Identification and Ranking of Sport Development Factors in Mazandaran University

The aim of this study was to identify and rank sport development factors in Mazandaran University. This research was applied and mixed in terms of method. The sampling method was purposive and convenience. The statistical population included professors and experts of physical education, managers and deputies of the Physical Education Department in Mazandaran University. In the first stage, development factors were identified using interviews with 20 subjects from the statistical population. In the second and third stages, the identified factors were analyzed by Delphi group (20 subjects) and those factors that received at least 60% of positive responses stayed for the next stage. In the final stage, the identified factors in the 3 previous steps were ranked using the 5-point Likert scale. Friedman test in the form of SPSS software was used to rank factors. Based on the findings, the most important factors for sport development in Mazandaran University were service and easy access to sport facilities, university authorities’ support of student sports, advertising and information among students, the existence of sponsors for sport teams and human resources education. Therefore, university deans should pay attention to the identified factors in order to develop the sport of Mazandaran University.