Developing a Policy Model for the Promotion of Grassroots Sports in Iran with an Emphasis on Leisure Management and Student Talent Identification
Keywords:
Leisure time, students, sports talent identification, sports management, talent managementAbstract
The purpose of this study was to design a model for sports talent identification among students aged 8–12 years based on the utilization of leisure time. The present study is applied in terms of purpose. Regarding data collection and information gathering, it is classified as a field study, and the implementation method follows a mixed (qualitative–quantitative) approach. The qualitative statistical population consisted of university faculty members in the field of sports management—particularly experts in leisure studies—physical education teachers, and specialists in sports talent identification. The sampling method in this section was purposive, continuing until theoretical saturation at 16 participants. The quantitative statistical population consisted of planners and administrators of the Ardabil Department of Education, totaling 3,178 individuals. Using stratified random sampling and Morgan’s table, a sample size of 432 participants was determined, from which 425 valid and unblemished questionnaires were obtained. The data collection instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire with 61 items measured on a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and LISREL software through structural equation modeling tests. According to the results derived from analyzing the research questions, the contribution of factors influencing the use of leisure time among students aged 8–12 years for sports talent identification included: organizational development and collaboration (57%) as the least influential factor; expansion of social and communicative capacities (72%); establishment of supportive and motivational infrastructures (80%); educational and cultural infrastructures (70%); specific and coherent planning (89%); development and enhancement of relevant human resources (96%) as the most influential factor; and economic policymaking (65%). All research instruments demonstrated acceptable and appropriate levels of model fit.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Houra Sujodi (Author); Mahboub Sheikhalizadeh ; Mehrdad Moharramzadeh (Author)
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