Sport Management
Rahim Ramezaninejad
Abstract
Theory, as more than a mere foundation for education and research, can also serve as a basis for action and implementation. Some scholars, by analyzing the historical-scientific evolution of the sport management discipline, argue that we are currently in a phase of theoretical reinforcement and theory-practice ...
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Theory, as more than a mere foundation for education and research, can also serve as a basis for action and implementation. Some scholars, by analyzing the historical-scientific evolution of the sport management discipline, argue that we are currently in a phase of theoretical reinforcement and theory-practice convergence. Historically, a significant divide existed between theory and practice, distinguishing academics (representing academia and theory) from practitioners (managers and implementers). This gap may not stem from the inherent flaws of theory or research itself, but rather from the fact that theoretical and research endeavors have often been decoupled from the actual discourses and challenges of sport management. In other words, when theory and research are not driven by real-world problems, the likelihood of producing applied knowledge capable of bridging the research-practice gap diminishes. Consequently, to address the challenges of theoretical application, a shift toward problem-oriented research is essential, and investing in such approaches is a fundamental responsibility of academia.
In addition, academic researchers possess the autonomy to pursue research solely for publication in scholarly journals, without regard for practical application or field engagement. However, the portion of research must be both practical and industry-relevant. This is because academic researchers require access to industry settings to conduct practucal research, and the ultimate objective of specialists should be to provide actionable solutions for sport practitioners and stakeholders. Furthermore, as many athletes and sports organization employees pursue higher education, this divide has begun to blur. Therefore, the responsibility of forging this connection falls largely on those who have transitioned from the field of sport to the realm of theory. If these individuals fail to anchor their practical actions within theoretical frameworks, the underlying issues must be re-analyzed. Moreover, researchers who fail to engage in dialogue and interaction with sport managers and organizations risk becoming trapped in “ivory tower” theorizing. It is noteworthy that many management theories have actually emerged from practical experience and were subsequently formalized into theoretical frameworks.
Researchers in sport management must strive for unity and coherence between theory and practice, establishing appropriate conduits for linking theory to existing issues (problem-oriented research) to ensure utility for managers. The knowledge produced by sport management researchers must exert a tangible influence on the experiences and actions of managers. It is my contention that academics have been the primary drivers in establishing this connection. Mutually beneficial research initiatives can significantly enhance knowledge transfer; collaboration with industry professionals allows researchers to obtain unfiltered, high-quality data regarding business operations. Thus, strengthening the link to practice through authentic participatory training, research, and professional services narrows the existing gap and creates an ideal opportunity for the application, testing, and, most importantly, the generation of theory. The greater the distance between academics and practitioners, the more difficult it becomes to provide authentic knowledge.
In summary, theory should function as a mechanism to connect cognition with action in the workplace. Rather than viewing theory and practice as antithetical, they should be regarded as symbiotic. Theory and practice are not opposites; rather, they are complementary and represent two facets of a single entity that lose meaning when divorced from one another. We must avoid the fallacy of excessive separation. A theorist who possesses only abstract expertise and whose theories collapse upon contact with empirical realities is insufficient; likewise, a pure practitioner who lacks a theoretical foundation may fall into the trap of ritualistic routines and repetitive tasks, offering mere excuses such as “gaining experience” without genuine innovation. Ultimately, effective practice relies on rigorous research and sound theory, while theory-based knowledge facilitates purposeful and strategic action. Sport management scholars must develop robust knowledge systems to provide the necessary guidance for future practitioners. The perceived dichotomy between theory and practice must be dismantled. What is required for the sustained growth of both knowledge and practice in this discipline is a unification of perspectives and collaboration among sport management scholars, academics, and practitioners to support one another’s intellectual and practical endeavors. Academics must provide the models and theories that enable practitioners to perform their professional duties more efficiently, ensuring that management thought and action remain theory-driven.
Sport Governance and Policy-Making
Mohammad Poorkhalil; Ali Hemati Afif; Fariba Mohammadian
Abstract
Objective: Sport is one of the cases in which countries seek to improve in order to achieve the goal of good health for the society. In this context, the purpose of this study to explaining the subjective patterns of experts around the key factors affecting sport policy making, health and hygiene-based ...
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Objective: Sport is one of the cases in which countries seek to improve in order to achieve the goal of good health for the society. In this context, the purpose of this study to explaining the subjective patterns of experts around the key factors affecting sport policy making, health and hygiene-based using the Q method.Methodology: The present study is in terms of paradigm, interpretative and positivist and based on the purpose is of the type of applied research. The combined method of Q is used to do this research. The participants of this research are formed connoisseurs and experts the field of future research, health policy making, sports science based on their acquaintance and close relationship with the research subject. Thus, first, 15 experts were selected for semi-structured interviews, and in the next step, in order to sort the Q chart, 20 experts were selected through purposive sampling. The obtained data placed processed and Q factor analysis through SPSS software.Results: The findings showed that according to the identified subjective patterns, the most important key factors affecting the future of community health with emphasis on national sports, is live better movement, educative movement, development of public sports and spiritual health, NGO of Sports and the most of dissident factor by the participants is the politicization of sports.Conclusion: The results of this study indicating six subjective patterns derived from the prioritization of participants; so that due to the 6 subjective patterns presented characterized that each of them has to relative to each other included different concepts and specifications.
Sport Economics, Marketing and Tourism
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.
Social Issues in Sport Management
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 sport 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.
Sport Management
Zohreh Karimi; Ali Mohammad Safania; Ali Zarei; Hossein Poursoltani Zarandi; Reza Nikbakhsh
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this research was to provide a model of organizational resilience in Iranian sports organizations.Methodology: This was a mixed-methods study. The qualitative phase utilized grounded theory with the Strauss and Corbin approach, while the quantitative phase employed a survey ...
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Objective: The purpose of this research was to provide a model of organizational resilience in Iranian sports organizations.Methodology: This was a mixed-methods study. The qualitative phase utilized grounded theory with the Strauss and Corbin approach, while the quantitative phase employed a survey method. The research community consisted of university experts and senior and intermediate managers and experts with experience in sports, who participated in the interview process using a purposive sampling approach. Information saturation was reached with 20 participants, at which point the theory was completed. Data analysis was conducted using Maxqda12 software in three stages: open coding, central coding, and selective coding, which formed the basis for designing the qualitative research model.Results: More than 300 initial concept codes were extracted from the interviews. After refining and validating these codes, they were reduced to 104, forming 34 concepts and 12 categories within the framework of a paradigm model. This model included organizational resilience as a central category, along with causal conditions (planning and implementation, political reasons, legal reasons), contextual factors (economic reasons, management system), intervening conditions (social attitude, cultural reasons), strategies (financial actions, comprehensive approach), and consequences (reduction of financial losses, national and international successes, socio-cultural advantages). Finally, the obtained model was tested among a sports community of 384 individuals. After fitting the model, the final model of organizational resilience in Iranian sports organizations was obtained.Conclusion: The role of sports in controlling or promoting many social, economic, and political components has been proven. The results indicate the importance of resilience in the country's sports organizations, as lack of attention to it is a crisis-causing factor. A crisis in the field of sports can spread to other parts of society.
Social Issues in Sport Management
Gholamreza Mirzamohamadi; Vajiheh Javani; Fatemeh Abdavi
Abstract
Objective: The research was conducted with the aim of studying the lived experiences of fans regarding violence in Iranian football stadiums.Methodology: The present research was a qualitative study and applied in terms of purpose, which was conducted using the method of Smith et al. (2009) in interpretative ...
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Objective: The research was conducted with the aim of studying the lived experiences of fans regarding violence in Iranian football stadiums.Methodology: The present research was a qualitative study and applied in terms of purpose, which was conducted using the method of Smith et al. (2009) in interpretative phenomenology for analysis. The research population includes fans who have experienced violence in football through watching football in stadiums. Sampling was done purposefully and conveniently from among the fans of Persepolis, Esteghlal, Sepahan, Tractor, Nasaji Mazandaran, and Foolad clubs. The selection criterion included fans who had watched at least five games of their team in the stadium during the year, and clubs were selected whose fans had the highest suspension votes by the Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee in recent years. For data collection, in-depth and semi-structured interviews with 70 fans were used.Results: The qualitative data analysis of fans' lived experiences of violence in football stadiums showed that in total, 55 themes, 14 sub-themes, and 4 main themes including aggravating factors of violence, origin of violence, types of violence, and reducing factors of violence were extracted and classified.Conclusion:The lived experience of fans from violence in Iranian football stadiums is a multidimensional and rooted phenomenon that these experiences not only have a negative impact on the mental and physical health of individuals, but also reproduce a cycle of violence in society and lead to a decrease in the attractiveness of football as a national sport. Therefore, by applying the accumulated experiences of fans, one can move towards preventive policies and control the destructive phenomenon of violence from the root, which not only helps the health of the sports community but also leads to strengthening social cohesion and promoting a positive fan culture.
Sport Management and Development
MohammadAmin Sayadi; Negin Ahmadi; Iraj Mehdizadeh; Omid Fathullahi
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to Analysis of empowerment indicators for the sustainable development of sports arena 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 arena 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. 11 peoplewere 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.
Sport Economics, Marketing and Tourism
Samar Atta Jafar; Rahim Ramezani nejhad; Nooshin Benar
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of smartification requirements on the development of services and the sustainability of sports tourism in the Kurdistan Region.Methodology: This study employed a quantitative approach for implementation, was applied in terms of purpose, ...
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Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of smartification requirements on the development of services and the sustainability of sports tourism in the Kurdistan Region.Methodology: This study employed a quantitative approach for implementation, was applied in terms of purpose, and utilized a descriptive-survey type design. The statistical population included all tourists present in the tourism areas of the Kurdistan Region, selected through purposive and accessible sampling methods, resulting in a sample size of 223 participants. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 71 questions, employing a five-point Likert scale for measurement. Data analysis and modeling were conducted using PLS4 software.Findings: The results indicated that the requirements for the development of smart sports tourism including smart economy, smart society, smart governance, and smart technologies had the greatest impact on the development of sustainable sports tourism, with an impact factor of 0.93. Additionally, smart sports tourism services such as smart nutrition, smart attractions, smart transportation, smart shopping, and smart payment also contributed to the sustainable development of smart sports tourism, with an impact factor of 0.42. The conceptual model of the research was confirmed.Conclusion: Implementing the requirements of smart tourism across four macro-level areas governance, society, economy, and technology will facilitate the development of sustainable sports tourism. Managers and responsible institutions should enhance the platforms for smart tourism in these sectors, ensuring that smart services in sports tourism positively influence its development.
Sport Management and Development
Farzad Ghafouri; Javad Shahlaee Bagheri; Sina Zafari; Payam Raisi
Abstract
Objective: The main purpose of the research was to determine the feasibility of developing sports ecotourism (boating on rushing waters) in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.Methodology: This research was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of type. In the qualitative phase of the research, ...
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Objective: The main purpose of the research was to determine the feasibility of developing sports ecotourism (boating on rushing waters) in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.Methodology: This research was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of type. In the qualitative phase of the research, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 experts using the snowball method. In the quantitative phase of the research, 370 active sports tourists, tour managers, watershed management organizations, and tourism management participated and were selected from the entire statistical population using the whole-number sampling method. In order to collect quantitative research data, a researcher-made questionnaire was used in the limiting, attracting, infrastructural, and driving dimensions, and was analyzed using SPSS and PLS software for descriptive and inferential statistics.Findings: The results of the research in the factor analysis model showed that all factors (drivers, attractors, and infrastructure) have the greatest impact on the development of sports tourism compared to the factor that can. And they had the right factor load; Meanwhile, the limiting factor affects the feasibility of sports tourism development and has been chosen correctly. In general, the average of these factors (drivers, attractors, infrastructure, and constraints) on the feasibility of sports tourism development is significantly higher than the test average, and their relationship with the feasibility variable was confirmed.Conclusion: Therefore, managers and the Youth Sport Department should create appropriate conditions for the increasing development of boating in the turbulent waters of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari by organizing conferences, equipping accommodation facilities, and employing committed human resources.
