https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/ Journal of Sport Management and Development en daily 1 Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9572.html In science, theory can serve as the foundation for teaching/education, research, and practice/action. Theory should be the basis of teaching and a means for graduates to apply theory to practice in the workplace. In particular, teaching at the postgraduate level must be theory-driven, or course subjects must be theorized and presented within a structured framework. Using theory in teaching, especially in postgraduate studies, raises new questions and issues regarding past research and the theorizing process. It allows students to go beyond a merely descriptive understanding of phenomena and gain a deeper insight into how, why, and when activities occur. Furthermore, it can help researchers develop better theories. Therefore, sports management students must master theory-based knowledge to think analytically and critically about the phenomena facing this field, and they must explore and explain the relationships between variables in sports management more thoroughly. Rather than simply telling students how to act and what the best practices are, they should be exposed to theory in various situations so they can describe, predict, and control events both inside and outside the sports organization; theory-based teaching makes this possible. Researchers recommend that management Ph.D students write theoretical papers to ensure that theorizing does not become a lost or unlearned art. On the other hand, theory-based teaching and theoretical critique expand the student’s perspective on the phenomena they have experienced in the real world. Theory-driven teaching reveals the strengths and weaknesses inherent in a subject. Instructors of postgraduate courses should also incorporate their own research findings into their teaching. In this way, the application of theory can be more effective if it is integrated as a part of learning process. Naturally, this is a very common practice in postgraduate curricula, and it helps both students and professors engage in further theorizing within sports management. It also enhances the student’s ability to systematically analyze or frame challenging topics in sports management. Examining the textbooks that are authored and recommended to students for educational purposes partially reflects how well their content is organized within an appropriate framework. It also indicates the extent to which these books contain the author’s coherent views derived from previous studies, field experiences, observations, and research. Although internship and practicum experiences in educational programs are designed to put knowledge and theory into practice, transferring and discussing the experiences from those programs in the classroom can make the framing of theoretical concepts more practical and applied. This is especially true given that sports management has a significant need for this approach. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8840.html Objective: This study aimed to identify and categorize the factors influencing the improvement of Iran's sports delegation performance in the Asian Games and the Olympic Games, and to provide practical strategies for enhancing this performance.Methodology: A qualitative research design was employed, based on the grounded theory approach using Glaser’s emerging method. The statistical population included officials from the Ministry of Sport and Youth, managers of the National Olympic Committee, presidents and secretaries of sports federations, faculty members in sports sciences, as well as coaches and athletes. Theoretical sampling was used, and theoretical saturation was achieved after conducting 25 interviews. Data were analyzed in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding.Results: A total of 296 indicators were identified and categorized across three levels (micro, meso, and macro) under 20 main themes and 66 sub-themes. At the micro level, factors such as physiological and physical conditions, psychological aspects, and technical, cognitive, and ethical skills were identified. At the meso level, the main themes included sports management and policymaking, financial resource management, strategic investment, events, support and logistics, facilities and equipment, human resources, media, and research. At the macro level, economic conditions, political relations, laws and regulations, cultural and social factors, modern technologies, and the geographical environment were emphasized.Conclusion: The results indicate that improving the performance of Iran’s sports delegation requires simultaneous attention to micro, meso, and macro level factors. Integration and coordination among these levels can provide the foundation for sustainable success in international sports competitions. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8835.html AbstractThe purpose of the current research was to design an entrepreneurship development model in the sports and youth departments of the northwest of the country. This research is descriptive-correlation and applied in terms of purpose, which was carried out in the field in 1402. The statistical population includes; There were coaches, referees and senior managers, deputy directors of sports and youth department, managers of private clubs, heads of sports teams. In this section, the formula for determining the sample size was used in stratified random sampling (n=217 people). The data collection tool was the questionnaire of Melai Kohi et al. (1402) with 118 questions. Reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, which was equal to 0.85 and confirmed. To analyze the data, one-variable statistical tests, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used through SPSS and SmartPLS statistical software. The findings showed that the model of entrepreneurship development in general administrations of sports and youth is suitable and all the numbers and parameters of the model have acceptable t values and factor loading and were significant at a significance level of less than 0.05. It is concluded that the entrepreneurship development model in sports organizations can be used as a practical and effective tool to increase competitiveness, entrepreneurship training, human resource empowerment, formulation of entrepreneurship strategies, development of entrepreneurship culture and attraction of financial and human resources. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8833.html Objective: The present research was conducted with the aim of providing a model for improving coalition building policies in sport.Methodology: The current research was a mixed research. The statistical population of the present research in the qualitative part included experts who are knowledgeable about the subject of the research. Also, the statistical population in the quantitative part of the research included the managers of sports federations of the country. The research tool included semi-structured interviews and a special questionnaire for Dimtel, which was designed according to the research objectives and methods. Dimtel method was used to identify the pattern of causal relationships between the studied variables.Results: According to the results of the present research, it was determined that the variables affecting coalition building in sport include improvement of concepts, adaptation and localization, elite decision-making, structuring and indexing, legal aspects, management flows, and knowledge improvement. Also, the factors of improvement of concepts and structuring and indexing were identified as causal factors and other factors as causal factors.Conclusion: The analysis of the research findings indicates that ‘structuring and index-making’ with a weight of 0.237 has been identified as the primary determining and influential factor in sports coalition-building. Other identified factors such as ‘improving concepts,’ ‘allocation and indigenization,’ ‘elite decision-making,’ ‘legal aspects,’ ‘management flows,’ and ‘knowledge improvement’ also play a role in this process, but with less impact compared to the factor of structuring and index-making. These findings emphasize the importance of particular attention to structural foundations and measurement criteria in formulating sports coalition-building policies. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8492.html Objective: The purpose of the current research was to design a volunteer management model in Iran's sports federationsMethodology: In terms of practical purpose, it is qualitative from the perspective of data collection and thematic analysis. The participants of this research include experts (university professors), sports volunteers, and operational managers of sports volunteering in Iran. Participants in the research were 15 experts. The data collection tool is a semi-structured interview.Results: According to the three stages of the PEP model and the three branches, firstly, the structural, contextual and behavioral factors affecting each stage have been presented in the form of a network of themes. The first stage of the PEP volunteer model is preparation, which is of particular importance for identifying and employing volunteers. The second step in the PEP volunteer model is engagement. This stage has an important role to show the importance of volunteers' work, and the third stage in the PEP volunteer model is sustainability. This step is very important to create an effective volunteering systemConclusion: it can be acknowledged that the integrated reliance on the design of the volunteer management model in Iran's sports federations based on structural, contextual and behavioral factors that are effective in the stage of preparation, volunteering and sustainability in the form of a network of themes helps managers in this field to find suitable functional methods with Know the volunteers and step in a clear and purposeful way. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8980.html Objective: The goal of the present study was to design a model for professionalizing of student sports.Methodology: The present study was applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-correlational in nature. The statistical population of the study included experts from the Deputy of Physical Education and Health of the Ministry and the Student Sports Federation, the Deputy of Physical Education and Health, heads of physical education departments, experts and physical education teachers of the provinces. A sufficient number of statistical samples were selected for structural equation modeling (369 people) and they responded to a researcher-made questionnaire whose face validity was confirmed by 10 experts and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.99); and structural equation modeling in PLS4 and SPSS26 software was used to analyze the data and examine the model fit..Results: The results showed that the effect of professionalization opportunities and professionalization requirements on professionalization management is positive and significant. The effect of professionalization management on human capital empowerment and optimization of development resources was direct, positive and significant; but it did not have a direct effect on inter-organizational efficiency. Also, human capital empowerment and resource optimization had a direct, positive and significant effect on inter-organizational efficiency, and further, the effect of inter-organizational efficiency on the quality of health and wellness programs, updating of education and learning, and holding standard events and competitions was direct, positive and significant.Conclusion: By considering the context and capacities of student sports and recognizing the paths to professionalization, student sports programs and activities can be moved from a normal level to an advanced level, leading to the professional growth and advancement of student sports. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8903.html Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the tourism experience on satisfaction, revisit intention, and attachment among sports tourists.Methodology: This study employed a meta-analysis method and a quantitative approach, aiming to systematically combine and analyze domestic and international studies on the sport tourism experience from 2004 to 2024. After applying the inclusion criteria, 22 studies were ultimately selected for final analysis and inclusion in the software. The data were selected through purposive sampling and analyzed using CMA2 software, with the effect size of each study calculated.Results: The results showed that out of the 22 studies included in this research, 19 were journal articles. The largest sample size was related to the study by Hallmann et al (2021). The findings also indicated that the tourism experience variable could have a significant impact on satisfaction, attachment, and revisit intention among sports event tourists. Furthermore, the software output reported that the effect size in all studies was above average and statistically significant.Conclusion: The results of the present meta-analysis showed that the experience of sports events has a significant impact on three key components: satisfaction, attachment, and revisit intention. Overall, these findings indicate that the quality of participation in sports events not only contributes to satisfaction but can also lead to the development of lasting emotional bonds with the event and a desire to return. Therefore, it can be concluded that enhancing elements related to positive experiences in sports events plays a vital role in audience retention and growth and should be seriously considered in the design and management of such events. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8515.html The aim of the research was to design the historical and identity model of native, national and ritual sports.The current research method was qualitative (Ostrass and Corbin) and exploratory.The statistical population included local native sports specialists with a university teaching experience or activists in the field of public sports, experts and officials of sports, policy makers and sports consultants.The sampling method was non-probability sampling, with targeted selection and maximum diversity or heterogeneity. The sample size using the theoretical saturation method was equal to 14 people. The data collection tool was an open interview and was analyzed based on three stages of open, central and selective coding. In the present study, the criteria of long-term involvement, sustained observation, re-inspection of the path of information acquisition, checking, triangulation, and continuous comparison were used to measure the validity. To calculate the reliability, the within-subject agreement method was used, and the reliability between the coders for the conducted interviews. In this research, it was equal to 88%. Based on the findings, causal factors include religious identity and social identity; Background factors including infrastructure and planning; Intervening factors including participation and support; central phenomenon including identification in ritual and national sports; Strategies include executive and structural; Consequences included social and cultural functions. This research was conducted with a qualitative approach to identify the identity and historical concepts of native, national and ritual sports and presented a model to explain the identity and historical pattern of native and ritual sports in the form of a theory. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8516.html Objective: The purpose of the present research was to study the bibliometric study of the research conducted in the field of sustainable development of sports.Methodology: This research is a type of bibliometric review research and it was done with the methods of functional analysis, analysis of citation networks and keyword analysis. In order to draw scientific maps, Excel, Vosviewer, Rstudio and Maxqda software were used. The statistical population of the research is 486 articles, of which 386 articles were selected as a sample during the document screening stage.Results: The findings of the research show that in the period of 2001 to 2023, 386 documents have been included in the analysis portfolio of the field in question, of course, 187 publications published these 386 studies and the annual growth of production Science in this field is 4.28%. The average number of citations that the studies have received is 9.096, which is a very good value in the desired field, but the results show that there are few articles with many citations, while there are many articles with few citations. Also, according to the functional goals and content analysis of the research, most of the researchers of developed countries pay attention to this scientific field, and in the top articles of this field, most of the words related to sports events and attracting tourists have been the attention of the top researchers.Conclusion: by recognizing the best fields of study in the field of sustainable development in sports, which have mostly been conducted in developed countries and some developing countries; We can express these questions, where is sustainable development in our sports industry? What strategic and operational plans have we developed in this field? What requirements do we have in this field? Therefore, we can say that the questions derived from the results of this research are considered to be the needs of sustainable development in our country and can be very useful research fields in the direction of sustainable development in the country's sports. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8826.html Methodology: The research was quasi-experimental, using experimental and control groups to measure behavioral outcomes. A 6-month social marketing campaign, titled "Elementary Energizers: Move, Play, Shine!", was implemented in the experimental group included attractive posters, short motivational animations, family sports festivals, an app design to record students' activities, group incentives and rewards for active students, healthy competition among classes, and various engaging events such as health celebrations and active recreation. Data collection tools included the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (PAQ-C), a researcher-made motor behavior checklist and a satisfaction assessment questionnaire.Results: Statistical analysis showed the experimental group had a significant increase in physical activity scores compared to the control group (p=0.014). A paired t-test showed significant icrease in physical activity in the experimental group (p=0.003). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) confirmed that the intervention group had a significant effect on post-test scores after controlling pre-test scores.Conclusion: The results showed social marketing campaigns can be effective in promoting healthy behaviors, including physical activity of children and adolescents. Parental involvement in the design and implementation of these campaigns played a key role in their success. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8517.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8518.html Objective: The purpose of this research was to identify the key drivers affecting the future of Iran's sports industry with a future-research approach.Methodology: In terms of nature, the current research method is based on future research and forecasting, analytical and exploratory methods, which were carried out by using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The statistical population of the current research was experts (professors of sports management, sports experts, and athletes) in the field of the sports industry. Sampling was done way, and 11 people were selected. In this research, data-based methods that were the result of studies and searches in research and books in the field of sports industry, as well as methods based on the opinion of specialists and experts, were used simultaneously. After collecting the data of the first stage, 28 items that had gained more points were placed in the matrix and were completed and evaluated according to the opinions of the expert panel and analyzed using the MicMac software.Results: Based on the research results, various factors influence the future of the sports industry. The most important factors in the future of the Iranian sports industry are: joint hosting of major sports events, management stability, support for new sports businesses, meritocracy, and expertise. Orientation, modern and technological productions and equipment, forming multinational manufacturing companies, supporting the privatization of clubs, and strengthening Iran's position in international institutions and seats.Conclusion: In order to build a bright future for the country's sports industry, one should take a special look at the identified key factors. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8524.html Objective: The purpose of this study was prioritizing city parks in designing sports city from the perspective of experts.Methodology: The present study was combined and the tools for data collection of semi-depth interviews with experts in the qualitative phase and questionnaire in quantitative part with planning experts, urban architecture and sports management were continued in the qualitative part of interviews until theoretical saturation were achieved. The validity of the data was confirmed by the review of three participants. To confirm the repetition of codes by two experts. The quantitative part of the questionnaire was distributed in 21 questions across 9 values. Validity of the panel of experts and reliability was confirmed using FuzzyAHP package in R software and prioritized using AHP.Results: In the qualitative findings, seven components of garden, public park, sports park, elderly park, street park, amusement park and adventure park obtained and their priority levels got examined. The results showed that park components are street park (0.264), sports park (0.231), public park (0.190), elderly park (0.114), gardens (0.081), amusement park (0.073) and adventure park (0.047).Conclusion: Among the various parks the Park Street was the most important and adventure park was the least important in designing sports city in terms of planning specialists, urban architecture and sports management. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8691.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8885.html Objective: This research aims to proposing a model for the success of Iran‘s Paralympic sport in international events.Methodology: The research employed a qualitative methodology based on grounded theory. The interviewees consisted of experts and specialists in the field of sports, particularly Paralympic sports. A purposive sampling method was used, and data saturation served as the criterion for determining sample adequacy. Accordingly, 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted.Results: A total of 310 initial concepts, 37 sub-categories, and 13 main categories were extracted, which, within the framework of the paradigmatic model, include: Contextual factors (establishing supportive regulations, the role of mass and social media, and a comprehensive model for sporting events), Causal conditions (promoting a culture of the right to sport, education with a research-oriented approach, and the development of equipment using modern technologies), Intervening conditions (challenges facing the success of Paralympic sports, the development of financial resources and income generation, and interaction and synergy among stakeholder organizations), Strategies (the necessity of adapting urban sports centers, establishing a comprehensive talent identification system, and promoting sports for women with disabilities) and Outcomes (enhancing social and athletic status, fostering champions, and achieving medals).Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it is recommended to develop educational programs, increase the per capita availability of specialized and standard sports facilities, provide specialized and smart training equipment, establish a rehabilitation center, implement talent identification and development processes, actively participate in competitions, and enforce supportive regulations for sports for individuals with disabilities. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8982.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_8983.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9007.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9050.html Objective: This study aimed to explore the factors affecting transgender people’s participation in sports and the consequences of such participation.Methodology: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and using thematic analysis method. In order to collect data, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 experts in sports management and social sciences. Thematic analysis method of Braun & Clarke (2006) and MAXQDA software were used to analyze the data, and 218 initial statements were obtained.Results: In the section of factors influencing the sports activities of transgender people, eight main themes were identified, the most important of which were security concerns and privacy, cultural and social restrictions, and the role of family and their support. The consequences section had five main themes: improved mental and physical health, positive social development and interactions, enhanced gender identity and self-recognition, post-participation psychological challenges and pressures, and new social and employment opportunities. The study's findings showed that various individual and structural factors affect transgender individuals' participation in sports. This involvement can also have a positive impact on the quality of life, gender identity, and social development of this group.Conclusion: These findings indicate that sports are a key tool for improving the quality of life for transgender individuals, but achieving this requires macro-level planning, policy reform, and the creation of safe and inclusive environments in society. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9099.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9097.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9106.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9137.html Objective: The aim of this study was to present a model for the financial success of Iran's Premier League football clubs.Methodology: The research employed a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative part was based on Grounded Theory with Charmaz's approach. The statistical population for the qualitative section consisted of senior managers of the Football Federation and the League Organization, CEOs of clubs, senior financial managers of clubs, and academic experts in sports management. Purposeful sampling was used along with the snowball method. A total of 18 interviews were conducted, concluding when theoretical saturation was reached. For the quantitative part, a questionnaire was designed based on the final findings from the qualitative section. The statistical sample for the quantitative section included 185 experts in sports management, financial management, financial experts of clubs, and members of the clubs' boards of directors, with available sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in SPSS and SmartPLS.Results: Revenue generation, upstream rules and regulations, technical conditions, managerial strategies, fan engagement system, requirements, and club resources, with impact coefficients of 0.240, 0.195, 0.183, 0.182, 0.179, 0.064, 0.050 respectively, are the most important factors contributing to the financial success of Premier League football clubs.Conclusion: Achieving financial success for Premier League football clubs requires comprehensive attention to these factors and will enable clubs to reach their financial goals and secure a sustainable future. Clubs should evaluate their performance and adopt innovative approaches to move toward achieving financial goals and sustainable development. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9510.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9509.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9511.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9547.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9560.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9561.html 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. https://jsmd.guilan.ac.ir/article_9589.html 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.