Professional Sports Research Articles

The role of brokerage in green partnership formation in professional sport

ABSTRACT Although scholars have argued for the importance of interorganizational collaboration in advancing environmental sustainability, there is a lack of research on green partnership formation in sport. With a social network theory lens, this study examined how brokers (or intermediaries) facilitate partnerships around environmental sustainability in professional sport. We used a qualitative, case study approach, centered on the Green Sports Alliance, an environmentally-focused trade organization in the U.S. Data came from 30 interviews conducted in 2022–2023 with representatives of the Green Sports Alliance and members, including professional sport organizations (i.e. teams, leagues, and venues) and partners (e.g. corporate vendors, government agencies, and nonprofits), as well as documents and observations. Our thematic analysis revealed three key themes about how a broker fosters green partnerships in sport: convening, referring, and knowledge sharing. These activities, aligned with conduit and tertius iungens brokerage, enabled sport organizations to meet, identify, access, and vet potential partners; motivated and inspired partnerships; and offered approaches to, and support around, collaboration. This study contributes to the literature on environmental sustainability and interorganizational relationships in sport by shedding light on how certain organizations acting as brokers in the network can facilitate connections between sport organizations and those offering expertise and resources to further green initiatives.

Turning Stress Into Success—Surgery as Professional Sport

Turning Stress Into Success—Surgery as Professional Sport

Effects of topical sodium bicarbonate emulsion on exercise exhaustion and training effects following high-intensity interval training in high-level soccer players

Background and Goal: High-level football players’ competitive performance and training efficacy are significantly impacted by sports weariness. Verifying the possible use of external sodium bicarbonate lotion in professional sports and investigating its effects on the training effect and sports fatigue of elite football players following high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are the goals of this study. Methods: 14 male football players competing at the national level were split into two groups, one experimental and one control, each consisting of seven participants. This study was conducted using a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Twenty min prior to training, the experimental group applied external sodium bicarbonate lotion, while the control group applied a placebo lotion. Group antagonistic training and a seven-day HIIT comprise the training regimen. Assess the effects of the intervention using a variety of multifaceted data, including exercise performance, training impact intensity (TRIMP), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), subjective tiredness scale, perceived fatigue level (RPE), blood biochemical indicators, and heart rate monitoring. Result: Following a single HIIT training session, the experimental group’s blood lactate level was significantly lower than the control group’s (P < 0.05); however, no other indicators showed any significant changes. The experimental group’s TRIMP values were considerably greater than the control group’s during the seven-day training period, and their average DOMS and RPE values were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Maximum heart rate and anaerobic training effect were statistically significant (P < 0.05), and the experimental group outperformed the control group in terms of maximum EPOC, maximum heart rate, anaerobic training effect, and energy consumption. In conclusion, applying sodium bicarbonate lotion externally can improve athletes’ overall performance, increase training stimulus, and considerably lessen muscle soreness and exercise fatigue during high-intensity interval training.

Re-reading Pistorius. How Do Hegemonic Masculinity, Celebrity Status, and Affective Atmosphere Help Us Understand Pistorius's Crime?

Oscar Pistorius's parole in January 2024 offers a new perspective on the South African runner. This article examines Pistorius within the context of social factors that influenced his behavior and the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. Drawing on Connell's gender order theory, Messner's triad of violence, and affective atmosphere, it reveals how Pistorius, despite his disability, embraced hegemonic masculinity and became a sports star. The case highlights professional men's sports as a potential risk factor for violent behavior but underscores the need for contextualizing violence in sports, as predicting its occurrence is complex.

Is it possible to talk about violence climate in grassroots sport? A study on the psychosocial adaptations of young athletes

IntroductionThere is a need for greater scientific attention to research on violence (e.g., insults, intimidation, beatings) in contexts where such behaviors are prevalent. The agonizing win-lose vision that oftentimes is characteristic of sports competition is not understood in the same way in grassroots sports as in professional sports. Although increasingly frequent, the federative systems for young athletes replicate professional competitions, and the agonizing win-lose vision and psychosocial agents that characterize sports competitions do not impact grassroots sports in the same way as in professional sports. The present study aimed to establish a predictive model of the influence of exposure to violence in initiation sports on peer social relations under competitive situations in young athletes.MethodThrough a descriptive, non-randomized, and associative study, a sample of 503 young athletes (Mage = 14.76 1 ± 72 years; 54.80% girls) was recollected, belonging to different Spanish sports centres who completed instruments designed to identify their exposure to violence, prosocial and aggressive tendencies among peers, and competitiveness.ResultsThe results show that increased exposure to violence in sports amplifies those effects that excessive motivation for success and external influences, increases the likelihood of aggressive behaviors in young athletes (mainly in boys), while the emergence of prosocial skills in both boys and girls reduces aggressiveness and exposure to violent behaviors.DiscussionFor this reason, to offer a more than relevant background in reducing the effects of excessive competitiveness in grassroots sport, scientific contributions on the protective efficacy of prosocial tendencies against the emergence of aggressive behavior. In addition, contemplating the sociological analysis of the proliferation of insults, harassment, and violent behavior (e.g., observed behaviors or victimization) experienced in sports at very early ages will allow, in a more applied vision, the convenience of designing more psycho-educational sport practice strategies (e.g., social skills integrated into sports action, fair play) both for young athletes and for those adults who accompany them (e.g., parents, coaches, managers).ConclusionAddressing the effects of excessive competitiveness and violence in grassroots sports requires a comprehensive approach involving both sociological analysis and applied psycho-educational interventions.

Roger Rocher, football business pioneer in France with the presidency of the Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne

ABSTRACT At a time when French professional football was struggling to develop, Roger Rocher, appointed president of the Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne (ASSE), was to revolutionize professional sport in France from 1961. In addition to his sporting successes with the club, in particular a European Champion Clubs’ Cup final in 1976, his numerous initiatives in the field of economic development have left their mark on French football. From that moment on, ASSE became part of modern football by becoming a sports entertainment company and the first professional sports entity to be considered a fully-fledged sports brand. Indeed, he is considered a pioneer in many areas, such as merchandising and sponsorship. His thirst for victory and innovation led to his downfall in 1982 with the revelation of the slush fund affair. Despite this setback, Rocher is considered one of the great architects of the economic and legal evolution of French professional sports clubs.

Investigating consumer preferences and perceptions of brands across men’s and women’s sport: a brand architecture approach

ABSTRACT Understanding consumers’ perceptions of sport brands has received widespread scholarly attention, however most of this work has focused on men’s sport. The current research considers brand architecture to examine the preferences, perceptions and attitudinal loyalty of individuals who support men’s and women’s professional sport. We explore if, and to what extent, consumer-based brand association perceptions attached to men’s and women’s teams within the same club vary. Data were collected using an online survey from Australian consumers who indicated following a men’s and women’s league (N = 525). Almost half (N = 231) followed the same team across men’s and women’s sport and in each case the brands used by these teams were the same. Confidence interval and Random Forest analyses determined if consumers’ perceived brand associations differently across their favourite men’s and women’s teams, and the importance of the brand association sets to attitudinal loyalty in each case. Results indicated the brand association sets possessed similar predictive power for attitudinal loyalty in the men’s (55%) and women’s (51%) contexts, and the same five brand associations (emotions, socialisation, esteem, nostalgia, and escape) emerged as the most important across both. Results outline the utility of a branded house approach to achieve brand selection, whilst demonstrating the need to manage brand extensions as distinct entities. Findings extend past work by examining consumer patterns across men’s and women’s sport concurrently, and by exploring respondent gender differences. These findings have implications for sport organisations pursuing brand extensions more broadly in an increasingly entrepreneurial and global market, as well as practitioners managing multi-brand portfolios.

Malpractice Liability Exposure and the Sports Medicine Team Physician: Caring for Professional Athletes in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and National Hockey League.

Orthopaedic surgeons play a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of professional athletes. Despite the privilege of treating elite athletes, there exists great financial exposure to individual physicians in the event of a malpractice lawsuit. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and model malpractice liability exposure of the sports medicine surgeon caring for athletes in the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Hockey League (NHL) with respect to player position and additional supplemental malpractice insurance needs. It was hypothesized that routine liability coverage cannot adequately address the demands of caring for elite athletes in professional sports leagues. Economic and Decision Analysis; Level of evidence, 3. In total, 2447 NFL, 992 MLB, and 980 NHL player contracts from the 2022-2023 season were aggregated from a publicly available online database. Position, team, total contract value, and mean yearly salary were noted. Risk ratios were calculated with respect to 1 million US dollars (USD) and 3 million USD of annual occurrence-based malpractice liability awards and used to generate a "covered-to-treat" analysis. Supplemental malpractice liability insurance was quantified. Assuming 1 million and 3 million USD occurrence-based awards covered by malpractice liability insurance, team physicians can fully treat 17.3% and 50.0% of NFL players, 43.2% and 59.7% of MLB players, and 13.6% and 41.0% of NHL players, without incurring additional personal financial risk, from a risk-based medicolegal model. Liability policies of 52.6 million, 108.1 million, and 64.1 million USD are required to treat 95% of NFL, MLB, and NHL players, respectively. Positions carrying the greatest risk ratios are quarterback (QB) (9.9) in the NFL, right field (15.1) in the MLB, and center (5.7) in the NHL. Sports medicine specialists caring for elite athletes face potential personal financial risk due to insufficient medicolegal coverage. While coverage may vary among different practice settings including private, academic, or public state institutions, medical malpractice risk is crucial in partnerships between sports franchises, hospitals, players, agents, and physicians to protect sports medicine physicians and offer the highest-quality care.

Profile of Nandrolone-Based Anabolic Steroids Confiscated by Federal Police of Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil

Anabolic steroids are often consumed by both amateur and professional sports practitioners with the aim of improving their performance and for the rapid gain of muscle mass. Nandrolone is one of the main steroids consumed and is, frequently, acquired illegally or from dubious sources, and this raises serious concerns regarding the quality of the products. This work sought to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluates oily, nandrolone-based anabolic steroids confiscated by the Federal Police Department, in the triple border (Paraguay-Brazil-Argentina, PY-BR-AR). For the quantitative study, we conducted a methodological validation analysis based on the application of solvent extraction and GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). A total of 40 samples of nandrolone steroids (as described on the label) were thoroughly investigated. The results obtained showed that 90% of the samples analyzed contained the active ingredient but 67.5% of these samples exhibited concentrations below the values indicated on the label; these products are thus considered to be of low quality and their consumption may pose serious risks to the consumers. The findings of this study point to the importance of enforcing regulatory controls on the sale of anabolic steroids with a view to inhibiting the consumption of counterfeit drugs that can pose serious risks to the health of consumers.

The Current Distribution of Chinese Athletes with High Commercial Value and the Reasons for Its Formation

Although the Paris Olympics ended, the heat of the event has not subsided. The commercial value of athletes has been continuously explored, and the commercial value of athletes plays an important role in driving national economic growth. Using mathematical statistics, literature, and comparative analysis, this paper examines the distribution of the commercial value of Chinese athletes by focusing on three aspects: whether the athletes’ sports are traditional popular sports in the general sense, the degree of professionalization of the athletes’ sports, and the gender of the athletes. The study found that Chinese athletes with high commercial value are concentrated in niche, highly professional, and female sports. The main reason for this is that China’s strength in traditional popular sports is not outstanding, but niche and women’s sports are more reflective of today’s popular pursuit of individuality and national image. This study provides many meaningful benchmarks for future research in this direction, most importantly providing a theoretical basis for the trend that the commercial value of Chinese athletes has gradually shifted from niche events to traditional mass events.

Overtraining and Burnout: The Hidden Toll of Professional Sports on Athlete Health

Introduction: Professional sports demand exceptional physical and mental dedication, yet the intensive training and competitive pressures can often lead to overtraining and burnout among athletes. These phenomena not only compromise athletic performance but also pose significant risks to long-term physical and mental health, raising concerns within the sports and medical communities. Purpose of Work: This study explores the hidden toll of overtraining and burnout on professional athletes, examining their effects on physical health, psychological well-being, and career longevity. It aims to highlight underlying causes, consequences, and strategies for prevention and intervention. State of Knowledge: Existing research identifies overtraining syndrome as a key contributor to chronic fatigue, decreased performance, and vulnerability to injury. Burnout, often stemming from emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, is linked to anxiety, depression, and withdrawal from sports. Despite growing awareness, gaps remain in comprehensive strategies to mitigate these challenges, particularly in integrating mental health support within training programs. Material and methods: The study utilized a systematic review approach, searching across well-known academic databases like PubMed and Google Scholar, and then carefully screening the results to select pertinent studies for detailed examination. Summary: This paper synthesizes the current research on overtraining and burnout, outlining the challenges faced by athletes and the common physical and mental health issues they confront. The findings underscore the need for proactive interventions, such as customized training schedules, psychological support, and comprehensive education programs for both athletes and coaches.

How Do They Decide? Performance Support Staff Perceptions of Decision-Making in Elite-Sport Environments.

Wilson, PJ, Roe, G, and Kiely, J. How do they decide? Performance support staff perceptions of decision-making in elite-sport environments. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Decision-making is a critical component of performance support staff responsibilities, yet research exploring staff perceptions relating to key facets of decision-making is lacking. This study aimed to explore perceptions of performance support staff relating to; the importance of decision-making in their role, the value of team decision-making, strategies to enhance decision-making skills, monitoring the process and outcome of decisions, and the obstacles to good decision-making within their professional contexts. A mixed-methods approached was used to explore perceptions of decision-making in 191 performance support staff (male staff = 179, female staff = 12) working in professional (n = 147) or international (n = 44) sport. Performance support staff reported decision-making as extremely important to their role; however, only 31% had received formal decision-making education and revealed underdeveloped decision-making capabilities within their organizations as a barrier to good decision-making. Most performance support staff conveyed that team decision-making is a valuable endeavor and augments decision outcomes; yet articulated dysfunctional team dynamics as an obstacle to good decision-making in their environments. Largely, performance support staff reported an absence of organizational strategy and workflow systems and processes for tracking and making decisions, respectively, whereas only 22% had a consistent reviewing and updating process. When making decisions, performance support staff faced several different cognitive biases and were challenged by the environmental pressures. The perspectives documented here suggest that performance support staff would likely benefit from undertaking evidence-based training and implementing scientifically informed strategies to enhance decision-making processes within their organizations.

The Role of ESG Performance in Enhancing Intellectual Capital and Sustainability in European Football Clubs: A First Empirical Application

This study investigates the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and intellectual capital (IC) in professional football clubs. Using a quali-quantitative approach, the research analyzes secondary data from ESG scores and IC metrics of 17 European football clubs. Pearson correlation coefficients are employed to assess the links between ESG performance and IC dimensions, including player market value (human capital), social media engagement (relational capital), and stadium ownership (structural capital). The findings indicate that ESG practices positively influence intellectual capital, especially when IC components are considered collectively, demonstrating a stronger positive association than individual components. This underscores the synergistic effect of integrating intangible assets into a sustainability framework. The study contributes to theoretical understanding by linking ESG practices to value-creation strategies in professional sports. Practical implications highlight how football clubs can align ESG initiatives with recruitment, fan engagement, and infrastructure investments to enhance financial and social outcomes. Policymakers can use the results to promote ESG adoption in sports, while investors may view ESG performance as a marker of long-term stability and growth. This research empirically explores ESG and IC interplay in football, offering actionable insights and a framework for future studies.

Innovative strategies and technologies in educational programs for sports officials: Improving the efficiency of training and competitiveness of the sports industry

Constant technological progress and societal changes present significant challenges to educational systems. Therefore, it is critically important to study strategies and methods to improve educational systems, implement cutting-edge technologies, update curricula, and evaluate the effectiveness of these changes. The rapid pace of technological development opens up new possibilities for education. Implementing state-of-the-art technologies can transform learning into a more interactive, accessible, and effective process. Additionally, changes in the economy and job market require educational systems to prepare a skilled workforce that meets modern requirements. Updating curricula and teaching methods can help prepare students for the challenges and opportunities presented by the job market. Researching and implementing innovative strategies and technologies in education is critical for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of preparing future generations and responding to present challenges. The article discusses improving educational systems in sports management, sports marketing, sports administration, and administration. The research emphasizes the importance of implementing state-of-the-art technologies in these areas and continuously updating curricula to meet modern requirements and job market needs. It also explores prospects for further development in the field and identifies ways to improve the professional training of sports professionals in the future. The article outlines directions that can contribute to the further development of the sports industry and enhance its international competitiveness.

Tech‐driven excellence: A quantitative analysis of cutting‐edge technology impact on professional sports training

AbstractAimIn recent years, the integration of cutting‐edge technology into professional sports training (ST) has revolutionized the way athletes prepare for competition. The study aims to quantitatively analyse the impact of cutting‐edge technology on enhancing performance, efficiency, and outcomes in professional ST programs.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how advanced technologies influence training effectiveness in professional sports, with a focus on performance enhancement, injury prevention, and overall athlete development.MethodsThis study utilized a quantitative descriptive research design to assess technology's impact on ST. A sample of 450 sports professionals, selected through purposive sampling, completed structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using SPSS to identify correlations between technology use and training outcomes.FindingsThe research findings indicate that athletes utilizing virtual reality (VR), AR, and wearable technology (WT) in their training exhibit significant improvements in performance metrics (PM) and a reduction in injury risks compared to those relying on traditional training methods.ResultThe study results demonstrate that technology‐assisted training improves cognitive skills (CS), decision‐making, and psychological aspects like motivation and focus. Additionally, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) enable more effective, personalized coaching strategies, enhancing overall training outcomes.OriginalityThis study's contribution lies in its novel approach, demonstrating virtual and augmented reality, wearable tech, and advanced analytics enhance ST by improving performance, CS, and resilience, while also reducing injuries and speeding up recovery.ConclusionThis research significantly advances the sports science domain by offering empirical evidence supporting technology integration, filling prevalent gaps in the current literature.

REASONS COLLEGIATE ATHLETES FEEL UNWELL: SELF-REPORTED SLEEP, NUTRITION, AND STRESS

Introduction: Daily assessments of wellness via short quantitative surveys are becoming a mainstay across professional and collegiate sports. The data typically provide a numerical value on a scale indicating negative and positive scores across several wellness domains. However, little has been reported on why athletes indicate negative scores in wellness. Purpose: This study evaluated reasons reported for low wellness scores in sleep quality, stress, and nutrition, as well as differences in reasons for low wellness among sports and by sex. Methodology: Collegiate athletes from women’s volleyball (n=67), men’s and women’s soccer (n=119), men’s and women’s swimming (n=79), and men’s and women’s basketball (n=87) completed daily assessments of wellness. With a negative wellness score (≤ 3 on a 5-point scale), athletes were prompted to provide a reason for feeling unwell. Results: Chi-square analyses indicated a sex difference for reasons provided for poor sleep and a difference by sport for females and males (all p < .001). Reasons cited for poor sleep quality were late night (23.7%) and “other” (22.3%). For stress, analyses showed differences by sex and sport for females and males (all p < .001). Academic/work stress was the most common reason for poor stress (60.2%). For nutrition, analyses indicated differences by sex (p < .001) and by sport for females (p < .001) and males (p = .008). Consuming fewer than three meals/snacks per day (26.2%) and low fluid intake (21.9%) were the top two reasons for poor nutrition. Conclusions: These data shed light on reasons why athletes experience low wellness. Coaches and support staff can target specific reasons to enhance athlete wellness and the student-athlete experience.

Fire kroppsøvingslærerstudenters utdanningsreise fra nyslått student til utdannet lærer

There is not much research on what types of knowledge, including professional knowledge, physical education (PE) and Sports teacher students develop during a three-year bachelor study. Using a longitudinal design, this article focuses on how four students’ perspectives on teaching and learning develop through their three years of education, and on what types of knowledge they gain. To understand, explain and interpret our findings, we rely on Aristotle's (2013) concepts episteme, techne and phronesis. Our two main findings are; 1) that the four students move from having a sport-based understanding of PE, towards a more professional understanding of the subject, and 2) that they move from an understanding of the teacher’s role that focuses on the discipline, towards an understanding of the PE teacher as a facilitator for learning. Through an understanding of phronesis as practical wisdom, where the wise act on the basis of careful deliberations, we can say that the students in our study make use of the knowledge forms techne and episteme on their way towards developing a more phronetic based understanding of the subject.

Effects of Different Blood Flow Restriction Training Modes on Body Composition and Maximal Strength of Untrained Individuals.

The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of absolute cuff pressure blood flow restriction (A-BFR) training and incremental cuff pressure blood flow restriction (I-BFR) training, under equal cuff pressures, on body composition and maximal strength among untrained adults. Additionally, we aimed to compare these effects with those observed in high-load resistance training (HL-RT). Thirty-three adults without prior professional sports or resistance training experience were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups (n = 11 per group) for an 8-week training program, held three times weekly. The A-BFR group trained with a 20% 1RM load and a cuff occlusion pressure set at 190 mmHg. The I-BFR group initiated training with an occlusion pressure of 160 mmHg, which incrementally increased by 20 mmHg every two weeks, with other conditions mirroring those of the A-BFR group. The HL-RT group trained with a 70% 1RM load. All three groups demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in lower-body maximal strength (p < 0.01), with no significant differences observed among the groups (p > 0.05). A notable increase in left-leg muscle mass was seen across all groups (p < 0.05). However, total muscle mass, right-leg muscle mass, fat-free mass, BMI, bone mineral density, and bone mineral content remained relatively unchanged (p > 0.05), with no significant differences among the groups (p > 0.05). Only the HL-RT group exhibited a significant increase in left-leg thigh circumference (p < 0.05), while right-leg thigh circumference remained stable (p > 0.05), with no significant intergroup differences (p > 0.05). While A-BFR and I-BFR did not yield statistically significant differences in overall training outcomes, A-BFR demonstrated a slightly stronger potential. A-BFR and I-BFR achieved comparable gains in muscle strength and improvements in body composition to those seen with HL-RT. However, HL-RT demonstrated more significant improvements in leg circumference.

Exploring the evolution of suggested improvements to pro-environmental sustainability initiatives: empirical evidence from a professional sport team

ABSTRACT We examined fan feedback on a professional sport team’s (PST’s) pro-environmental sustainability initiatives, with particular attention to the extent to which these initiatives evolve. Two waves of data collection were conducted in a longitudinal perspective through an open-ended questionnaire to explore fans’ suggestions of pro-environmental sustainability initiatives that a professional sport club should promote. A total of 2,390 valid suggestions were obtained (n 2020 = 1,019; n 2021 = 1,371), and data were analyzed through multistep content analysis. Five broad themes emerged in the two waves of data collection: (a) sustainable venue design, (b) eco-friendly matchday operations, (c) green sponsorship activation, (d) pro-environmental communication, and (e) improving the overall matchday experience. Results suggest that it is crucial to know what sustainable initiatives PST fans consider more important and what suggestions they have to favor a more sustainable future. These results also highlight the importance of customizing PST communications and monitoring how initiatives evolve over time.

The Relationship Between Spirituality and Sports from the Point of View of Sports Psychology Researchers: A Systematic Review of Research Over Two Decades.

This systematic review investigates the relationship between spirituality and sports as explored by sports psychology researchers over the past two decades. Utilizing four reputable databases-Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus-articles published between 2000 and 2023 were examined. Sixty-one articles met inclusion criteria for thefinal review. The study categorizes findings based on article frequency across two decades, participant demographics (athletes, coaches, students, psychologists, injured individuals, managers, and sports professionals), research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, review studies, and ethnography), and data collection methods (library research, questionnaires, interviews, open-ended inquiries, observations, and documentation). Notably, the number of articles published in the second decade (2011-2023) doubled compared to the first decade (2000-2010). While professional athletes were the primary focus of 30 articles, a significant portion (18 articles) examined spirituality in relation to sports. The predominant method approaches were text analysis and surveys, with 14 and 13 articles, respectively. Data collection methods primarily involved library research, questionnaires, and interviews, with 26, 17, and 17 articles, respectively. The analysis highlights several thematic categories, including the relationship between spirituality and sports performance, spirituality's role in shaping sports culture, and the intersection of spirituality and religion within sports. Additionally, discussions delve into the religious identity of athletes and the impact of spirituality on various psychological variables within sports contexts. The research findings suggest a complex and nuanced relationship between spirituality and sport, but evidence regarding a cause-and-effect relationship remains inconclusive.