Journal of Foresight and Health Governance

The present study aimed to formulate and determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats governing children’s swimming in Iraq in order to provide practical strategies for the development of this fundamental and medal-winning sport. This applied descriptive-analytical study included sport managers, coaches, young swimmers, and physical education students in Iraq. A total of 134 participants were selected purposively. Data were collected through documentary studies, expert interviews, and a researcher-made questionnaire. The face and content validity of the questionnaire were confirmed, and its reliability, measured by Cronbach’s alpha, ranged from 0.85 to 0.92. Descriptive statistics, the Friedman test, Internal and External Factor Evaluation matrices, the Internal-External matrix, and SWOT analysis were used for data analysis. The results showed a significant difference among the four SWOT factors. The most important strengths included the existence of educational institutions related to physical education, the presence of specialized sport managers, and the existence of talented children and adolescents. The most important weaknesses included insufficient attention to children’s needs and interests, limited access to standard facilities, and lack of financial resources. The existence of potential talents, increased participation of children in sport activities, and expansion of sport events were identified as the most important opportunities. In addition, the increased cost of swimming pool maintenance, the rising price of equipment, and children’s tendency toward sedentary leisure activities were among the most important threats. Based on SWOT analysis, 11 strategies were formulated in four groups: aggressive, competitive, conservative, and defensive. The development of children’s swimming in Iraq requires strategic planning, coordination among sport and educational institutions, sustainable investment, and serious attention to children’s age-related needs. It is suggested that establishing an integrated talent identification system, training specialized coaches, and standardizing equipment and swimming pools for children should be prioritized in executive programs.

The present study is classified as qualitative research in terms of research method. Regarding its objective, this research is applied, and considering the nature of the subject, it falls within the field of strategic studies. In terms of data collection method, the present study is a combination of field studies and a descriptive–analytical approach. The statistical population of the quantitative section included 580 coaches, players, referees, and related staff members; the sample size was estimated at 234 individuals based on the Krejcie and Morgan table, and participants were selected through stratified random sampling. The data collection instruments included the review of documents as well as library and internet resources, semi-structured interviews with managers and experts associated with the Handball Federation of Iran, and a researcher-made questionnaire. To prioritize the factors, the Friedman test was applied, followed by the Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) and External Factor Evaluation (EFE) matrices within the framework of SWOT analysis. The findings indicated that the EFE score was 2.44 and the IFE score was 2.48; therefore, the strategic position of the Federation was located in the WT quadrant, indicating the necessity of adopting defensive strategies to reduce weaknesses and mitigate the effects of threats. Accordingly, a set of strategies was formulated in four categories: SO, WO, ST, and WT. The results of this study demonstrated that the Handball Federation of Iran needs to focus on reducing internal weaknesses and addressing environmental threats in order to improve its position. Implementing the proposed strategies in the areas of infrastructure improvement, human resource development, and strengthening international interactions can facilitate the path toward growth and enhanced performance of the Federation.

The objective of this study was to identify the factors affecting the merit-based selection of senior physical education managers in the national Ministry of Education. The present study was mixed-methods research (qualitative–quantitative) with an exploratory approach. The statistical population in the qualitative phase consisted of all experts in the research field (senior physical education managers of the Ministry of Education, faculty members familiar with the research literature, and specialists), while the quantitative phase included physical education managers and teachers in metropolitan areas of the country. The statistical sample in the qualitative phase consisted of 18 experts selected until theoretical saturation was achieved using purposive theoretical sampling and snowball sampling techniques. In the quantitative phase, considering that 5 to 10 samples were required for each item, a total of 384 individuals constituted the statistical sample. The data collection instruments included a semi-structured interview in the qualitative phase and a researcher-made questionnaire in the quantitative phase. Content validity was assessed based on expert opinions, and construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), composite reliability indices, Cronbach’s alpha, divergent and convergent validity, and structural equation modeling were employed. The model fit index was reported as GOF = 0.43. Finally, eight factors were identified: merit-oriented governance, professional ethics in power, transformational leadership in physical education, structural justice in access to opportunities, commitment to educational–health missions, professional autonomy in decision-making, intelligent resource management, and the organizational–cultural identity of managers. Therefore, the development and implementation of a “transparent system for managerial evaluation and appointment” based on objective merit indicators (such as professional competence, ethical commitment, and resource management capability), along with continuous supervision by independent monitoring bodies to prevent the influence of informal networks, is recommended.

The purpose of this study was to design a competency model for negotiators of international football contracts. The present study was an applied developmental study conducted using a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative). The statistical population included experts, specialists, faculty members, and managers of Premier League football clubs. In the qualitative section, participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling, and theoretical saturation was achieved with 16 participants. In the quantitative section, football-association experts, sports-law specialists, and experienced football experts familiar with sports negotiation participated. To ensure research validity, the researchers considered prolonged and continuous engagement, persistent observation, peer review, progressive subjectivity, participant involvement, and the use of multiple sources of information. Qualitative analyses were conducted through manual coding, and quantitative analyses were conducted using Expert Choice software. The results of the final coding of the interviews showed that negotiation skill, personal competency, knowledge competency, communication competency, analytical thinking and decision-making, lawfulness and legal compliance, and marketing capabilities were the main themes identified in the professional competency of international football negotiators. The prioritization of competency themes was as follows: negotiation skill, with a relative weight of 0.298, ranked first; personal competency, with a relative weight of 0.266, ranked second; and analytical thinking and decision-making, with a relative weight of 0.160, ranked third. These were followed by knowledge competency, lawfulness and legal compliance, communication competency, and marketing capabilities.

Green governance, grounded in ethical teachings, emphasizes the incorporation of environmental sustainability and social justice into decision-making processes. It seeks to balance environmental responsibility with ethical standards and ultimately contributes to a more sustainable and just society. The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting green governance with an emphasis on ethical teachings. In terms of purpose, this study is applied-developmental, and it was conducted using a descriptive-survey method. In the qualitative phase, the statistical population consisted of professors, experts, and academics in the field of environmental studies in Iran, of whom 15 were selected through purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population included all managers in the environmental sector in Tehran. Based on the sample-size formula for structural equation modeling used in Kline (2011), 200 participants were selected through convenience sampling (Kline, 2011). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews in the qualitative phase and a questionnaire in the quantitative phase. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis and MAXQDA software in the qualitative phase, and structural equation modeling and PLS software in the quantitative phase. The initial model was designed with 76 initial codes, which were categorized into 14 axial codes. According to the results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, all 76 factors were confirmed as indicators of green governance with an emphasis on ethical teachings. The results indicate that green governance depends on integration among management, economics, technology, government policies, and social participation. The indicators identified in this study can support the development of more effective policies and the improvement of green governance based on ethical principles.

This review aimed to forecast the future of futsal performance by integrating evidence from artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive science, and ecological dynamics. Futsal is a high-intensity, time-constrained sport characterized by rapid transitions, frequent ball contacts, and continuous perception–action coupling. A narrative review approach was adopted to synthesize peer-reviewed studies relevant to performance analysis, decision-making, tactical behavior, and technology-enhanced training. The literature indicates that AI-driven tools, including machine learning models, tracking systems, and wearable technologies, are increasingly used to monitor player behavior, optimize workloads, and support tactical analysis. At the same time, cognitive factors such as executive functions, anticipation, attention, and perceptual-cognitive expertise play a central role in successful performance in team sports, particularly in fast and information-rich environments such as futsal. Environmental constraints, including space, rules, number of players, and task design, further shape behavior through adaptive interactions between the athlete and the game context. Taken together, these domains suggest that futsal performance should be conceptualized as a dynamic, multidimensional system rather than as an outcome of isolated physical or technical qualities. The review proposes that the future of futsal performance will depend on the integration of intelligent technologies, high-level cognitive functioning, and ecologically valid training environments.