Designing a Model of Competences of Entrepreneurs in Iran's Sports Industry

The purpose of this study was to design a model of competences of entrepreneurs in the sports industry. Research method was descriptive-survey and the sample consisted of 155 experts and professors in physical education and entrepreneurship fields. The research instrument consisted of a researcher-constructed questionnaire, model-based building block competency with 101 items that evaluated competences of entrepreneurs in the sports industry in 5 dimensions including personal skills, science and academic competences, workplace competences, science and principles of entrepreneurship, and sport industry-wide competences. Data were analyzed by using tests of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and Pearson's correlation coefficient with SPSS and LISREL softwares. Results showed personal skills, sciences and academic competences, workplace competences, science and principles of entrepreneurship, and sport industry-wide competences make up 5 main levels of the research model, and 24 components explain these dimensions. Finally, 100 indices were identified for competences of entrepreneurs in the sports industry. Also, results indicated that the indices of the model are appropriate and acceptable. The model developed in this study can be used as an instruction for developing the competences of entrepreneurs in students, staff and administrators in universities, sports organizations and other custodians and policymakers in sports.