Extended Abstract
Introduction
Investigating the key factors influencing sustained participation in sports venues, particularly among women, necessitates a focused examination of physical activities. The rate of engagement in sports activities demonstrates a positive association with the provision of sports facilities and amenities by the community, which subsequently encourages participation in physical activities (Eime et al., 2017). The purpose of this research was to investigate the policy development and enhancement of women's sports facilities in Iran. The motivation underlying this research stemmed from the critical role that infrastructure and sports facilities play in the development of sport within any society. The availability and accessibility of sports facilities significantly increase participation rates in physical activities.
 
Methods
The research method employed a qualitative approach based on grounded theory methodology and was applied in terms of its purpose. The statistical population encompassed all technical and civil engineering experts responsible for overseeing the primary structures of sports venues, specifically those designated for women, managers and officials of sports centers, and users (including athletes, referees, and coaches) of facilities and equipment across sports venues in all 31 provinces of Iran. A sufficient number of statistical samples were selected based on theoretical saturation principles through purposive and convenience sampling, and their perspectives were solicited (16 participants). Research instruments included systematic library study and semi-structured interviews. The semi-structured interview protocol comprised 6 demographic questions and 7 open-ended questions. The validity of the instrument was assessed using qualitative validation methods. Open, axial, and selective coding procedures were employed for data analysis.
Three criteria were established for participant selection: (1) a minimum of five years of experience in managing women's sports facilities, (2) membership in technical departments and involvement in overseeing primary sports structures (for an extended duration, specifically at least five years), and (3) status as athletes, referees, or coaches utilizing women's sports facilities. Accordingly, purposive sampling was employed to select participants to obtain technically relevant information. Iran comprises 31 provinces. The professional backgrounds of individuals active in the aforementioned positions across these provinces were examined. Emails were dispatched to those eligible for research participation, and 16 individuals agreed to participate in the study. Consequently, 16 technical and civil engineering experts responsible for overseeing primary structures of women's sports venues, managers and officials of sports centers, and users (athletes, referees, and coaches) of facilities and equipment across sports venues in the country's 31 provinces, each possessing several years of professional experience, participated in this investigation.
 
Results
The analytical framework developed in this study encompasses five principal perspectives: causal conditions (compliance with technical regulations, safety of mobile and fixed equipment), contextual factors (site selection and construction measures), intervening conditions (human resource services and physical services), strategies (functional and structural approaches), and consequences (development of women's competitive sports and development of women's recreational sports) pertaining to the standardization of sports spaces and facilities for women in Iran. According to the qualitative analysis conducted in this study, none of the causal, contextual, or intervening factors demonstrates primacy over the others. Indeed, each of these factors manifests under specific conditions and exerts distinct effects on the quality of sports facilities. The consistent functionality of each stage depends substantially on continuous evaluation and supervision.
 
Conclusion
Based on the research findings, it can be asserted that the standardization of women's sports facilities continues to face a challenging trajectory. Therefore, the dimensions identified in the present research can serve as a pathway for redesigning and formulating plans for the construction of women's sports facilities in accordance with international standards. Alongside the services provided, fundamental procedures—including training programs for personnel and athletes and the assignment of responsibilities to individuals possessing relevant expertise—can significantly enhance the level of standardization of sports facilities. The diverse social and cultural fabric of Iranian society necessitates detailed plans for the design and characteristics of women's sports facilities.
In this article, the standardization process sequentially commences with the selection of appropriate location and land. All sports venues and spaces must undergo both components of standardization: site selection and construction measures. Structural strategies should not be implemented as a post-construction phase following land selection; rather, they should be executed in parallel with these strategies. Because these strategies were common to both site selection and construction measures, they have been positioned within the main framework subsequent to these two stages. The initial two stages pertain to structural strategies for places and spaces not yet established. The subsequent considerations apply to both established facilities and those currently being designed. All three stages—safety of fixed and mobile equipment and compliance with technical standards—must be implemented concurrently. Of course, the sustainability of these steps requires continuous evaluation and monitoring, and because this process is defined within another dimension of sports facility management, its elaboration has been omitted from this framework.
Following the completion of the equipping phase, the framework enters the service sector, which encompasses both the human services category and the physical services addressing women's needs as mothers and family caregivers. This dimension may constitute one of the most significant standardization factors compared to sports venues designated for men. While providing services, attention to performance strategies—such as staff and client training, specialization, and related measures—can substantially contribute to the standardization of sports facilities for women. Ultimately, the objective of presenting this framework was to delineate a practical and applicable model for designing sports places and spaces specifically for women, considering Iran's distinct cultural and social context. This significant demographic group, constituting half of the nation's population, not only fulfills their individual roles in society but also, through their roles as wives and particularly mothers, profoundly influences the performance, health, and roles of other members of society.
 
Article Message
The standardization of women-only sports facilities in Iran necessitates a holistic, systematic, and scientifically grounded policy framework that concurrently addresses technical and safety standards, site selection and construction considerations, the quality of human and physical services, and structural as well as operational strategies. The findings reveal that the absence of an integrated and context-sensitive framework represents a critical obstacle to the sustainable development of women's sport. The analytical framework proposed in this study offers a practical and evidence-based foundation for redesigning, formulating, and harmonizing policies governing the construction and operation of women's sports facilities in alignment with international standards at the national level.
Ethical Considerations
This study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards.
Authors' Contributions
The present study is derived from a research project conducted for the Ministry of Sports and Youth, which was carried out by Dr. Nahid Atghia. Dr. Nahid Atghia performed all stages of writing, reviewing, and editing the article.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
 
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge and express gratitude to all those who participated in this research.