Exploring Collaboration and Network Dynamics in Sport Governance: A Bibliometric Review from 1996 to 2023

Articles in Press

Document Type : Review

Authors

1 Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Literature and Humanities,Malayer, Iran

2 Department of Sport Science, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

3 University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

10.22108/asml.2026.149243.1158

Abstract

In recent decades, governance in sports has appeared as a prominent research area, attracting significant attention from scholars in sports and management disciplines. The purpose of this study is to depict the process of spreading governance in sports from different perspectives, including the main topics, the dynamics of words, the origins of authors, and finally, research gaps and future directions. This research uses bibliometric study to analyze all Web of Science publications from 1996 to May 2023 on governance in sport. This study shows that concepts such as "project governance," "e-sports," "sports independence," "network governance," and "corporate governance" have been among the most used key phrases in the field of sports governance in recent years. These concepts will represent the emerging trends in sports governance among prominent researchers, and researchers in this field are suggested to keep these keywords in mind to conduct their research. This study provides substantial scientific innovation and value through a comprehensive analysis of key trends in sports governance. Furthermore, by identifying and analyzing emerging keywords, this research elucidates how digital transformations, network structures, and the increasing significance of autonomy in sports organizations are reshaping governance paradigms.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Archives in Sport Management and Leadership

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 July 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 June 2026
  • Revise Date: 04 July 2026
  • Accept Date: 05 July 2026

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