Front Sports Act Living. 2026 Jul 20;8:1879308. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1879308. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
Non-Olympic sports play important cultural, social, and community roles, yet their position within national sport policy frameworks remains under-examined. This study investigates the structural position of non-Olympic sports in Israel through the perspectives of coaches, many of whom also hold managerial responsibilities. Using a cross-sectional online survey, data were collected from coaches across diverse non-Olympic sports. Quantitative analyses assessed group differences by employment status and managerial role using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and eta squared (η 2) effect sizes, while open-ended responses were analyzed using content analysis. Findings indicate that non-Olympic sports are perceived to occupy a peripheral position within a hierarchically organized sport system characterized by unequal access to funding, facilities, professional personnel, and media exposure, despite comparable levels of professional commitment. Drawing on sociological theories of capital, the results suggest that policy frameworks privileging Olympic performance concentrate economic and symbolic resources in recognized disciplines, reinforcing core-periphery dynamics. Although strong intrinsic motivation sustains engagement, responses to a hypothetical career-choice scenario warrant closer attention. By foregrounding governance structures and policy incentives, the study contributes to debates on stratification, sustainability, and access to resources and opportunities within sport systems, with implications extending beyond the studied context.
PMID:42548853 | PMC:PMC13429750 | DOI:10.3389/fspor.2026.1879308
