Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Shuresh Lotfi ¹
• Hamideh Addelyan Rasi ²
• Shirin Ahmadnia ³

¹ Ph.D Candidate of Social Work, Social sciences faculty, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Prof. of Social Work, Social sciences faculty, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

³ Associate Professor of Sociology, Social sciences faculty, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This research aims to gain insight into an understanding of sport social work, and its target groups, practice domains, professional roles, principles and values, through a scoping review to explore the concept of sport social work on August 19, 2024, across international (e.g., Scopus, WOS) and national (e.g., Noormags, SID, Magiran, ISC) databases, the Sport Social Work Journal, search engines and relevant websites, without time restrictions. Ultimately, 73 scientific records were identified. The sampling process involved reviewing the titles and abstracts of the identified documents. Documents were included if titles or abstracts addressed both social work and sport/athletes, while sport-based interventions for non-athlete, non-English, or inaccessible full texts were excluded. The research findings indicate that sport social work is emerging as a new field in education, research, professional interventions, sports internships, and policymaking. The professional roles of sport social workers are classified into three levels: micro, mezzo, and macro. At the micro level, they fulfill roles such as counselor, supporter, therapist, empowerer, and educator. At the mezzo level, act as mediators, coaches, enhancing interprofessional collaboration, group therapists, supporters, and empowerers of sports coaches. At the macro level, take on roles such as policymakers, developers of community sports programs, guides, social activists, social planners, and social organizers. Notably, in Iran, no scientific studies have been conducted in the field of sport social work and this research, aims to introduce a novel perspective for social workers in Iran to engage in education, research, and practical activities in the field of sports.

Keywords

• Promoting athletes’ health
• Psychosocial support
• Empowerment
• Professional roles
• Sport social workers

Main Subjects

• this journal publishes authoritative articles in the following areas: Social work Social Welfare Social health Social Security Social Issues Norms