Journal of Foresight and Health Governance

This study was conducted with the aim of exploring the lived experiences of electronic sports (e-sports) players in Iran and providing a phenomenological analysis of their motivations and challenges. The statistical population included active e-sports players in Iran who were selected purposefully using the theoretical sampling method. The inclusion criteria were active experience in this field, willingness to participate in the study, and the ability to articulate personal experiences. In total, 17 participants (4 women and 13 men) with an average age of 25 years and between 4 to 12 years of experience in e-sports were examined. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. To ensure credibility and dependability, the trustworthiness criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln (1985)—including prolonged engagement in the field, persistent observation, triangulation, peer debriefing, and member checking—were applied. Findings revealed that the lived experiences of players can be analyzed across three main dimensions: (1) Lived Experiences (self-concept and identity, emotional experiences, cognitive and skill development, and escapism and role-playing); (2) Motivations for Participation (game appeal and dynamics, social and global interactions, economic and professional opportunities, accessibility and usability, and emotional and motivational effects); and (3) Challenges Encountered (personal challenges, financial and economic barriers, technical and infrastructural problems, social and familial obstacles, and competitive and professional difficulties). The results indicate that electronic sports provide a multidimensional and complex experience for players, which, while offering numerous opportunities, also presents diverse challenges.

Wrestling, as one of Iran’s authentic and prestigious sports disciplines—especially in Mazandaran Province—faces numerous challenges that have constrained its development. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying and prioritizing the problems of wrestling in Mazandaran Province from the perspective of coaches and sports managers, to contribute to improving the status of this sport. The research employed a descriptive–survey design and was carried out in 2014. The statistical population included all wrestling coaches and managers in Mazandaran (estimated at 155 individuals), from which 120 participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale. The content validity of the instrument was confirmed, and its reliability was verified through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.72). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a one-sample t-test in SPSS version 20. The findings revealed that all 12 hypotheses were confirmed. The most significant problems included the lack of long-term planning (mean = 4.45), budget shortages (mean = 4.32), lack of well-equipped halls (mean = 4.33), and lack of job security for wrestlers (mean = 4.38). Economic factors such as the financial poverty of wrestlers (mean = 4.00) and insufficient income for coaches (mean = 3.75) were also identified as key challenges. Managerial and economic problems were determined to be the main barriers to the development of wrestling in Mazandaran. Increasing budget allocation, implementing comprehensive planning, and improving infrastructure could help address these challenges. The findings have practical implications for the Wrestling Federation and provincial sports boards.

This study aimed to design an integrated educational package that fosters successful academic identity and future outlook among lower secondary school students, grounded in the principles of the Fundamental Transformation Document of the Education System of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The study employed a sequential mixed-method design with an exploratory orientation. The qualitative phase included a systematic review of 18 scholarly works selected via the PRISMA approach, and semi-structured interviews with 16 experts in psychology, educational sciences, and adolescent development recruited using purposive sampling until theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis using Maxqda-V2018, applying open, axial, and selective coding to derive thematic categories. Based on the resulting matrix of core themes, an eight-session educational package was developed, structured around self-awareness, goal-setting, decision-making, communication, competence, autonomy, emotion regulation, academic well-being, and future perspective. Content validity was confirmed by 15 subject-matter experts using a standardized checklist, and final revisions were approved by the supervisory panel. The thematic analysis yielded six major thematic axes encompassing 41 subcomponents, which were incorporated into the package sessions. Expert validation confirmed the package’s content relevance, coherence, and cultural appropriateness. Preliminary implementation indicated statistically significant improvements in students’ goal-setting ability (p < .01), academic enthusiasm (p < .01), and academic well-being (p < .05), suggesting the intervention’s efficacy in strengthening both motivational and identity-based constructs linked to academic engagement and achievement. The developed educational package provides a culturally grounded, theoretically integrated framework for promoting adolescents’ academic identity and future orientation, offering educators a practical tool to enhance motivation, engagement, and well-being in alignment with national educational transformation goals.

This study aimed to explore the perspectives of digital natives on the future of sport, with a specific focus on psychological well-being and the challenges associated with mobile–game engagement. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews with 23 participants from Tehran, selected through purposive sampling. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Interviews lasted 45–70 minutes, were audio-recorded with consent, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 14 software. Open, axial, and selective coding were applied to identify categories, subcategories, and concepts. Trustworthiness was enhanced through peer debriefing, reflexivity, and iterative coding. Four overarching themes were identified: psychological well-being, challenges of mobile–game engagement, future of sport participation, and coping strategies. Participants described gaming as both a stress-relieving and emotionally destabilizing activity, while also highlighting feelings of achievement, identity exploration, and social belonging. Major challenges included poor time management, family conflicts, health risks, and addiction tendencies. Future sport visions emphasized hybrid models integrating digital and physical activities, digital coaching, and educational gamification, but concerns about declining traditional sports were also expressed. Coping strategies involved parental mediation, peer influence, self-regulation, alternative activities, and awareness of risks. These findings indicate a dual role of mobile games, functioning as both barriers and gateways to sport participation and psychological resilience. The results demonstrate that while mobile gaming poses risks to psychological well-being and active lifestyles, digital natives also employ adaptive strategies to balance gaming with physical activity. Schools, families, and communities should adopt culturally tailored, hybrid interventions that integrate digital tools with traditional sport practices to enhance resilience and long-term well-being.

Taking into account the rapid changes in technology, social, economic and political changes all affect sports.In such a situation, strategic foresight is proposed as a powerful tool for sports organizations and institutions. This tool allows them to anticipate the future, adjust their strategies to face challenges and take advantage of new opportunities. The purpose of this research is to identify strategic foresight in sports in a hybrid way. This research was developmental in nature, in terms of strategy, it was a review of metacombination and document collection method. The field of research for determining indicators includes all related scientific articles and documents between 1390 and 1403, where the validity of the critical assessment skills program method was examined. This research was identified from the review of 22 articles related to the subject in a meta-combination method with the factor of predicting future trends, innovation and technology, competitive strategies, human resource development, economic sustainability, international participation and changing and strengthening values. This research predicts the future and recognizes the opportunities and challenges ahead and sets strategies for success in global competition and sustainability in the long term.

The identification of talent in athletics remains an essential but delicate problem with the sport's physiological, biomechanical, technical, and psychological heterogeneity. Traditional approaches have relied primarily on results from performance and mere anthropometrics, being prone to bringing forward or biased selections dependent on relative age effects and imbalance in training access. This narrative synthesis combines the current evidence and considers the directions for more efficient, equitable, and evidence-based sporting ability detection systems. It outlines the limitations of uni-dimensional models and proposes multidisciplinary syntheses, involving physiological profiling, biomechanical analysis, psychological testing, and longitudinal observation. New and emerging technologies like wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital data analytics are debated for their potential to enhance the accuracy and objectivity of sporting ability detection. The review stresses the need for standardized, culturally sensitive, and ethically sound models that adhere to the principles of long-term athlete development rather than short-term performance. By integrating evidence from sport science, technology, and social environments, future talent identification systems will be more holistic, valid, and inclusive, leading to an improved efficiency of athlete development models in track and field.