Developing the Qualitative Model for the Development of the Position of Sport Psychology in Olympic and Medal-Winning Fields

The present study aimed to develop a qualitative model for the development of the position of sport psychology in the Olympic and medal-winning fields. The present study was applied in terms of its objectives and a qualitative type according to the nature which used the grounded theory. The statistical population included all those who were influential and expert in the administration and science structure of sport psychology. 24 subjects were selected as the sample by snowball sampling method. After 19 interviews, data saturation was obtained but all the subjects were interviewed to ascertain the saturation. The Olympic and medal-winning sport fields were those present in Olympic Games and Iran is active in these fields. Firstly, interviews were analyzed by the grounded theory approach and codes were extracted from each section. The results showed that to feel the need for sport authorities and legislative authorities was identified as causal conditions; the development of the sport psychology and the establishment of the Association of Sport Psychology as the dominant platform; managerial weaknesses and the lack of specialists as intervening conditions; the need for the establishment of sport psychology committees in federations as the main strategy and improving the performance and quality of life of athletes as the main consequence. Developing the sport psychology in all aspects can ultimately improve the efficiency of sport federations.