پژوهشگاه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی (وزارت علوم، تحقیقات و فناوری)مطالعات مدیریت ورزشی2538-3213189720260723Providing the development model of futsal schools in Kerman provinceارائه مدل توسعه مدارس فوتسال استان کرمان1738515210.22089/smrj.2025.17296.4081FAمحمدصادقضعیفیگروه مدیریت ورزشی و رفتار حرکتی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه شهید باهنر کرمان، کرمان، ایران.0009-0009-9463-1332کوروشقهرمان تبریزیگروه مدیریت ورزشی و رفتار حرکتی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه شهید باهنر کرمان، کرمان، ایران.0000-0002-2721-7256اکبرجابریگروه مدیریت ورزشی و رفتار حرکتی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه شهید باهنر کرمان، کرمان، ایران.0000-0002-7849-8668Journal Article20240929Extended AbstractBackground and PurposeNowadays, futsal has become a well-known sport in society that has grown rapidly in recent years. This rapid development is very beneficial because futsal has many fans among teenagers and young people, which can lead them to this sport (Prastyo et al., 2017). One of the fundamental strategies for developing futsal is focusing on futsal schools. Developing youth and junior academies is one of the most important goals of every federation worldwide. This introduces boys and girls to skills and values such as friendship, respect, fair play, competition, and commitment (Ansarinia et al., 2023). Today, there are challenges in the development of futsal. In this regard, Eftekhari, Goharrostami and Darvishi (2019) pointed to issues such as the lack of strategic and long-term goals, the unclear goals of the talent search system, the lack of sufficient resources and equipment, and the lack of financial support as challenges to the development of futsal. The development of futsal has become an attraction due to its popularity among children (Badaru, Azis & Asyhari, 2022). Considering the points mentioned so far, the researcher has not encountered specialized studies on the development of futsal schools. Given the vastness of Kerman Province, the significant dispersion of its counties, and the distance from the provincial center, efforts should be made to create opportunities for the mobility of talents and to utilize the maximum existing capacities, thereby fostering the flourishing of these talents and consequently the growth and development of futsal in Kerman Province. Now, considering the vastness of Kerman Province and its capacities, including human resources and the presence of industrial companies, the strong interest of the people of this province in the sport of futsal, and potential resources such as premier league teams in this province, the question arises: what is the model for developing futsal schools in Kerman Province, and what factors influence the formation of this model?It is worth mentioning that the potential results of this research can create a more accurate picture of futsal schools by utilizing the opinions of specialists in the field and consequently lead to the identification of futsal talents in Kerman Province and the use of this information by managers and sports officials in Kerman Province to promote and develop futsal schools in the region.Materials and MethodsThis research was an exploratory qualitative study conducted using the grounded theory method and the systematic approach of Strauss and Corbin (1994). The research population included coaches, club managers, officials, and players, from whom interviews were conducted. Given the nature of the research and the grounded theory method, the criterion for selecting the sample was theoretical saturation, which was confirmed as the information became repetitive from the 17th participant onwards, and the interviews continued until the 20th participant. The sampling was purposive based on the following entry criteria for the interviews: 1) having at least a bachelor's degree, 2) having at least a Level 1 coaching certificate in Iran, and 3) having at least three years of experience in futsal schools. The tool used in the research process was semi-structured interviews. Due to its limitations, various in-person and audio contact methods were used to conduct the interviews. To assess the credibility (validity) of the research, the Guba and Lincoln (1994) evaluation method was used, which was based on four axes: credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Reliability was also assessed using the intra-rater reliability method. After collecting the field data from the interviews, the grounded theory method was used for data analysis.FindingsBased on the text of all interviews in the open coding phase, 89 concepts or initial codes were identified, including talent identification, the presence of very good talents in the province and the discovery of more talented players, talent development, player socialization, teaching sports culture, as a hobby and leisure activity, the popularity of futsal, safe halls with suitable and standard flooring, having a hall, having a complete uniform, using educational aids, having sufficient facilities, having a ball, attention and supervision of the football federation on futsal schools, supervision of issuing futsal school licenses by the football federation, supervision of the qualifications of active coaches by the football federation, investment by companies, organizations, and factories, support from benefactors and officials, good sponsors, installation of advertising banners by the municipality, the role of the media in advertising, establishing interaction between futsal schools and the football federation, the role of the municipality in providing halls, the perspective and role of families, the entry and role of the education system, holding festivals by futsal schools, the activity of the talent scouting committee, medical advisor, nutrition advisor, psychological advisor, fitness trainer, educational advisor, participation of coaches in knowledge enhancement courses, engaging families, cooperation and agreement with the education system, having one ball per player, setting goals and showing players the future vision, teaching ethics and manners to players, working in the media and advertising sector, attracting sponsors, these players will become useful and successful individuals for society in the future, making society healthier and preventing diseases, creating vitality and freshness and preventing laziness in society, encouraging children to engage more in sports, injecting joy and vitality into society, and others were identified. Then, in the axial coding stage, considering the semantic proximity of the identified concepts, 14 subcategories were formed, including talent scouting, cultural-social, software facilities, hardware facilities, legal, external management, competitions, staff, internal management, vision, educational issues, advertising, economic, and community health. Finally, based on the subcategories, 5 main categories were formed, including causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and outcomes.ConclusionOverall, the research results indicated that various factors influence the development of futsal schools in Kerman Province. Properly identifying these factors and implementing fundamental strategies for their timely and accurate experience by club managers and coaches can help in the development of futsal schools in Kerman Province. On the other hand, provincial sports managers and officials, especially in the field of futsal schools, can be inspired by the factors discovered in this research and adopt operational strategies regarding each factor and at each stage, such as software and hardware facilities, external and internal management, etc., to impact the development of futsal schools in Kerman Province. Thus, engaging in sports among children, while promoting child health and injecting vitality and enthusiasm into society, can lead to coaches and players having good jobs and lives in the future and prevent numerous costs for provincial teams operating at the national level.Article Message The development of futsal schools in Kerman Province requires a proper understanding of the influencing factors and the implementation of practical strategies in the areas of facilities, management, education, and other identified components. The implementation of these strategies can contribute to the development of futsal schools, the promotion of community health and vitality, the creation of employment opportunities for coaches and players, and the reduction of costs for provincial teams.Ethical Considerations Ethical considerations were observed in this study.Authors’ Contributions All authors contributed to the conduct of this study.Conflict of Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this article.Acknowledgments The authors deem it necessary to express their gratitude to all participants who, with patience and cooperation, assisted in conducting this study. They also sincerely thank the respected reviewers for their constructive and scientific comments.این پژهش با هدف ارائه مدل توسعه مدارس فوتسال استان کرمان انجام شد. پژوهش حاضر براساس هدف از نوع تحقیقات کاربردی و برحسب گردآوری اطلاعات، اکتشافی بود که با استفاده از نظریه داده‌بنیاد (استراوس و کوربین، 1994) انجام شد. جامعه آماری پژوهش، 20 نفر از مربیان، بازیکنان، مدیران عامل باشگاه‌ها و مسئولان بودند. این مشارکت‌کنندگان از روش نمونه‌گیری هدفمند و براساس معیار اشباع نظری انتخاب شدند. ابزار گردآوری دادهها مصاحبه نیمه‌ساختارمند بود. داده‌های جمع‌آوری‌شده با استفاده از کدگذاری‌های باز، محوری و انتخابی تجزیه و تحلیل شدند و مدل نهایی استخراج شد. به‌منظور بررسی اعتبار یافته‌ها از شاخص‌های گوبا و لینکلن (1994) و برای ارزیابی پایایی از توافق درون‌موضوعی استفاده شد. براساس نتایج پژوهش، عوامل علّی در مقوله‌های استعدادیابی و فرهنگی-اجتماعی، شرایط زمینه‌ای در مقوله‌های امکانات نرم‌افزاری و سخت‌افزاری، عوامل مداخله‌گر در مقوله‌های قانونی، مدیریت بیرونی و مسابقات، راهبردها در مقوله‌های کادر، مدیریت داخلی، چشم‌انداز و مسائل آموزشی و درنهایت پیامدها در مقوله‌های اقتصادی و سلامت جامعه احصا شدند. نتایج این تحقیق می‌تواند به‌عنوان مبانی در راستای توسعه مدارس فوتسال استان کرمان مدنظر قرار گیرد.https://smrj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5152_876e1c59023b1a0e95808168e1a8ff89.pdfپژوهشگاه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی (وزارت علوم، تحقیقات و فناوری)مطالعات مدیریت ورزشی2538-3213189720260723the impact of artificial intelligence technology on the development of sports startups with the mediating role of sports entrepreneurshipتأثیر تکنولوژی هوش مصنوعی بر توسعه استارتاپ‌های ورزشی با نقش میانجی کارآفرینی ورزشی3960515310.22089/smrj.2025.17335.4141FAاکبرمهدویگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روان شناسی، دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی، اردبیل ایران.0009-0005-9943-1672صمدفتاحیگروه رفتار حرکتی و مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه ارومیه، ارومیه، ایران.0009-0001-5975-0581میرحسامسیدسلطانیگروه رفتار حرکتی و مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه ارومیه، ارومیه، ایران.0009-0006-9649-1415رقیهسرلابگروه رفتار حرکتی و مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه ارومیه، ارومیه، ایران.0000-0003-2321-8304Journal Article20250411Extended AbstractBackground and PurposeThis study investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the development of sports startups, considering sports entrepreneurship as a mediating variable. Although AI plays a growing role in business innovation, its specific influence on sports startups remains insufficiently explored. Focusing on Tehran and Alborz provinces, the research targets academics, sports entrepreneurs, and experts from technology parks. It examines how AI tools—such as data analytics, intelligent decision-making, and automation—can enhance entrepreneurial strategies and promote startup growth in the sports industry. By integrating technological capabilities with entrepreneurship, this study aims to provide practical insights for policymakers and startup founders. The results are expected to support sustainable development in sports startups and highlight the strategic importance of AI in emerging markets. Ultimately, the research contributes to bridging the gap between innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for adaptive, tech-driven approaches to foster competitiveness and success in the evolving sports ecosystem.Materials and MethodsThis applied study employed a descriptive-survey method with a quantitative approach to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) influences the development of sports startups, with sports entrepreneurship serving as a mediating variable. The research targeted individuals in Tehran and Alborz provinces, specifically including sports science academics, experts from technology parks, and active sports entrepreneurs. Using Cohen's formula—with a statistical power of 80% and an effect size of 0.30—a sample size of 232 participants was determined. After removing incomplete responses, 224 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Data were collected using three standardized and validated instruments: the AI Technology Questionnaire (22 items, Cronbach's α = 0.83), the Sports Startups Questionnaire (20 items, α = 0.88), and the Sports Entrepreneurship Questionnaire (74 items, α = 0.76). Content validity was confirmed through expert review, and statistical analyses supported both convergent (AVE > 0.5) and discriminant validity (AVE > MSV/ASV). To analyze the data, structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using SPSS version 19 and AMOS version 23. The model demonstrated an acceptable fit, with key indicators such as GFI = 0.844, CFI = 0.912, and RMSEA = 0.079. Mediation analysis followed the Baron and Kenny (1986) procedure to assess both direct and indirect effects between the variables. Results revealed significant path coefficients: AI to Startups (β = 0.14, p < 0.001), AI to Entrepreneurship (β = 0.37, p = 0.015), Entrepreneurship to Startups (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). Notably, entrepreneurship fully mediated the relationship between AI and startup development. Despite its limited geographic scope, the study's strengths lie in its validated instruments, random sampling, robust methodology, and strong analytical framework. The findings provide valuable, evidence-based insights for policymakers and entrepreneurs, highlighting how AI and entrepreneurship can effectively work together to drive innovation and sustainable economic growth in the rapidly evolving sports startup landscape.FindingsThe analysis revealed significant relationships among all the variables examined. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology had a direct positive effect on both sports startups (β = 0.14, p < 0.001) and sports entrepreneurship (β = 0.37, p = 0.015), highlighting AI's role as a critical enabler in both domains. AI tools such as data analytics, automation, and decision-making were found to enhance the strategic capabilities of sports entrepreneurs, driving the development and growth of startups. Sports entrepreneurship showed a strong positive impact on startup development (β = 0.58, p < 0.001), underlining the importance of entrepreneurial thinking and management skills in achieving success. The mediation analysis revealed that sports entrepreneurship completely mediated the relationship between AI technology and sports startups. This suggests that while AI has a direct positive effect, its most significant impact on startup growth is through the development of entrepreneurial competencies. When the mediating effect of entrepreneurship was considered, the direct effect of AI on sports startups became non-significant, reinforcing the importance of entrepreneurship in leveraging technological advancements for business success. Demographic analysis showed that most respondents were male (69.6%), with a significant portion holding bachelor's degrees (53.6%) and having 10–15 years of professional experience (33.5%). These findings suggest that individuals with a solid educational foundation and professional experience are more likely to engage with and benefit from AI technologies in sports entrepreneurship. In terms of reliability and validity, all measurement models exhibited strong internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.76 to 0.88. Convergent validity was also confirmed, as the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) for all constructs was greater than 0.5, ensuring that the measures captured the underlying concepts. The structural model fit indices supported the hypothesized relationships, with values such as CFI = 0.912 and RMSEA = 0.079 indicating a good fit between the data and the proposed model. Overall, the findings suggest that AI technology plays a vital role in enhancing sports startups, particularly when combined with sports entrepreneurship. The results align with previous studies that emphasize technology's transformative potential in reshaping sports business ecosystems, pointing to the importance of integrating AI-driven solutions with entrepreneurial strategies to foster innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth in the sports sector. These insights have practical implications for policymakers and entrepreneurs, who should focus on developing both technological capabilities and entrepreneurial skills to unlock the full potential of the sports startup ecosystem in the rapidly evolving global marketplace.ConclusionThis study highlights the significant role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of sports startups, with sports entrepreneurship acting as a crucial mediator. The findings indicate that AI's impact on startups is fully mediated by entrepreneurial competencies, with a strong positive relationship (β = 0.58). This suggests that AI alone is not enough for startup success; instead, it must be integrated with entrepreneurial skills. The study provides valuable insights for startup founders, urging them to combine AI tools with entrepreneurial development programs. Policymakers are encouraged to create supportive environments that address both technological and entrepreneurial needs. However, the study's focus on Tehran and Alborz limits its generalizability, suggesting the need for future research across different regions. Additionally, a longitudinal approach could better capture the evolving influence of AI in the sports entrepreneurship ecosystem. Overall, these findings contribute to advancing the theoretical understanding of digital transformation in the sports industry.Article Message The findings of this study showed that artificial intelligence technology plays an effective role in the development of sports startups, while sports entrepreneurship, as another influential factor, provides the foundation for their growth and development. Therefore, leveraging artificial intelligence technology alongside strengthening sports entrepreneurship can contribute to the sustainable development and enhanced competitiveness of sports startups.Ethical Considerations Ethical considerations were observed in this study.Authors’ Contributions All authors contributed to the conduct of this study.Conflict of Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this article.Acknowledgments The authors sincerely thank all participants who took part in this study.هدف از انجام این پژوهش بررسی تأثیر تکنولوژی هوش مصنوعی بر توسعه استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی با نقش میانجی کارآفرینی ورزشی بود. روش تحقیق از نظر هدف، کاربردی، از لحاظ گردآوری دادهها، توصیفی-پیمایشی و از حیث رویکرد پژوهشی، کمّی بود. جامعه آماری، اساتید تربیت‌بدنی، متخصصان در پارک علم و فناوری و استارتاپ‌ها و کارآفرینان ورزشی در سطح استان تهران و البرز بودند. حجم نمونه براساس روش کوهن 232 نفر تعیین شد که با توجه به وجود پرسشنامههای ناقص، 224 پرسشنامه تجزیه و تحلیل شد. ابزارهای اندازه‌گیری پرسشنامههای استاندارد بودند که روایی آن‌ها با استفاده از معیارهای روایی محتوایی، همگرا و واگرا تعیین شد. پایایی پرسشنامههای هوش مصنوعی (وقفی و عربیان، 2021)، استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی (ضیاء و طوطی‌فر، 2019) و کارآفرینی ورزشی (صفاری و همکاران، 2013) با استفاده از ضریب آلفای کرونباخ به‌ترتیب 83/0، 88/0 و 76/0 گزارش شد که نشان داد هر سه پرسشنامه از پایایی مطلوبی برخوردار بودند. برای تجزیه و تحلیل فرضیه‌های تحقیق از مدل معادلات ساختاری و به‌وسیله نرم‌افزارهای SPSS نسخه 19 و AMOS نسخه 23 استفاده شد. یافته‌های پژوهش نشان داد که تکنولوژی هوش مصنوعی بر استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی و کارآفرینی ورزشی به‌ترتیب 14/0 و 37/0 و کارآفرینی ورزشی بر استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی 58/0 تأثیر دارد؛ بنابراین می‌توان نتیجه گرفت که براساس جدول بارون و کنی، نوع میانجی کارآفرینی ورزشی در تأثیر تکنولوژی هوش مصنوعی بر توسعه استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی از نوع میانجی کامل است.https://smrj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5153_5a4be1fa34e62bb8a6ec6b91d2462f5a.pdfپژوهشگاه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی (وزارت علوم، تحقیقات و فناوری)مطالعات مدیریت ورزشی2538-3213189720260723Presenting a Model for Developing an Environment for the Growth of Iranian Grassroots Football Talentارائه مدل توسعه محیط رشد استعداد فوتبال پایه ایران6182513210.22089/smrj.2025.17915.4148FAحسنعباسیگروه مدیریت ورزشی، واحد اصفهان(خوراسگان)، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، اصفهان، ایران.0000-0001-5520-7672رسولنظریگروه مدیریت ورزشی، واحد اصفهان(خوراسگان)، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، اصفهان، ایران.0000-0002-1853-9712رخسارهبادامیگروه رفتار حرکتی، واحد اصفهان (خوراسگان)، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، اصفهان، ایران0000-0002-4507-0382Journal Article20250403Extended AbstractBackground and PurposeConsequently, facilitating direct participation of players in Europe emerges as an effective football development strategy for East Asian nations. However, echoing Arsène Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, who noted that "Many talented youngsters waste their time on the benches of top teams instead of gathering experience on the pitch" (1). In fact, the development of players' technical and tactical skills occurs during childhood and adolescence and becomes a support for the adult age group (2). Crowley (2021) stated in her research that English clubs pay attention to the development of technical football skills at a young age and spend millions of pounds annually on identifying talent and developing grassroots football. The present study seeks to examine the dimensions of developing the talent development environment for grassroots football in Iran in order to help grassroots football experts consider this issue from various managerial aspects.Materials and MethodsThe present study is of a mixed type (qualitative-quantitative). Since we are seeking to discover new concepts, from the perspective of nature, it is exploratory-fundamental; from the perspective of approach, it is inductive; from the perspective of paradigm, it is interpretive-constructive paradigm; from the perspective of strategy, it is grounded theory with a constructivist approach; from the perspective of the scope of data collection, it is field and library; from the perspective of purpose, it is explanation and modeling; and from the perspective of information collection tools, it is in-depth interviews and theoretical studies. The statistical population in the qualitative phase was the experts in the field of football in the country, specifically, the instructors of the Football Federation, the managers of the country's prominent academies, and the national coaches of the grassroots levels, all of whom were proficient in the field of grassroots football, which led to the extraction and identification of variables. Finally, we reached theoretical saturation from the sampling method, so that 16 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with the experts to the theoretical saturation level. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population was all instructors, coaches, managers, and physical education teachers across the country. Hair et al. have suggested an approximate number of 5 to 15 people for each variable in the structural equation approach to estimate the research sample [4]; therefore, 15 people were considered for each component, and considering the possibility of dropout or non-response, 461 questionnaires were distributed and 271 of them were returned. Finally, 271 complete questionnaires were analyzed. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with 63 questions with a five-value Likert scale, which was prepared and used to collect data. In the quantitative part, the analyses were performed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method in SPSS.27 and Smart PLS.4 software.FindingsTable (1) shows the values of Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, convergent validity and the results of the overall fit index of the model. The values of Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability of the variables are higher than 0.7, which indicates the appropriate reliability of the model. Since the values of the average variance extracted (AVE) criterion are greater than 0.5, the convergent validity is acceptable. According to the values in the table below, the appropriateness of the reliability and convergent validity of the research can be confirmed. According to the Fornell and Larcker method and the proposed matrix of this method, which examines the relationship between a construct and its indicators in comparison with the relationship between that construct and other constructs, and considering that a model has acceptable divergent validity if the numbers in the main diameter are greater than the values below it, the divergent validity of this model is acceptable according to the Fornell and Larker matrix and Table (1). Also, the goodness of fit (GOF) value of 0.635 indicated a strong fit of the overall model because the calculated goodness of fit value was greater than 0.36.ConclusionStudying the strategic plan for grassroots football in developed countries by the Iranian Football Development Working Group and localizing these programs based on the vision of Iran's football DNA, preparing a roadmap for the development of grassroots football in Iran and a coordinated system of football training are very important and urgent tasks for the managers of the Football Federation, all of which require transformation and injecting a new perspective into Iranian football. We must accept that in order to develop grassroots football, we need to develop infrastructure. The presence of world-renowned experts, coaches and players and modeling the professional thinking of these capable human resources can, along with standardizing the training topics of coaching courses and supporting provincial football boards with new educational approaches, help develop grassroots football and ultimately professional football in the country.Article MessageStudying the strategic plans of grassroots football in developed countries, localizing these programs based on the "Football DNA" vision of Iran, and preparing a development roadmap for grassroots football along with a standardized system of football training are among the most critical measures for the development of grassroots football in the country. Furthermore, standardizing the curricula for coaching courses, leveraging professional expertise, and supporting innovative educational approaches can significantly contribute to the development of grassroots football and, ultimately, the country's professional football landscape.Ethical ConsiderationsEthical considerations were strictly observed throughout this study.Authors’ ContributionsAll authors contributed equally to the design, implementation, and writing of this study.Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article. AcknowledgmentsThe authors express their sincere gratitude to all individuals who assisted in data collection and analysis, particularly the stakeholders and experts who participated in the interviews and consultation processes. We also extend our appreciation to all relevant institutions and organizations that supported this research.پژوهش حاضر با هدف بررسی عمیق، توسعه محیط رشد استعداد فوتبال پایه ایران انجام شد. پژوهش از نوع آمیخته بود که در آن ابتدا به روش کیفی به جمع آوری متغیرها در بافت واقعی از طریق مصاحبه پرداخته شد. سپس با روش کمی تحلیل‌های موردنیاز انجام شد. در سطح کیفی از روش گراندد تئوری با رویکرد ساخت‌گرا استفاده شد و در سطح کمی تجزیه و تحلیل‌ها با روش مدل‌سازی معادلات ساختاری انجام شد. جامعه آماری در بخش کیفی خبرگان حوزه فوتبال کشور به طور خاص، مدرسان فدراسیون فوتبال، مدیران آکادمی‌های مطرح باشگاه‌های کشور، مربیان ملی رده‌های پایه که در حوزه فوتبال پایه تسلط داشتند و در بخش کمی پژوهش شامل مدرسان، مربیان، مدیران، معلمان تربیت‌بدنی سراسر کشور بودند. ابزار پژوهش شامل مصاحبه‌های نیمه‌ساختارمند و پرسشنامة محقق‌ساخته بود. به‌منظور تجزیه و تحلیل دادهها از کدگذاری و از روش معادلات ساختاری استفاده شد. تحلیل دادهها در نرم افزارهای SPSS نسخه 27 و PLS نسخه 4 انجام گرفت. یافته‌های بخش کیفی پژوهش، بازیگران کلیدی این حوزه تحت عنوان وزارت ورزش و جوانان، فدراسیون فوتبال، باشگاه‌ها و آموزش و پرورش را شناسایی کرد. به طور کلی، توسعه فوتبال پایه ایران مستلزم ایجاد محیطی حمایتگر است. چنین محیطی با تعامل ارگان‌های ذکرشده به وقوع خواهد پیوست.https://smrj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5132_0ebb145bdffd37c6947bd60c251df1ba.pdfپژوهشگاه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی (وزارت علوم، تحقیقات و فناوری)مطالعات مدیریت ورزشی2538-3213189720260723Identifying the damage of sports start-ups in order to remove the existing obstacles with a future research approachآسیب‌شناسی استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی ایران مبتنی بر تحلیل اثرات متقاطع و رویکرد آینده‌پژوهی82106515510.22089/smrj.2026.18922.4227FAجوادغلامیانگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، مشهد، ایران.0000-0002-4572-4585پارسابقال صالحیگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد. مشهد، ایران.0009-0005-6976-0117مائدهمزدرانیگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد. مشهد، ایران.0009-0000-8194-2937نداصائبیگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد. مشهد، ایران.0009-0008-1872-2569Journal Article20260122Extended AbstractBackground and PurposeSports start-ups have emerged as an important pillar of innovation and entrepreneurial development within the sports industry; however, the growing number of failed ventures indicates the presence of deep-rooted structural and managerial challenges. Many sports start-ups struggle to survive due to the absence of professional managerial practices, inadequate branding strategies, financial instability, and limited understanding of market dynamics. Given the inherently uncertain and competitive nature of the sports ecosystem, adopting a futures studies approach provides a valuable lens for identifying the systemic drivers that contribute to vulnerability in these businesses. Accordingly, the present study aimed to systematically identify the key damaging factors affecting sports start-ups in Iran and to analyze the dynamic interactions among these variables through cross-impact analysis. The purpose was to uncover the structure of interrelated challenges and provide insights that support strategic, future-oriented decision-making.MethodsThis study employed a mixed-methods design consisting of qualitative exploration followed by quantitative systemic analysis. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nineteen experts, including university faculty members specializing in sport management, doctoral students studying sport entrepreneurship, founders of active sports start-ups, and individuals with unsuccessful entrepreneurial experiences. Content analysis was used to extract sixty-three initial indicators, which were subsequently refined and categorized into forty-seven key indicators across eight major dimensions.In the quantitative phase, an 8×8 cross-impact matrix was constructed to examine the mutual influence and dependence among the identified variables. MICMAC software was applied to analyze direct and indirect impact patterns, classify variables based on their strategic roles, and map the influence-dependence structure of the system. Through this method, factors were positioned within key systemic categories—drivers, dependent variables, linkage variables, and autonomous elements—enabling a comprehensive understanding of how each contributes to the vulnerability of sports start-ups.ResultsThe results revealed a dense and interconnected network of relationships among the factors influencing the sustainability of sports start-ups. Three dimensions emerged as the strongest and most influential drivers of systemic vulnerability: lack of professionalism, branding deficiencies, and financial challenges. Lack of professionalism proved to be the most dominant variable, encompassing weaknesses such as the absence of a coherent business model, inadequate strategic planning, incomplete competitor analysis, limited networking capacities, improper consultation, and insufficient understanding of regulatory frameworks. These shortcomings not only directly weaken operational performance but also indirectly trigger other forms of dysfunction, including customer dissatisfaction, ineffective resource allocation, and poor market positioning.Branding deficiencies appeared as another central factor and were characterized by the absence of clear branding strategies, weak identity formation, low product quality, limited innovation, and an inability to create perceived value for the target market. The analysis showed that branding occupies a sensitive systemic position, as it strongly influences marketing, customer engagement, and growth potential, while simultaneously being affected by managerial, organizational, and human-resource shortcomings. Financial challenges represented the third major driver. Limited access to capital, inability to attract investors, insufficient budgets for product development and marketing, and the lack of formal support structures consistently emerged as critical barriers.MICMAC analysis demonstrated that financial challenge's function both as outcomes of deeper structural weaknesses and as amplifiers of those weaknesses, creating feedback loops that exacerbate vulnerability. Additional findings indicated that marketing-related issues, human-resource weaknesses, and customer-related problems serve as secondary contributors to systemic deterioration. Although they do not function as principal drivers, their interactions with the three core variables significantly increase the probability of failure. Individual-level factors—such as low motivation, lack of experience, fatigue, and impulsivity—appeared as contextual issues that, while not highly influential within the systemic model, have the potential to undermine team performance and stability.ConclusionThe study concludes that the key vulnerabilities of sports start-ups in Iran arise primarily from internal structural deficiencies rather than external market pressures. The interconnected effects of lack of professionalism, branding deficiencies, and financial challenges form the core of the systemic problems that hinder long-term sustainability. Addressing these factors through professional capacity-building, strategic branding development, improved financial support mechanisms, and enhanced digital marketing can significantly reduce the likelihood of failure. By mapping the influence-dependence patterns of damaging factors, this research provides a future-oriented framework for managers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs seeking to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of sports start-ups.Article MessageThe overarching message of this study is that success in sports start-ups does not depend solely on innovative ideas. Rather, it requires professional managerial structures, strong branding foundations, financial stability, and a strategic, future-oriented mindset. Without these fundamental components, even promising start-ups are unlikely to withstand environmental challenges or achieve sustainable growth.Ethical ConsiderationsAll ethical guidelines were observed throughout the study. Participation in the interviews was voluntary, informed consent was obtained prior to data collection, and the confidentiality and anonymity of all participants were fully ensured. The data were used exclusively for research purposes and no identifying information was disclosed.Authors' ContributionsAll authors contributed equally to the conception and design of the study, data collection, analysis and interpretation of findings, drafting of the manuscript, and final approval of the submitted version. Each author accepts responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest, whether financial, institutional, or personal, related to the execution or publication of this study.AcknowledgmentsThe authors express their sincere appreciation to the experts, managers, entrepreneurs, and academic colleagues who generously shared their experiences and insights. Their contributions were essential to the completion of this research. Appreciation is also extended to the academic institutions that supported the implementation of this study.پژوهش حاضر با هدف شناسایی آسیب‌های استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی در ایران با رویکرد آینده‌پژوهی و ارائه راهکارهایی برای رفع موانع موجود انجام شد. این پژوهش از نظر هدف، کاربردی و از نظر ماهیت، تحلیلی ـ اکتشافی است و به‌صورت ترکیبی (کیفی و کمی) انجام گرفت. داده‌های مورد نیاز از طریق مصاحبه‌های نیمه‌ساختاریافته با ۱۹ نفر از متخصصان حوزه کسب‌وکار ورزشی شامل اساتید دانشگاه، دانشجویان دکتری، مدیران استارت‌آپ‌ها و کارآفرینان ناموفق گردآوری شد. برای تحلیل دادهها از روش تحلیل اثرات متقاطع و نرم‌افزارMICMAC استفاده گردید. نتایج نشان داد که مؤلفه‌هایی نظیر «فقدان برندینگ»، «حرفه‌ای نبودن» و «مشکلات مالی» بیشترین تأثیر را در بروز آسیب‌های استارت‌آپ‌های ورزشی دارند. بر این اساس، توانمندسازی مدیران استارت‌آپ‌ها در زمینه بازاریابی و برندینگ، ارتقای مهارت‌های مدیریتی و ایجاد ساختارهای حمایت مالی از مهم‌ترین اقدامات پیشنهادی برای بهبود عملکرد این کسب‌وکارها است.https://smrj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_5155_2dfe1946b3003933b7f8ddd71f24dbb1.pdfپژوهشگاه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی (وزارت علوم، تحقیقات و فناوری)مطالعات مدیریت ورزشی2538-3213189720260723Investigating the Relationship Between Organizational Performance of Employees of the Ministry of Sport and Youthبررسی رابطه بین سلامت سازمانی با عملکرد کارکنان وزارت ورزش و جوانان107125433510.22089/smrj.2024.744.1212FAغلامرضاشعبانی بهارگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشکده تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه علامه طباطبائی، تهران، ایران.ابوالفضلفراهانیگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران.0000-0002-0417-5858لقمانکشاورزگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران.0000-0003-1623-5018حیدرحسینیگروه مدیریت ورزشی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران.Journal Article20150418Extended AbstractBackground and PurposeThe proper performance of employees is often possible in a healthy organizational environment, therefore, measuring and developing organizational health and performance should always be considered. The idea of health in the organization draws our attention to the factors and conditions that facilitate its growth and prosperity or prevent its dynamism. The concept of organizational health is a unique concept that allows us to have a big picture of the health of the organization. In healthy organizations, employees are committed, duty-bound and useful, and have high morale and performance. The development and growth of any society is to have healthy organizations. Performance is the result of the activities of the human force in terms of the performance of assigned tasks after a certain time, which can revealproductivity and efficiency, or the sum of job-related behaviors that people show themselves. One of the most effective organizations in training sports coaches and expanding sports culture in the country is the Ministry of Sports and Youth, which is also known as the guardian of sports. The Ministry of Sports has a special position due to the important goals it undertakes. To achieve these goals, it must have high organizational health and employees with appropriate performance. The present study seeks to answer the following questions: What is the organizational health of the ministries of sports and youth? What is the performance of the employees in the Ministry of Sports and Youth? Is there a relationship between organizational health and employee performance? Is there a relationship between organizational health dimensions and employee performance? MethodsThis study is of applied and descriptive correlational type. The statistical population consisted of all experts in ministry of sports and youth who had a minimum of post-diploma degree, with a total of 400 individuals. Based on the Morgan table, 200 individuals were selected as the sample using stratified random sampling method. Two questionnaires, Organizational Health Inventory (OHI) and self-assessment of performance, were used to collect the data. The Organizational Health Inventory questionnaire was first developed by Hoy et al. (1991) and includes three technical, administrative, and institutional levels with seven dimensions: Morale, scientific emphasis, observance, constructiveness, resource support, managerial influence, and institutional unity, with 44 items scored on a Likert scale. The self-assessment of performance questionnaire was used to measure employees' performance and was also scored on a Likert scale. The face and content validity of the questionnaires were confirmed by the opinions of 15 professors. Additionally, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was obtained as 0.88 for organizational health and 0.91 for performance questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and structural equation modeling were utilized for data analysis.FindingsThe Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to test the normality of the scores of the research components. The results showed that the Sig. of all factors is less than 0.05, indicating the distribution of none of factors is normal. Thus, non-parametric tests were used in this study. The results on Tables 2 and 3 show that the employees have evaluated their place of service at a suitable level for organizational health. To test this hypothesis, the ratio test or binomial test was used. The cutoff for high and low score groups is 2.5 (ideal point). As can be seen, the P-value is less than 0.01, so it can be said with 99% confidence that the employees have evaluated the workplace organization in all dimensions of organizational health (except the dimension of resource support) as high and acceptable. According to Table 4 and based on the average obtained from the questions, the average of the total answers given is 3.37, showing that the performance of the employees is higher than the expected average (2.5) and is at an appropriate level. As the table shows, the P-value is less than 0.01, so it can be said with 99% confidence that the employees consider their performance to be in a good state. The results of the Spearman correlation test between the main components of the research are shown in Table 6. Considering that Sig. between two components (0.003) is smaller than 0.05, it can be said that there is a significant correlation between performance and organizational health (r=0.751). Due to the fact that the correlation coefficient between two components is positive, the changes of these two components are in the same direction. Table 7 shows the correlation coefficient between dimensions of organizational health and performance. Therefore, organizational structure and unity have the highest relationship with performance with coefficients of 0.95 and 0.92. Besides, performance with manager's influence, considerateness, resource support, spirit and scientific emphasis has correlation coefficients of 0.70, 0.68, 0.65, 0.62 and 0.53, respectively. The results of structural equation modeling related to the two components of organizational health and employee performance are shown in Table 8. Since the value of t is greater than 2, the standard coefficient of the relationship is significant at the confidence level of 99%. Overall, based on the results and at the 99% confidence level, it can be stated that there is a significant relationship between organizational health and employee performance, as well as organizational health has an impact on employee performance. According to Figure 1 and Table 7, based on the obtained results and path coefficient, scientific emphasis with a coefficient of 0.87, support of resources with r=0.75, considerateness with r=0.72, constructiveness with r=0.66, manager influence with r=0.62, morale with r=0.61, and institutional unity with r=0.45, respectively have the greatest impact on performance.ConclusionAccording to the research findings, the employees have evaluated the organizational health of the Ministry as appropriate, and among the dimensions of organizational health, the status of all components (except the resource support dimension, which is below the average) is above the average. The results of this study are consistent with those of Shabani Bahar (1389), Soleimani (1389), Nasiri (1390), Bahrami (1391) and Talebpour (1392) and are contrary to the results of Nazim's research (1389). The study’s findings showed that the employees evaluate their performance at a suitable level. In explaining this issue, it can be said that the proper state of the organization and attention to the needs of the employees and the appropriate management system at the ministry level as well as the organizational environment of the organization have caused employees’ proper performance.The results of Spearman's correlation test showed that there is a significant correlation of 0.75 between organizational health and employee performance, and the direction of changes of these two components is the same. Among the dimensions of organizational health, productivity with 0.95 and institutional unity with 0.92 have the highest correlation coefficient with performance. Moreover, scientific emphasis with 0.53 and morale with 0.62 have the lowest correlation coefficient with performance. The modeling results of the structural equations related to these two components also indicated that the standard coefficient of the relationship is significant at the confidence level of 0.99. Therefore, at the confidence level of 0.99, it can be stated that there is a significant relationship between organizational health and employee performance, as well as organizational health has an impact on employee performance, based on the results of scientific emphasis with a coefficient of 0.87, support of resources with r=0.75, considerateness with r=0.72, constructiveness with r=0.66, manager influence with r=0.62, morale with r=0.61, and institutional unity with r=0.45, respectively have the greatest impact on performance. One of the effective factors on performance is organizational health. In fact, organizational health and performance have a mutual relationship. Organizational health plays a special role in an organization's strategy and optimal performance in order to advance its goals. By promoting organizational health, the Ministry of Sports can coordinate the performance of managers and employees with the desired goals. Considering the dimensions of organizational health, if an organization has high health, it can have an effect on the quality of life and morale of employees, which affects the performance of employees and increases their positive performance. The results showed that the Ministry of Sports has a good organizational health, so organizational health affects the performance of employees and leads to improved performance. The study’s findings are consistent with most previous researches. Eskandari (1378) stated that there is a positive and significant relationship between organizational health and managers' performance. Amini (2009) concluded that there is a positive and significant relationship between organizational health and performance. Sharifi (2009) noted that there is a significant relationship between each of the performance components of managers and organizational health. Beikzad (2008) concluded that there is no significant relationship between the level of institutional health of schools and the performance of school principals; however, there is a significant relationship between the level of administrative and technical health of schools and the performance of school principals. Shabani Bahar et al. (2009) reported that the organizational field of the physical education organization is at a high level in terms of organizational health. Coleman and Antonioxi (1983) believe that organizational health is related to managers' performance. Yoris (2006), in his research, showed a positive and significant relationship between organizational health and the performance of managers and mentioned organizational health as one of the main factors affecting performance. In his study, Robertson (2004) also considered organizational health as one of the factors affecting managers' performance with a factor of 24%. Hedges (2000) stated that the existence of organizational health leads to the improvement of organizational performance and its effectiveness and efficiency. Sabansi (2009) listed the burnout and low performance of teachers as an influencing factor on organizational health (30). In their research, Zhang and Branning (2011) showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the personality traits of employees and organizational health, which increases the job commitment of employees, subsequently leading to an increase in employee productivity. Also, Zahid Bablan, (2010), Vohra (2010), Heinonen and Sarima (2009) and Singer et al. (2009) also pointed out directly and indirectly the existence of a significant and positive relationship between organizational health and performance in their research. Hence, almost all researches have reported a positive and significant relationship between organizational health and performance, which is consistent with the present research. Considering the heavy duty of the Ministry of Sports and Youth as the guardian of sports in the country, it can perform its important task efficiently if it has a healthy and dynamic environment. In other words, it has a proper and decent organizational health. In fact, an organization that has proper organizational health achieves its goals better, people have a better and higher morale, facilities, and equipment are available to an acceptable level. The relationship between managers and colleagues is friendly and human-oriented, and the behavior of managers is more considerate than with rigid and formal rules. Therefore, in such organizations, people show better performance, leading to the optimal performance of the organization. Based on the results of the research and the impact of organizational health dimensions on the performance of employees, it is better for managers to increase the scientific and cultural load of employees, to provide basic work items and supplies in the environment and to maintain mutual respect and trust and cooperation with employees in order to determine performance standards and job expectations. Moreover, the ability to adapt to the environment should be diligent and create a healthy and safe environment for employees so that we can witness an increase in the level of competencies and improvement in employee’s performance and that of ministry.Article MessageThis study highlights the critical role of organizational health in enhancing employee performance, demonstrating that the Ministry of Sport and Youth, by fostering a healthy and dynamic environment, can achieve its strategic objectives. The findings reveal that dimensions of organizational health, particularly "scientific emphasis" and "resource support," exert the strongest influence on employee performance. Therefore, strengthening organizational health not only boosts productivity and employee commitment but also facilitates the fulfillment of the ministry’s heavy responsibilities in the realm of sports and youth affairs. Senior managers can effectively improve individual and organizational performance by providing resources, building trust‑based human relationships, and promoting a scientific culture. Ethical ConsiderationsThe present study was conducted in full compliance with ethical principles in human research. Participants voluntarily took part in the study, and the confidentiality of their personal information and responses was assured. The research objectives were clearly explained to them, and informed consent was obtained. No pressure was exerted on the participants, and the data are reported solely at the group level without disclosing individuals’ names.Authors' ContributionsAll authors contributed equally to all stages of the research, including study design, data collection and analysis, drafting, and final editing of the manuscript, and all have approved the final content. Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that there is no financial or personal conflict of interest regarding the conduct of this research and the publication of its results.AcknowledgmentsThe authors express their sincere gratitude to all employees and managers of the Ministry of Sport and Youth who cooperated in this study. Appreciation is also extended to the esteemed professors who assisted in validating the questionnaires.هدف این پژوهش، بررسی رابطه بین سلامت سازمانی با عملکرد کارکنان وزارت ورزش و جوانان بود. جامعه آماری همه کارشناسان حوزه ستادی وزارت ورزش و جوانان دارای حداقل مدرک فوق‌دیپلم به تعداد 400 نفر بودند که براساس جدول مورگان، 200 نفر به‌عنوان نمونه آماری با روش نمونه‌گیری تصادفی طبقه‌ای انتخاب شدند. روش انجام این پژوهش از نوع کاربردی و همبستگی بود. برای جمع‌آوری دادهها از دو پرسشنامه سلامت سازمانی (OHI) و خودارزیابی عملکرد استفاده شد. روایی صوری و محتوایی پرسش‌نامهها با نظر 15 تن از اساتید تأیید شد. همچنین ضریب آلفای کرونباخ برای پرسشنامه سلامت سازمانی 88/0 و برای پرسشنامه عملکرد 91/0 به دست آمد. از آمار توصیفی و آمار استنباطی نظیر کلوموگروف-اسمیرنوف، آزمون دو جملهای، ضریب همبستگی اسپیرمن و معادلات ساختاری برای تجزیه و تحلیل دادهها استفاده شد. نتایج تحقیق نشان داد که وضعیت سلامت سازمانی و عملکرد کارکنان در حد مناسب است و بین ابعاد سلامت سازمانی و نیز بین سلامت سازمانی و عملکرد کارکنان رابطه معناداری وجود دارد. همچنین براساس معادلات ساختاری، تأکید علمی و حمایت از منابع بیشترین اثرگذاری را بر عملکرد دارند.https://smrj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_4335_f1676935f9304b97d59b0738289d2e22.pdfپژوهشگاه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی (وزارت علوم، تحقیقات و فناوری)مطالعات مدیریت ورزشی2538-3213189720260723Identifying and prioritizing the factors affecting the sustainable development of sports in the IRAN using FAHPشناسایی و اولویت‌بندی مولفه‌های موثر بر توسعه پایدار ورزش ایران با استفاده از تکنیک سلسله مراتبی فازی (FAHP)126144432710.22089/smrj.2024.14155.3816FAعلیتوفیق خطابگروه تربیت بدنی، واحد شاهرود، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، شاهرود، ایرانعلیفهیمینژادگروه تربیت بدنی، واحد شاهرود، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، شاهرود، ایرانسید مصطفیطیبی ثانیگروه تربیت بدنی، واحد شاهرود، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، شاهرود، ایران0000-0003-0459-4443هومنبهمن پورگروه مهندسی محیط زیست، دانشکده فنی و مهندسی، واحد شاهرود، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، شاهرود، ایرانJournal Article20230311Extended AbstractBackground and PurposeSustainable development is a multifaceted concept that can only be truly achieved when economic, social, and political development progress simultaneously, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding the interests of society’s most disadvantaged groups. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly emphasized the implementation of sustainable development principles within the realm of sports. Central to this commitment is Agenda 21 of the Olympic Movement, which encourages its members to actively contribute to the formation and promotion of sustainable development on a global scale. In Iran, sports federations have been mandated to establish working groups or committees dedicated to achieving environmental goals aligned with international sustainable development objectives. These objectives include the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, which sports organizations worldwide are encouraged to pursue.Despite the existence of numerous studies on the role and function of sports in advancing sustainable development, there remains a significant gap in addressing the fundamental and practical components that influence this process, particularly the environmental aspects. Recognizing this gap, the present research was designed to identify and prioritize the effective components that influence the development of sports in Iran through the lens of environmental sustainability.MethodsThe study is practical in nature and employs a descriptive-survey methodology that integrates both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Initially, data were gathered and categorized through a thorough review of theoretical foundations, existing research, and official documents. To deepen the understanding of the factors affecting sustainable sports development, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with sixteen experts specializing in sports and environmental issues within Iran. These interviews provided rich qualitative data that were subsequently analyzed. To prioritize the identified criteria, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was employed, a method well-suited for handling the inherent uncertainty and subjectivity in expert judgments. FindingsThe results of the study indicated a normal distribution of data, validating the appropriateness of the analytical methods used. Ultimately, four main criteria and twenty-one sub-criteria were identified as the most influential components in the sustainable development of sports in Iran.Main Criteria Prioritization: Among these, the social and cultural criterion emerged as the most significant, with a weight of 0.54884, underscoring the profound impact of social values, cultural norms, and community engagement on sports sustainability. Following closely was the environmental and health criterion, with a weight of 0.29265, highlighting the critical importance of environmental stewardship and health promotion in the sports sector. The approach and management criterion, with a weight of 0.10670, reflected the role of strategic planning, governance, and organizational processes in facilitating sustainable sports development. The economic criterion, although essential, was assigned the lowest priority with a weight of 0.05222, suggesting that while economic factors are important, they are not the primary drivers in this context.Sub-Criteria Prioritization: Delving deeper into the sub-criteria, the study revealed that combating social exclusion was the most critical sub-factor, carrying a weight of 0.229. This finding emphasizes the role of sports as a powerful tool for social inclusion, providing marginalized groups with opportunities for participation, empowerment, and community integration. The second most important sub-criterion was the development of youth activities and the enhancement of their involvement in collective life and sports responsibility institutions, with a weight of 0.134. This reflects the recognition that youth engagement is vital for the long-term sustainability of sports and its positive social impacts. The third-ranked sub-criterion was the creation of sports facilities, equipment, and infrastructure that respect environmental considerations, coupled with the development of sustainable management methods, which garnered a weight of 0.131. This highlights the necessity of environmentally conscious infrastructure development and operational practices within the sports sector. Interestingly, the economic criterion’s relatively low priority suggests that economic factors do not serve as significant inhibitors to sustainable development in sports within Iran. However, this does not diminish their importance, especially in developing countries where economic considerations and job creation in sports remain critical. Another noteworthy observation concerns the sub-criterion related to intensifying the fight against doping. Despite its high importance on the international stage, particularly for organizations like the International Olympic Committee, doping control was not assigned a high weight in this study. This may be explained by the relatively limited prevalence of systematic doping in Iran and the generally unfavorable attitudes of coaches and sports managers toward such practices. Consequently, doping does not currently represent a major underlying problem in most Iranian sports fields, which explains the lower emphasis placed on this sub-criterion by experts.ConclusionSports inherently provide a foundation for learning essential life skills such as discipline, self-confidence, and leadership. They also teach fundamental principles like tolerance, cooperation, and respect. Moreover, sports instill values related to effort, resilience, and the management of both victory and defeat. When these positive aspects of sport are emphasized, sport becomes a powerful vehicle for achieving broader goals related to sustainable development.Sports managers can address the challenges identified in this study through collaboration with sustainability experts. These professionals bring practical knowledge and analytical expertise in integrating environmental sustainability with sports operations. Their involvement can assist sports managers in developing, integrating, measuring, and refining sustainability initiatives, ensuring that environmental considerations become embedded in organizational practices.It is imperative that current and future professionals in the sports industry develop a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, particularly environmental sustainability, and appreciate its value to their organizations. Awareness of the intrinsic values of the natural environment is crucial for fostering responsible management and operational decisions. Similar to non-sports sectors, sports organizations and leagues vary widely in their recognition and interpretation of environmental sustainability and in their capacity to monitor and evaluate sustainability performance.To advance sustainable sports development in Iran, it is essential to consider all the identified criteria and sub-criteria holistically. Prioritization of these factors is necessary to guide effective implementation, particularly within the domain of management planning, where some factors may be addressed sooner while others require longer-term focus.In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and prioritizing the components essential to sustainable sports development in Iran. By emphasizing social and cultural dimensions alongside environmental, managerial, and economic factors, the study offers valuable insights for policymakers, sports organizations, and practitioners committed to aligning sports with sustainable development goals.Article MessageThis research demonstrates that sustainable sports development in Iran is primarily influenced by socio‑cultural factors, particularly combating social exclusion and increasing youth participation. Furthermore, paying attention to environmentally friendly infrastructure and green management is considered a key priority. Although economic factors received the lowest weight, their importance in job creation and long‑term sustainability should not be overlooked. The core message for sports managers is that by collaborating with sustainability experts and prioritizing social and environmental components, they can turn sports into an effective tool for achieving sustainable development goals.Ethical ConsiderationsThe present study was conducted in full compliance with ethical standards in scientific research. Participation of all experts in the interviews was voluntary, and the research objectives were explained to them prior to the interviews, with informed consent obtained. The confidentiality of personal information and viewpoints of the participants was fully preserved, and the data were used solely in aggregated form without disclosing names in the analyses.Authors' ContributionsAll authors contributed equally to all stages of this research, including study design, collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, drafting the manuscript, critical revision, and final editing, and have approved the final version.Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that there is no financial or non‑financial conflict of interest regarding the conduct of this research, data analysis, or publication of the results.AcknowledgmentsThe authors express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all esteemed experts and specialists in the fields of sports and environment in Iran who participated in the interviews for this research and shared their valuable experiences with the research team. Thanks are also extended to all cooperating institutions and organizations that facilitated the data collection process.پیاد‌ه‌سازی اصول توسعه پایدار در ورزش، از سوی کمیته بین‌المللی المپیک تاکید شده است. پژوهش حاضر با هدف شناسایی و اولویت‌بندی مولفه‌های موثر بر توسعه پایدار ورزش ایران انجام شده است. این تحقیق از نظر هدف؛ کاربردی و از لحاظ روش اجرا، از نوع توصیفی - پیمایشی است که در آن هم از روش‌های کمّی و هم از روش‌های کیفی استفاده گردیده است. در ابتدا با استفاده از مبانی نظری، سوابق تحقیق و اسناد فرادستی، اقدام به گردآوری و دسته-بندی دادهها شد. با مطالعه عمیق و نیز مصاحبه با 16 نفر از خبرگان عرصه ورزش و محیط زیست کشور مولفه‌های موثر بر توسعه پایدار ورزش کشور شناسایی شدند. به منظور اولویت‌بندی معیارها از روش سلسله مراتبی فازی (FAHP) استفاده شد. نتایج بیانگر آن بوده است که توزیع دادهها نرمال بوده است. براساس یافته‌های تحقیق 4 معیار و 21 زیرمعیار به عنوان مولفه‌های موثر شناسایی شدند. معیار «اجتماعی/فرهنگی» دارای بالاترین درجه اهمیت قرار دارد و سپس به ترتیب معیار «محیط‌زیستی/سلامتی» و «رویکردی/مدیریتی» قرار دارند. معیار «اقتصادی» نیز کم‌ترین اولویت را داشت. از طرفی، مقایسه زوجی– فازی زیرمعیارها نیز بیانگر آن بود که زیرمعیار «مبارزه با طرد اجتماعی افراد» دارای بالاترین اهمیت و سپس «توسعه بخشیدن به فعالیت‌های جوانان، و بهبود بخشیدن به دخالت آنان در زندگی جمعی و نهادهای مسئولیتی ورزشی» قرار داشت. در حالی که معیار «اقتصادی» از اهمیت کمتری برخوردار بود و نشان‌دهنده آن بود که این پارامتر نمی تواند به عنوان یک عامل بازدارنده در خصوص حرکت به سمت توسعه پایدار نقش داشته باشد.https://smrj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_4327_ce016f59ecc2366a43e1c96a4774d167.pdf