Rahim Ramezaninejad
Abstract
With the establishment of scientific and professional organizations in the field of sport management such as the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM, 1970), the European Association for Sport Management (EASM, 1993), and the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ, ...
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With the establishment of scientific and professional organizations in the field of sport management such as the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM, 1970), the European Association for Sport Management (EASM, 1993), and the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ, 1995) ,other associations were also formed in Asia (ASM), Africa (AASM), Latin America (ALGEDE), and elsewhere. During this period, sport management journals experienced significant growth as well. The first well known sport management journal, the Journal of Sport Management (JSM, 1987), was published by NASSM, and today the number of specialized sport management journals has exceeded 30. Moreover, sport management research is published in more than 100 additional journals related to the field. The Sport Management Digest (SMD) is also published in collaboration with the Russian International Olympic University and the World Association for Sport Management (WASM). In each issue, it analyzes the content of articles from the top 10 sport management journals. In its first volume and first issue (2021), the journal states that NASSM and the efforts of Chelladurai (2005) have greatly influenced the development of sport management knowledge. He an Indian born professor of sport management, is honored annually with an award named after him (the Chella) given to the top sport management researcher.In Iran, there are about 22 specialized sport management journals, around 10 sport science journals related to sport management, and numerous additional non sport journals that also publish research in this area. Since 2010, many articles have analyzed the content of these journals or the entire body of sport management research. Their overall findings show that sport management research has shifted: from descriptive to theoretical (theory driven) approaches; from school and university sport to club sport and non educational sport organizations; from quantitative to qualitative methods; from amateur to professional sport; from men’s sport to gender related topics; and toward theorizing and theory building.Given this trend, it appears that the instruction content in sport management programs and body of knowledge in sport management is no longer determined by the educational and practical needs of sport organizations and occupations. Instead, its future is increasingly shaped by research, especially qualitative studies, theorizing, and theory development. Only through this process can the scientific foundation of the field be strengthened, its status elevated, and its boundaries more clearly distinguished from other sport sciences (such as sport sociology) and non sport fields (such as management). This is what enables the discipline to move from a semiprofession toward becoming a specialized professional field.
Innovation and Technology in Sport
Mehdi Salimi; Mosayeb Mirhosseini; Amir Hossein Labbaf
Abstract
Objective: This study analyzes the effects of blockchain technology on the future of Iran's sports industry.Methodology: This research is applied and uses a mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) approach. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis and the Glaser approach were used to extract concepts ...
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Objective: This study analyzes the effects of blockchain technology on the future of Iran's sports industry.Methodology: This research is applied and uses a mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) approach. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis and the Glaser approach were used to extract concepts and patterns, and the data were analyzed through open and axial coding. In the quantitative phase, the structural equation model was analyzed using SmartPLS version 4 software. The statistical population in the qualitative phase consisted of 23 experts and specialists who were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods. In the quantitative phase, 272 stakeholders from sports clubs responded to the questionnaire, and the reliability and validity of the proposed models were evaluated using various methods.Results: In the qualitative phase, eight main categories were identified from the analysis of interviews, including facilitation of communications, cost reduction, innovation in revenue generation, data transparency and security, and enhancement of fan experience. In the quantitative phase, the structural model was confirmed using structural equation modeling, and the factor loading coefficients indicated that the model has a good fit. This research confirmed the effects of blockchain in improving contract management, developing trust, and exploiting economic benefits in Iran's sports industry.Conclusion: Blockchain can create fundamental and sustainable transformations in Iran's sports industry. This research shows that the convergence of blockchain and sports, especially in the financial, managerial, and fan interaction areas, will lead to the formation of a new era full of development and innovation opportunities in this industry.
Sport Management and Development
Mohammadrasoul Khodadadi; Maryam Faridfathi; Reza Shahbazi; Samin Jodairy
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the present research was to provide a qualitative model for the management of professional football clubs in East Azerbaijan Province.Methodology: The present study is an applied research of qualitative nature, employing the grounded theory method with Glaser's approach. The statistical ...
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Objective: The aim of the present research was to provide a qualitative model for the management of professional football clubs in East Azerbaijan Province.Methodology: The present study is an applied research of qualitative nature, employing the grounded theory method with Glaser's approach. The statistical population of the research consisted of sports management professors, managers of the General Directorate of Sports and Youth, and experts in the field of professional football club management in East Azerbaijan Province. The research sample was selected from among the population members using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview conducted with 17 experts in the field, which continued until theoretical saturation was reached. The validity of the research was confirmed by relevant experts, and the reliability of the research instrument was obtained at 85% using the inter-coder agreement method. Data analysis was carried out in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding.Results: The research results indicated that the postmodern perspectives, resource management, environmental and spatial management, legal aspects management, organizational management, revenue generation management, communication and media management, resource management, social responsibility management, public relations management, organizational culture management, fan management, and brand management were the 12 key categories in the management of professional football clubs in East Azerbaijan Province.Conclusion: The management of professional clubs can vary for each region and province depending on local conditions, and the results of this research can serve as a model for the management of professional football clubs in East Azerbaijan Province.
Social Issues in Sport Management
Fateme Ghane; Hamidreza Goharrostami; Mostafa MolaeiNejad
Abstract
Objective: The goal of the research was to determine the perceived social impacts of championship sports and the degree of relationship with the desire to support.Methodology: The research method was descriptive correlational. The statistical population was students of universities in Rasht, of which ...
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Objective: The goal of the research was to determine the perceived social impacts of championship sports and the degree of relationship with the desire to support.Methodology: The research method was descriptive correlational. The statistical population was students of universities in Rasht, of which 456 students were selected as a sample based on the Morgan table using a stratified random method. The data collection tool was standard questionnaires. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by sports management professors and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha (ɑ=0.87). Friedman test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data using SPSS20 software.Results: According to the results of the Friedman test, the highest perceived social impact was related to international credibility and political power with an average rank of (7.21) and the lowest was related to the ability and quality of life of athletes with an average rank of (2.52). Also, the results of logistic regression showed that there is a significant relationship between the dimensions of perceived social impact (dimensions of good feeling and enthusiasm, sports participation and health) and support in the form of willingness to spend taxes paid in championship sports. Also, there was a significant relationship between the dimensions of perceived social impact (dimensions of equality and social inclusion, good feeling and enthusiasm and local consumption and living conditions) and support in the form of willingness to follow sports news and information; Similarly, there was a positive and significant relationship between the dimensions of perceived social impact (dimensions of equality and social inclusion, good feeling and enthusiasm, sports participation and health, local consumption and living conditions) and support in the form of willingness to watch sports competitions and events on television.Conclusion: Therefore, it is concluded that the dimensions of feeling good and enthusiasm, sports participation and health, equality and social inclusion, local consumption and living conditions, respectively, cause support for championship sports. Therefore, paying attention to these effects at different levels is a basis for paying attention to championship sports and government investment in championship sports based on the intended goals.
Sport Development and Sustainable Development
Rasoul Nazari; Javad Shahvali Kohshouri; Mohsen Salari
Abstract
Objective: The present study was conducted with the aim of discovering the future of sports in Fars province and formulating its scenarios for the next 20 years and presenting a strategy.Methodology: This research adopts a scenario-building approach and utilizes trend analysis and uncertainties to design ...
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Objective: The present study was conducted with the aim of discovering the future of sports in Fars province and formulating its scenarios for the next 20 years and presenting a strategy.Methodology: This research adopts a scenario-building approach and utilizes trend analysis and uncertainties to design future scenarios. The participants consisted of 30 stakeholders from the sports sector in Fars Province, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through interviews. Initially, the project scope was defined, and the main development factors were identified. Subsequently, two key uncertainties were determined to guide scenario design, and four possible scenarios were defined. Finally, a general strategy based on the scenarios was proposed.Results: A total of 23 key factors influencing the future of sports in Fars Province were identified. Based on the analysis of the impact and uncertainty levels of these factors, two critical dimensions were determined: “restructuring and privatization based on modern excellence approaches” and “the development of sports tourism through the use of modern technologies and communication tools.” Accordingly, a scenario matrix was developed, and four plausible scenarios for the development of sports in Fars Province up to the horizon year 2041 were formulated.Conclusion: The main challenge in the development of sports in Fars Province lies not in the lack of resources, but in the absence of institutional coherence, weak strategic planning, and insufficient utilization of human, environmental, and technological capacities. Based on the four plausible scenarios projected to the 2041 horizon, the strategy of “privatization aimed at maximizing access to key objectives (mass sport, elite sport, and sports tourism) through an efficiency-oriented approach” can provide an effective pathway for guiding the development of sports in the province.
Sport Management
Akram Abdoli; Akbar Jaberi; kourosh ghahraman tabrizi
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to identify the challenges of virtual learning in practical courses at the undergraduate level in the field of physical education and sport sciences.Methodology: This research was conducted as an exploratory qualitative study using thematic analysis. The research population ...
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Objective: This study aimed to identify the challenges of virtual learning in practical courses at the undergraduate level in the field of physical education and sport sciences.Methodology: This research was conducted as an exploratory qualitative study using thematic analysis. The research population of the study included professors in the field of sports science and physical education who had experience in virtual teaching of practical courses. Considering the nature of the research, 12 of these professors were purposefully interviewed until theoretical saturation was reached. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview, and Guba and Lincoln's (1981) criteria were used to assess reliability and validity. Data analysis was performed based on Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-stage method.Results: Thematic analysis of the data resulted in the identification of 134 codes, 9 sub-themes, and 4 main themes. The main themes of the study were: lack of development and updating, inflexibility and incompatibility, content quality, and lack of support.Conclusion: Virtual education requires significant changes in the structure and educational content of sports science to be more efficient and effective. Paying attention to these changes can help improve the teaching of sports skills in the context of virtual education.
Social Issues in Sport Management
Mojtaba Ghasemi Siani; Hossein Mansouri; Maryam Vafakhah
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of media consumption in students' attitudes and their intentions to participate in sports activities.Methodology: The present study was descriptive, survey-type, and conducted in the field. The statistical population of the study included ...
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Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of media consumption in students' attitudes and their intentions to participate in sports activities.Methodology: The present study was descriptive, survey-type, and conducted in the field. The statistical population of the study included all middle and high school students in Isfahan. According to Morgan's table, the sample size was determined to be 450 people, of which 378 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The sampling method was multi-stage random cluster sampling. The research data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire consisting of items measuring media consumption, attitudes, and intentions. The descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage frequency, Variance, skewness, kurtosis, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (structural equation model) were used to analyze the data.Results: The findings indicated that all three types of media (social networks, the Internet, and local media) influence students' attitudes towards sports activities, with social networks having the greatest impact, followed by the Internet and local media. The findings also showed that attitudes toward sports activities have an impact on students' intention to participate in sports activities.Conclusion: Parents, counselors, and teachers are advised to guide students in the proper use of social media and the Internet so that they can benefit from its positive effects, including an inclination toward sports, while staying away from its harmful effects. Responsible guardians are also advised to plan to make domestic media more attractive so that teenagers can benefit from the positive effects of this media.
Sport Governance and Policy-Making
Aahra Sabzinezhad; Morteza Dousti; Farzam Farzan; Homayoun Abbasi
Abstract
Purpose: The present study aims to provide a conceptual framework for identifying and explaining the key determinants of elite athlte migration in Iran.Methodology: This research is descriptive in nature, applied in purpose, and categorized as a qualitative study conducted using the grounded theory approach. ...
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Purpose: The present study aims to provide a conceptual framework for identifying and explaining the key determinants of elite athlte migration in Iran.Methodology: This research is descriptive in nature, applied in purpose, and categorized as a qualitative study conducted using the grounded theory approach. The statistical population included experts, scholars, professors, and coaches familiar with the subject matter. Snowball sampling was employed to conduct in-depth interviews. Data collection was carried out through interviews with 15 participants. The validity of the interview instrument was assessed and confirmed by both interviewees and subject-matter experts. To evaluate reliability, the intra-coder agreement method was used, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.81. Grounded theory methodology was employed for data analysis.Findings: The findings revealed that the determinants of elite athlete migration in Iran encompass: Causal factors (weak occupational status in society and inefficient management systems), Contextual factors (economic, political, and socio-cultural), Intervening factors (individual and environmental characteristics), Strategies (improvement of the national sports structure and enhancement of athletes’ social status), and Consequences (decline in the quality of professional sports and lack of suitable role models in society). These categories consist of 20 concepts and numerous sub-factors or open codes.Conclusion: Based on the findings, macro-level policymaking and effective measures are necessary to enhance the social and professional quality of life for elite athletes. Such actions are essential to controlling the migration trend of sports elites and mitigating the financial and cultural damages caused by this phenomenon.
Sport Management and Development
Shahnaz Rezajoo; Robab Mokhtari; Mehrdad Moharramzadeh
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to develop a comprehensive investment risk model for “Sport for All” programs using a grounded theory approach.
Methodology: This applied research utilizes the grounded theory method. The study population consisted of university professors and experts in sports ...
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Objective: This study aims to develop a comprehensive investment risk model for “Sport for All” programs using a grounded theory approach.
Methodology: This applied research utilizes the grounded theory method. The study population consisted of university professors and experts in sports management, economics, and marketing—specifically eight participants from East Azerbaijan Province. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews, and analysis was conducted in three main stages of coding: open, axial, and selective.
Results: The analysis identified five key factors influencing investment risk in Sport for All initiatives: Organizational and managerial elements (such as manpower and managerial policies), Sponsorship planning and strategies, Public engagement, Advertising and media marketing, Development of sports attractions. Additionally, the model highlights various background factors (including structural software/hardware, technical infrastructure, licensing, policy consistency, legal frameworks, and local branding), intervening factors (such as systematic and unsystematic risks, and economic, political, legal, and administrative conditions), and strategic responses (including barrier analysis, performance evaluation, rule of law enforcement, optimized capital allocation, and the privatization and marketing of sport for all). The study also identified operational outcomes of investment risk in Sport for All, such as challenges in sponsorship, socio-cultural consequences, impacts on public health, and structural or intra-organizational issues.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the necessity of targeted investor attraction strategies. Enhancing advertising effectiveness, increasing sectoral investments, and improving the efficiency of production and service enterprises can significantly reduce investment risks and promote sustainable growth in sport for all.
