Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the barriers and restrictions of the handball development in Sabzevar and providing strategies development solutions.
Methodology: The research was a descriptive – survey study. The research tool was a researcher made questionnaire which was used after determining superficial and content validity and reliability(α= 0.95). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the tool validity. The research society were all the handball specialists and coaches in Sabzevar (220 persons). The statistical sample selection was purposive. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of data distribution, as well as Welch test was used to determine a significant difference between the respondents’ views and Dunnett post hoc test was used to consider the respondents’ views. Confirmatory factor analysis test was used to prioritize the barriers.
Results: Lack of industry in Sabzevar and limitation in financial support from the industrial, weakness of the management in the Handball Association of Sabzevar, lack of experienced coaches and experts in Sabzevar, absence of a mechanism to encourage and appreciate the people and fans involved in handball in the city and lack of efficient use of available facilities were the most important barriers for handball development in Sabzevar..
Conclusion: Profiting of private sector, benefiting of competent, skillful and experienced staffs, protecting local sport publications and initiation of websites exclusively for handball and suitable utilization of sport facilities are some of the suggested strategies in current research which perhaps are keys for raising interest and revitalization of handball in Sabzevar.