| A Systematic Review of Military Sports Research in the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Identifying Gaps and Mapping Future Directions |
| Paper ID : 1410-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Yasaman Sadat AslAhmadi *1, HamidReza GoharRostami2 1. Ph.D. Candidate in Sport Management, University of Guilan 2Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Guilan |
| Abstract |
| Military sports play a vital role in enhancing the physical preparedness, combat effectiveness, and psychological resilience of armed forces personnel. Integration of structured athletic programs into military training can significantly improve operational efficiency and mission performance. However, reliance on traditional training methods has limited innovation and use of advanced technologies. Participation in athletic activities also contributes to mental health and stress reduction among military members. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review research trends in military sports within the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran during 2002–2024. Methods: This descriptive review applied a content analysis approach. Ninety-one scholarly articles were retrieved using keywords such as “military sports,” “physical fitness,” “physical education,” “armed forces,” “IRGC,” and “army.” Searches were conducted across major Iranian databases—Magiran, Civilica, Noormags, Elmnet, the Comprehensive Portal of Humanities, and SID—as well as Google Scholar. All relevant publications were included through census sampling. Extracted data were organized into tables and charts and analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel to identify thematic and temporal patterns. Results: Findings indicated that publication activity peaked in 2023 (22 articles) and 2024 (18). The Quarterly Journal of Sport Sciences and Combat Readiness published the largest share (32), while Jamshid Sherbetzadeh was the most prolific author with six publications. Seven thematic domains were found, the most frequent being physical readiness and combat capability (30), followed by competitive and recreational sports (15), and strategic management and policy-making (12). Emerging technologies, cost–benefit analysis, combat psychology, and data-driven approaches received limited attention. Conclusion: Although research on military sports in Iran has increased, it remains thematically unbalanced, focusing mainly on traditional areas. Future studies should emphasize technological innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mission-oriented frameworks. Establishing a centralized research database and coherent policy framework can enhance coordination, reduce duplication, and align future research with national defense priorities. |
| Keywords |
| Military sports, physical readiness and combat capability, armed forces, military physical education |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
