity and reliability of the data were confirmed through expert review and coder agreement.Findings: The analysis yielded 170 conceptual codes, 39 sub-themes, 11 main themes, and 5 overarching themes, including organizational capacity assessment, system capacity building, capacity utilization, development alignment, and sustainable capacity for sports development and peace. The results indicated that effective use of organizational capacities requires addressing challenges, adapting to environmental conditions, structural and managerial efficiency, systemic capacity identification, strategic interventions, and optimization of mechanisms.Conclusion: The study underscores the need for an integrated and purposeful approach to harness the diverse capacities of sports organizations to achieve sustainable development goals in Iranian sport. Without comprehensive capacity recognition and strategic utilization within theoretical and operational frameworks, such goals remain unattainable. The proposed model provides a practical tool for policymakers and sports managers to revise strategies, strengthen organizational infrastructures, and enhance cross-sectoral coordination, thereby facilitating sustainable sports development and promoting its national and international role.
Yaghoub Mohamadi; Alireza Elahi; Hossein Akbari Yazdi
Abstract
Objective: In today’s competitive world, neuromarketing plays a prominent role in the sports industry as an innovative and effective tool for gaining deeper insights into consumer behavior. By combining neuroscience and psychology, this approach helps event organizers and sports organizations make ...
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Objective: In today’s competitive world, neuromarketing plays a prominent role in the sports industry as an innovative and effective tool for gaining deeper insights into consumer behavior. By combining neuroscience and psychology, this approach helps event organizers and sports organizations make smarter decisions in attracting fans, designing advertisements, and increasing public engagement. This study aims to review and analyze the content of research conducted in the field of neuromarketing in sports management. Methodology: Using content analysis of scientific documents, 25 articles published between 2014 and 2024 were reviewed. The search was conducted using relevant keywords in reputable databases, and the selected articles were analyzed based on methodology, authors, universities, and research tools.Results: The analysis reveals that the "Sports Management" journal has published the highest number of articles in this field. The Universities of Kurdistan, Allameh Tabataba'i, and Islamic Azad (Science and Research Branch) emerged as leading institutions. Over 50% of studies utilized EEG, while methods like eye-tracking and functional imaging saw more limited application. Additionally, three-author articles showed the highest frequency, with English-language citations dominating the references.Conclusion: The results suggest that neuromarketing research in sports management has mainly focused on EEG, while advanced neuroscience methods have been underutilized. Expanding interdisciplinary collaborations, investing in research equipment, increasing awareness among sports managers, and publishing articles in international journals can enhance the quality of research and expand this field.
Masumeh Fadaeidehcheshmeh; Seyed Reza Hosseini Nia; Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati; Hadi Bagheri
Abstract
Objective: The present research was conducted with the aim of investigating the role of sport in women's identity formation in Iran.Methodology: This study was conducted using an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, a constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz) was employed, ...
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Objective: The present research was conducted with the aim of investigating the role of sport in women's identity formation in Iran.Methodology: This study was conducted using an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, a constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz) was employed, while the quantitative phase utilized Fuzzy DANP, a technique within multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). The qualitative sample included female athletes at amateur, championship, and professional levels, as well as national team coaches and academic experts in sports management and sociology specializing in women’s sports research, until theoretical saturation was reached. In the quantitative phase, 15 experts knowledgeable about women’s sports and professional female athletes were selected. The research instruments comprised semi-structured interviews for the qualitative phase and a Fuzzy DANP pairwise comparison questionnaire for the quantitative phase.Results: The analysis of 380 initial codes in this study resulted in 41 focused codes (concepts), which were ultimately reduced to 9 main categories. Eight of these primary categories were identified as influential factors in women’s identity formation and subsequently prioritized using the Fuzzy DANP pairwise comparison method. The results of the Fuzzy DANP analysis indicate that these factors do not have equal influence. Among them, the role of coaches (0.1317) emerged as the most influential factor in the identity formation process, followed by empowerment of women in other aspects of life through sports (0.1302), gender stereotypes (0.1293), and enhancement of women’s psychological strength through sports (0.1287). In contrast, factors such as overt gender discrimination (0.1269), gendered perspectives on sports disciplines (0.1212), obstacles created through regulations (0.1177), and low levels of women’s physical literacy (0.1141) ranked lower in terms of influence.Conclusion: The process of women’s identity formation through sports is primarily influenced by supportive and empowering factors, particularly the role of coaches, whereas structural barriers and gender-based discrimination exert a comparatively lesser impact. Therefore, strengthening the role of coaches, enhancing empowering sports opportunities, and reforming discriminatory policies can facilitate the identity development of women in the athletic context.
Fatemeh Hadipoor; Shahram Shafiee; Hossein Brakhas
Abstract
Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the political and economic consequences of women's presence in stadiums on the credibility of Iranian football with the mediating role of media flow and sports cultural diplomacy.Methodology: This research was descriptive-correlational ...
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Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the political and economic consequences of women's presence in stadiums on the credibility of Iranian football with the mediating role of media flow and sports cultural diplomacy.Methodology: This research was descriptive-correlational in nature, applied in purpose, and conducted through a field study approach. The statistical population consisted of sports managers and experts, coaches, referees, athletes, and university faculty members. A sufficient sample size for modeling was selected non-randomly and conveniently and analyzed (101 individuals). The measurement tools included a questionnaire on political consequences (10 items), economic consequences (7 items), media flow (6 items), sports cultural diplomacy (6 items), and football credibility (14 items), based on a five-point Likert scale. The content and face validity of these tools were confirmed by experts in the fields of football, women's sports, and sports management professors (11 individuals), and composite reliability, construct validity, convergent validity, and divergent validity were established using factor analysis. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and SmartPLS 3 software.Results: The results indicated that the political and economic consequences of women's presence significantly affected media flow, sports cultural diplomacy, and the credibility of Iranian football. Media flow and sports cultural diplomacy had a significant effect on the credibility of Iranian football. Additionally, the Sobel test results demonstrated that the political and economic consequences significantly influenced the credibility of Iranian football through the mediating roles of media flow and sports cultural diplomacy.Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the credibility of Iranian football stems not only from sports performance but also from its ability to intelligently manage the social, political, and economic dimensions of women's presence, leverage media power, and employ active diplomacy. These synergistic factors contribute to consolidating and enhancing the position of this sport both nationally and globally.
Hasan Gholami Ghajari; Hamidreza Goharrostami
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the stability-efficiency of competitiveness in elite sports of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the Summer Olympic Games.Methodology: This applied, descriptive-analytical study used a quantitative approach. The research population included all elite sports ...
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Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the stability-efficiency of competitiveness in elite sports of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the Summer Olympic Games.Methodology: This applied, descriptive-analytical study used a quantitative approach. The research population included all elite sports of Iran that won at least one medal in the Summer Olympic Games 2000-2024. Sampling was conducted census of medal-winning disciplines. Data were extracted from the official source, the Hall of Fame of the National Olympic Committee and the official website of the International Olympic Committee. Then, using researcher-developed metrics, the efficiency and stability of medal achievement were calculated, and a four-quadrant matrix was constructed to analyze the competitiveness of elite sports. The face and content validity of the researcher-developed metrics were confirmed by professors of sports management. Reliability was assessed and verified through a test-retest procedure.Results: Wrestling, Karate, and Taekwondo were positioned in the strategic elite competitiveness quadrant of the Stability-Efficiency matrix. Weightlifting was placed in the low-performing stable competitiveness quadrant, while shooting and athletics were classified under the low-performing unstable competitiveness quadrant.Conclusion: Although Wrestling and Taekwondo are located in the strategic elite competitiveness position, given rival investments, focus should first be on maintaining their current standing, then planning performance improvement in future editions. Karate requires international negotiation to return to the Olympics. Weightlifting is stable but low-performing; efficiency must improve to ensure stability does not decline in future editions. Shooting and athletics require fundamental revision of elite sport development programs to enhance competitiveness.
Sadegh Fatahi Milasi; Nooshin Benar
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a localized and stage-based framework for analyzing and evaluating the digital transformation maturity of small and medium-sized sports enterprises (SMEs).Methodology: This research employed a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis approach ...
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Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a localized and stage-based framework for analyzing and evaluating the digital transformation maturity of small and medium-sized sports enterprises (SMEs).Methodology: This research employed a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis approach based on Sandelowski and Barroso’s (2007) seven-stage model. In this process, 32 scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025 were collected from reputable databases such as Scopus and Web of Science, based on specific criteria including publication language (English), time frame, type of scientific study, methodological approach (qualitative or quantitative), and focus on digital transformation in SMEs. The key dimensions and indicators of digital maturity were identified through qualitative content analysis and validated using the CASP tool and Cohen’s Kappa coefficient (0.873).Results: The proposed framework identifies five key dimensions: Strategy and Leadership, Processes, Technology and Infrastructure, Human Resources and Culture, and Ecosystem and External Environment, with 31 operational indicators. A five-level digital maturity model tailored for sports SMEs was developed, emphasizing practical assessment and actionable roadmaps for digital transformation.Conclusion: The framework provides a simple, actionable tool for sports SMEs to assess their digital maturity and plan strategic improvements, aligning with local constraints. It supports sustainable growth by addressing internal and external factors, offering a roadmap for policymakers and managers in developing countries.
Meimanat Abedini Baltork; Mozhgan Memarmoghaddam; Afsaneh Yanpi
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the planned and implemented curriculum of the undergraduate sports science major University of Mazandaran.Methodology: This research was designed quantitatively and followed the descriptive survey method. The statistical population included ...
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Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the planned and implemented curriculum of the undergraduate sports science major University of Mazandaran.Methodology: This research was designed quantitatively and followed the descriptive survey method. The statistical population included 22 professors and 340 students of the Sport Sciences major at the University of Mazandaran in the academic year 2023-2024, respectively. To select the professors, the census sampling method was employed, and to select the students, Morgan's table and proportional stratified random sampling were used, resulting in the selection of 181 students to participate in the study. The research instruments included researcher-made questionnaires for professors and students, along with a quantitative classroom observation checklist. These tools were designed to assess both the intended and implemented curriculum, and their content validity was calculated as 89%. The reliability of the questionnaires, calculated using Cronbach's alpha, was as follows: for the intended curriculum, 0.97 (professors' questionnaire) and 0.90 (students' questionnaire); for the implemented curriculum, 0.96 (professors' questionnaire) and 0.83 (students' questionnaire. . The reliability of the observation tool using the coefficient of agreement was also obtained as 0.92. Descriptive statistics (percentage and frequency) and inferential statistics (dependent t-test and one-sample t-test) were used to analyze the collected data.Results The results showed that from the professors' perspective, there was a fundamental gap between the intended and implemented curriculum in all elements (goal, content, teaching-learning strategy, and evaluation). From the students' perspective, there was a gap between the intended and implemented curriculum in terms of goals, as well as in other elements (content, teaching-learning strategy, and evaluation. The results from classroom observation also indicated that there was no congruence between the implemented and intended curriculum.Conclusion: The existence of a gap between the intended and implemented curriculum shows that a revision of the curriculum is necessary to improve the quality of education in this field. Also, in order to realize the approved curricula, a set of factors is needed to reach the implementation stage properly.
Mehdi Salimi; Amir Hossein Labbaf
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to propose a comprehensive model of identity marketing in professional sports.Methodology: A mixed-methods design (qualitative–quantitative) was employed. In the qualitative phase, based on grounded theory (Glaser’s approach), data were collected through ...
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Objective: The present study aimed to propose a comprehensive model of identity marketing in professional sports.Methodology: A mixed-methods design (qualitative–quantitative) was employed. In the qualitative phase, based on grounded theory (Glaser’s approach), data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 university professors, experts, and sports marketing managers selected via theoretical sampling, and analyzed through open and selective coding. In the quantitative phase, the resulting model was validated and prioritized using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a researcher-made pairwise comparison questionnaire, with the participation of 12 experts in sports marketing selected through purposive and criterion-based sampling.Results: The qualitative findings led to the identification of 84 final concepts organized into several theoretical categories that explained the key dimensions of identity marketing from the participants’ perspectives. These categories included audience-brand identity formation, brand–audience interaction in the digital context, brand identity construction, and contextual enablers of identity marketing. The quantitative analyses confirmed and prioritized these categories in the final model, with audience-brand identity formation identified as the most significant factor in identity marketing in professional sports.Conclusion: The proposed model demonstrates that identity marketing in professional sports goes beyond traditional approaches and requires a deep understanding of the psychological, social, and symbolic connections between the brand and its audience. Focusing on strengthening audience identity, increasing digital engagement, and constructing a strong and coherent brand identity can lead to sustainable audience connections, greater loyalty, and active participation.
Maryam Besharatimoghadam; Rahim Ramzaninejad; Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this research was to explain the legitimizing functions of sport in the health domain.Methodology: The present study was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Required data were collected through a systematic search in reputable scientific databases and analyzed ...
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Objective: The aim of this research was to explain the legitimizing functions of sport in the health domain.Methodology: The present study was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Required data were collected through a systematic search in reputable scientific databases and analyzed in six stages (including familiarization with data, identification of keywords, coding, theme development, conceptualization, and developing a conceptual model). The validity and reliability of the research were confirmed through expert review in the field and using Cohen's Kappa coefficient (0.7).Results: The findings were organized into 9 main themes, indicating that the legitimizing functions of sport in the health domain are a complex construct of multiple factors. These themes were: Health as a socio-cultural construct; Healthy lifestyle through physical activity; Health in institutional contexts (education and leisure); Self-care and transcendence through sport; The medicalization of sport (with its legitimizing aspects and ethical challenges); Social and cultural dimensions of injury and pain; Physical activity as a health governance project; Sport and health as ideology; and Individual and social dimensions of health management.Conclusion: The legitimacy of sport in the health domain is a dual and multifaceted phenomenon. On the one hand, this legitimacy is reinforced through institutionalization, medical discourse, and health policymaking, transforming sport into an empowering tool for promoting individual and social health. On the other hand, this very process can become a mechanism for exerting social control, imposing cultural norms, reproducing inequalities, and creating ethical conflicts.
Mohsen Vahdani; Jamshid Jalilvand; Najmeh Rezasoltani
Abstract
Objective: Given the complexity of issues in physical education and student health and the multiplicity of stakeholders involved, shifting from traditional management models to participatory and network-based approaches is an unavoidable necessity. This study aimed to identify and explain strategies ...
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Objective: Given the complexity of issues in physical education and student health and the multiplicity of stakeholders involved, shifting from traditional management models to participatory and network-based approaches is an unavoidable necessity. This study aimed to identify and explain strategies for developing collaborative governance in the Deputy of Physical Education and Health of Iran’s Ministry of Education.
Methodology: This qualitative study employed reflective thematic analysis. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 managers, experts, academics, and specialists in the field of physical education and health within the Ministry of Education. Participants were purposively selected based on expertise criteria. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis framework. To enhance trustworthiness, strategies such as triangulation, peer debriefing, and member checking were used.
Results: The analysis yielded 12 main themes and 138 sub-themes. The main themes included public relations and media development, knowledge management, strategic cooperation frameworks, participatory governance mechanisms, trust-building, technological infrastructure, legal frameworks, financial policymaking, structural flexibility, participatory culture, human resource empowerment, and performance monitoring systems.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that collaborative governance in the Deputy of Physical Education and Health requires a multidimensional and network-based approach that simultaneously addresses structural, institutional, technological, and cultural dimensions. This study can provide a basis for redesigning policies and strengthening inter-organizational cooperation in the field of student physical education and health.
Khdijeh Javanbakht; Mohammad Sadegh Afroozeh; Ebrahim Khoshnam; Hosein Dast Barhagh
Abstract
Objective: Many female athletes at some point feel that they have to make difficult decisions between Motherhood and continuing their sports career. Considering the growing trend of women's participation in championship sports and the simultaneous maternal expectations from them, this article examined ...
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Objective: Many female athletes at some point feel that they have to make difficult decisions between Motherhood and continuing their sports career. Considering the growing trend of women's participation in championship sports and the simultaneous maternal expectations from them, this article examined the challenges and facilitators of the motherhood process in Iranian sports.Methodology: This research was conducted based on a qualitative approach and using thematic analysis. Participants included female athletes and experts in the field, with whom 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data analysis was conducted in three stages of open, axial, and selective coding.Results: Data analysis led to the identification of 104 basic themes. Also, overarching themes including legalism, lifestyle, protectionism, Risk-taking, maternal biology, Financial capability, common discourses, multiple identities, and value were identified, which were divided into three sections: before, during, and after pregnancy.Conclusion: It seems that policies and governance in women's sports should be proportionate to the four dimensions of context, opportunity, expectations and actions from the perspective of Iranian female athletes in the three stages before, during and after pregnancy. The interpretation of actions should be proportionate to the characteristics of the athlete, the structure of women's sports and clubs. In this regard, in addition to efforts to improve the cultural situation of athletes' motherhood, it is necessary to support and educate women, clubs and society in all three stages.
SeyedReza Hosseini; Amin Khatibi; Tahereh Azmsha
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the attitudes of fans and referees toward the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Iranian Football Pro League.
Methodology: This study was applied in terms of its purpose and employed a descriptive-survey design for data collection. The statistical ...
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Objective: This study aimed to analyze the attitudes of fans and referees toward the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Iranian Football Pro League.
Methodology: This study was applied in terms of its purpose and employed a descriptive-survey design for data collection. The statistical population comprised two groups: the fan group included all supporters of Iranian Pro League teams during the 2023–2024 season, aged 11 to 58 years; the referee group comprised all referees certified by the Football Federation, aged 18 to 63 years. Using random sampling, 224 fans and 121 referees were selected to complete the questionnaire. The research questionnaire was developed based on the findings of previous studies and, following the confirmation of face and content validity by experts and reliability through Cronbach’s alpha test (α=0.738), was distributed electronically among the research population. After examining the data distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied for data analysis, using SPSS software.
Results: The overall mean attitude of fans toward the use of VAR was significantly more favorable than that of referees (P<0.05). This difference in attitude was more pronounced in two factors: match quality and attractiveness, and the future prospects of the VAR system.
Conclusion: In general, it can be stated that although both groups hold a positive attitude toward the use of VAR, fans possess a more favorable perspective on this technology. One possible reason for the referees’ lower level of enthusiasm may be the loss of control and decisiveness in decision-making, as they are sometimes compelled to reverse their initial on-field call. Factors contributing to the greater interest among fans include the inherent suspense in the review process and its unpredictability, which can instantly alter the outcome of a match.
Seyyedeh Zahra Mirzamani; Shahram Shafiee; Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to conduct a meta-synthesis of the mechanisms of corruption in Iranian football based on a sociological approach.Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach, this study followed Sandelowski and Barroso's (2007) meta-synthesis framework. Data were derived from 29 peer-reviewed ...
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Objective: This study aims to conduct a meta-synthesis of the mechanisms of corruption in Iranian football based on a sociological approach.Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach, this study followed Sandelowski and Barroso's (2007) meta-synthesis framework. Data were derived from 29 peer-reviewed scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025, identified through a systematic search of reputable Persian-language (n=23) and English-language (n=6) databases. Thematic coding was employed for data analysis.Results: Based on the data analysis, the mechanisms of corruption in sport were identified and classified into 63 initial codes, 21 sub-themes, and 6 overarching themes, including structural and governance deficiencies, an opaque and rentier economy, a corruption-prone culture and unhealthy norms, an inefficient legal and judicial system, informal and relationship-based networks, and international factors and globalization.Conclusion: In light of the findings, corruption in Iranian football stems from dysfunctional governance frameworks, a rent-seeking economy, and a culture of informal relations. Unless these deeply embedded institutional and cultural vicious cycles are rectified, intermittent and individual-level enforcement actions will prove futile. Lasting reform can only be achieved through institutional reconstruction, full transparency, and the substitution of informal patronage networks with genuine merit-based systems.
Mohammad Naghi Ebrahimzadeh; Ahmad Mahmoudi; Amin Dehghan Ghahfarokhi; Ebrahim Alidoust Ghahfarokhi
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the effective management of the Chess Federation of Iran with an emphasis on the adaptation of chess strategies.Methodology: The study employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth ...
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Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the effective management of the Chess Federation of Iran with an emphasis on the adaptation of chess strategies.Methodology: The study employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 elites of Iranian chess, including managers, coaches, referees, federation experts, and sports management professors. Sampling was conducted purposefully and theoretically, and the interview process continued until data adequacy was achieved. Data analysis was performed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step thematic analysis approach.Results: The findings led to the extraction of 41 concepts, 10 sub-themes, and 3 main themes. The main themes included: Manager's Intra-organizational Competencies (including managerial functions, ethical commitment, and contextual knowledge); Sustainable Resources, Structure, and Governance (including financial resources, infrastructure, managerial stability, and consensus); and Strategic Interactions with an Emphasis on Chess Strategies (including eight chess strategies such as thinking ahead and active defense, along with sports diplomacy and environmental requirements).Conclusion: The findings indicate that the effective management of the Chess Federation of Iran requires the simultaneous realization of the manager's intra-organizational competencies, the establishment of a stable resource and structural foundation, and the application of chess strategies to cope with environmental requirements. This model can serve as a basis for developing strategic plans for the federation and evaluating managerial performance.
Ehsan Kargar; Ali Afrouzeh; Mohammad Pourkiani
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to identify and explain the psychological, social, and structural factors influencing football dropout among Iranian adolescents, with a particular emphasis on the lived experiences of former youth academy players.
Methodology: This study employed a qualitative approach ...
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Objective: The present study aimed to identify and explain the psychological, social, and structural factors influencing football dropout among Iranian adolescents, with a particular emphasis on the lived experiences of former youth academy players.
Methodology: This study employed a qualitative approach using a phenomenological design. Participants included 13 former youth football players who had previously competed at professional academy levels and had either decided to drop out of football or withdrawn from elite pathways. Participants were selected through purposive sampling combined with snowball recruitment. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews lasting between 30 and 45 minutes. The interviews were analyzed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis framework. To enhance the trustworthiness of the findings, the criteria proposed by Guba & Lincoln (1994)—including credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability—were applied.
Results: The analysis yielded five main themes: (1) motivational and emotional erosion within the football pathway, (2) structural ambiguity and instability in career progression, (3) diminished perceived competence within the competitive football context, (4) disruptions in professional relationships and experiences of perceived injustice, and (5) psychological, social, and future-oriented pressures. The findings indicate that football dropout in adolescence is not a single-cause phenomenon but rather the result of a complex interaction between reduced enjoyment, coaching style, structural insecurity, perceived injustice, social comparison, and concerns about future professional prospects.
Conclusion: Football dropout during adolescence is a gradual and multidimensional process emerging from the interaction of individual, interpersonal, and structural factors. Developing supportive training environments, enhancing transparency in developmental pathways, improving coach–athlete relationships, and implementing structured transition support mechanisms at critical exit points may play a decisive role in reducing youth football dropout. The findings provide a foundation for designing evidence-based interventions within the Iranian youth football system.
Amirhesam Rahimi; Kourosh Ghahreman Tabrizi; Mohammad Sadegh Zaeifi
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore the dimensions of beliefs in superstition and witchcraft within Iranian football and to examine their perceived behavioral consequences for fans.
Methodology: This research employed a qualitative design based on thematic analysis and was exploratory and applied ...
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Objective: This study aimed to explore the dimensions of beliefs in superstition and witchcraft within Iranian football and to examine their perceived behavioral consequences for fans.
Methodology: This research employed a qualitative design based on thematic analysis and was exploratory and applied in nature. Eighteen participants, including coaches, players, referees, fans, and football veterans with relevant experience, were selected through purposive and snowball sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed in two stages. First, thematic coding was conducted to identify the dimensions of the phenomenon. Second, the behavioral consequences for fans were inferred through an integrative analysis drawing on interview data, theoretical foundations, and previous research. The trustworthiness of the findings was established using Guba and Lincoln’s criteria, while reliability was confirmed through a test–retest procedure (coefficient = 0.81). Results: The analysis revealed two overarching themes—psychological and socio-cultural—comprising eight subthemes and 33 primary concepts that characterize beliefs in superstition and witchcraft in Iranian football. The findings further indicated that these beliefs may contribute to imitation and emulation among fans, social tensions, and various psychological and financial costs.
Conclusion: Beliefs in superstition and witchcraft in Iranian football represent an institutionalized and multidimensional phenomenon shaped by the interaction of psychological and socio-cultural factors. This interaction reinforces a self-perpetuating cycle whose most significant consequence is the erosion of a healthy and sustainable fan culture. Addressing this phenomenon requires coordinated and targeted interventions across institutional, educational, media, and psychological domains.
Nazanin Rasekh; Mostafa Afshari; Saeed Jafari
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to conduct a comparative structural-functional analysis of Iran’s university sports system, identify existing gaps in relation to international models, assess its convergence with global trends, and propose a transformation and development framework.Methodology: Using ...
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Objective: This study aimed to conduct a comparative structural-functional analysis of Iran’s university sports system, identify existing gaps in relation to international models, assess its convergence with global trends, and propose a transformation and development framework.Methodology: Using an exploratory mixed-methods design, the qualitative phase involved content analysis of 32 documentary sources and two Delphi rounds with 11 experts to develop a conceptual framework consisting of three main domains (structure and governance, resources and support systems, and events and participation) and twelve sub-dimensions. In the quantitative phase, a researcher-developed questionnaire was administered to 25 university sports managers and experts to assess performance gaps and the level of convergence with international standards. A comparative analysis of ten selected countries was conducted based on Bereday’s comparative model.Results: The findings revealed that, despite considerable internal capacities, Iran’s university sports system encounters structural and operational challenges, including insufficient approved organizational positions, unequal distribution of sports facilities, legal shortcomings, and excessive centralization. The greatest performance gap was identified in financial resources, whereas the smallest gap was observed in procedural dimensions. Overall, the level of system convergence with international standards was assessed as moderate to low. The results further indicated weak integration among system components and inadequate alignment between organizational structures, resource allocation, and functional processes, limiting the effective utilization of existing capacities.Conclusion: The proposed transformation framework is based on three strategic directions: restructuring governance mechanisms, ensuring sustainable resource development, and improving the quality of participation. The key strategies include shifting from a highly centralized governmental model toward a semi-decentralized governance structure, diversifying financial resources, strengthening human capital, and enhancing technological capabilities. Developing an efficient university sports system in Iran requires redefining institutional responsibilities, establishing inter-organizational coordination mechanisms, and creating a flexible yet integrated governance framework capable of addressing diverse institutional needs while preserving national coherence.
Bita Arabnarmi; Hesam Ramezanzade
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the roles and competencies of physical education teachers in four global development-oriented models (USA, England, Australia, and New Zealand) and compare them with the expectations of Iran's educational system.Methodology: This qualitative ...
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Objective: This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the roles and competencies of physical education teachers in four global development-oriented models (USA, England, Australia, and New Zealand) and compare them with the expectations of Iran's educational system.Methodology: This qualitative research employed Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis method. The statistical population included official standards and physical education curriculum documents of the five studied countries (England, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and Iran), which were purposefully selected. The analysis process was carried out in six stages: familiarization with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the final report.Results: Data analysis led to the identification of five main themes: (1) transformation of the teacher's role from "instructor" to "learning facilitator"; (2) transformation of expectations from teachers: from mastery of teaching skills to acquiring multidimensional competencies including advanced pedagogy, constructive assessment, educational technology, and inclusive teaching; (3) emphasis on an inclusive and diversity-responsive approach; (4) the teacher's role as a designer of learning experiences; and (5) continuous and reflective professional development. The comparative analysis based on official documents showed that the advanced models differ structurally from Iran's system in five areas: (a) the position of the teacher (facilitator vs. executor), (b) the scope of competencies (multidimensional vs. skill-oriented), (c) the inclusion approach (systematic vs. scattered), (d) professional autonomy (designer vs. implementer), and (e) professional development (continuous and reflective vs. event-based).Conclusion: Iran's physical education teacher training system, in order to realize the ideals of the Fundamental Reform Document, needs to transition from "general policies" to "operational standards and evaluation indicators." Improving the quality of physical education in Iran requires a targeted evolution from the "curriculum executor" model to the "learning experience designer" model. This evolution must be achieved through developing national competency standards, revising teacher education programs, and establishing a continuous professional development system, while preserving and strengthening the indigenous strengths of Iran's educational system.
emadoddin poursafar tabalvandani; Shahram Shafiee
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework for the application of blockchain-based tokens in the national sport industry.Methodology: The research was conducted using a qualitative approach and a multiple grounded theory method. Data were collected from two complementary ...
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Objective: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework for the application of blockchain-based tokens in the national sport industry.Methodology: The research was conducted using a qualitative approach and a multiple grounded theory method. Data were collected from two complementary sources: semi-structured interviews with 16 academic and executive experts in the fields of sports management, fintech, and the digital economy, and a content review of 39 scientific articles published between 2019 and 2025. Theoretical (judgmental) sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The credibility of the findings was confirmed through data triangulation, member checking, and an inter-coder agreement coefficient (Cohen’s kappa = 0.72). Data analysis was performed concurrently using multi-stage coding.Results: The analysis yielded 179 initial concepts, which were organized into 44 axial codes, 19 selective codes, and six overarching categories: drivers and prerequisites, challenges and barriers, opportunities and capacities, dimensions and types of blockchain-based tokens, strategic responses, and outcomes and implications. The findings indicate that successful implementation depends on the alignment of regulatory frameworks, technological infrastructure, organizational readiness, and stakeholder capabilities.Conclusion: Blockchain-based tokens represent a multidimensional innovation capable of enhancing transparency, strengthening fan engagement, and creating sustainable revenue streams. The proposed framework offers a practical and evidence-based guide for policymakers, sports organizations, and entrepreneurs seeking to implement token-based initiatives in the national sport industry.
Shahzad Sadat Hashemi; Rahim Ramezaninejad; Mahdi Mahmoodi Yekta
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to design a networking model of inter-organizational relations for the development of sport tourism.Methodology: The present study employed a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative) with a sequential exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, thematic ...
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Objective: The purpose of this study was to design a networking model of inter-organizational relations for the development of sport tourism.Methodology: The present study employed a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative) with a sequential exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis was conducted through in-depth interviews with 16 experts, resulting in the extraction of 6 main themes, 14 sub-themes, and 37 items. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population comprised managers and experts in tourism and sports tourism. The sample size was estimated at 118 participants based on PLS modeling rules; to ensure adequate returns, 130 questionnaires were distributed using a combined non-probability sampling method (purposive and convenience sampling). After excluding incomplete responses, 118 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The research instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire, whose content validity (CVI = 0.82) and reliability (CR > 0.70) were confirmed. Hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via Smart PLS version 3.Results: The results of factor analysis indicated that organizational networking capacities, the organizational ecosystem, networking strategies, alignment of organizational networking levels, and inter-organizational networking processes have a significant explanatory role in the development of sport tourism. Path analysis also showed that the relationships between these main variables and the dependent variable are positive and significant, and the conceptual model demonstrates a satisfactory fit.Conclusion: Overall, implementing appropriate strategies in the tourism sector through establishing networks among organizations can facilitate the development of sport tourism. Accordingly, the extensive capacities of the Ministry of Sport and Youth, the National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts should be utilized more effectively to strengthen cooperation in the field of sport tourism.
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