en Educational Studies پژوهشي Original <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#669933;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height:2;"><b>Objective:</b> <span lang="EN">The purpose of this study was to design a conceptual model for fostering hope among Iranian students through participation in extracurricular sports activities at universities. </span><br> <b>Methods</b>: <span lang="EN">This study employed a qualitative research design using thematic analysis. The statistical sample consisted of 15 key informants, including university sports managers, sports management professors, and experts in university extracurricular sports programs. Participants were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with specialists in sports management and university sports activities. Data analysis followed a three-stage coding process&mdash;open, axial, and selective coding&mdash;to identify key themes and develop the proposed model. </span><br> <b>Results</b>: <span lang="EN">The findings led to the development of a model comprising 11 categories organized into six dimensions: (1) Causal factors (sports research and support), (2) Main phenomenon (development and improvement of health and personal excellence), (3) Strategies (promotion and social participation), (4) Contextual factors (facilitator), (5) Intervening conditions (sports deficiencies and non-sport obstacles), and (6) Consequences (individual and social outcomes). The results indicate that structured extracurricular sports participation can contribute significantly to enhancing students&rsquo; sense of hope through both personal growth and social engagement. </span><br> <b>Conclusions</b>: <span lang="EN">The proposed model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how extracurricular sports activities can promote hope among Iranian students. Policymakers and officials at the Ministry of Science and university administrators can utilize this model to design supportive strategies and improve extracurricular sports programs to enhance students&rsquo; psychological and social well-being.</span></span></span></span></span></div> Creating Hope, Sports Extracurricular, Student, Sports Participation 0 0 http://ijer.hormozgan.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-304-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Ayoub Naseri anaseri.fivb@gmail.com 10031947532846005345 0009-0001-9584-338X No Department of Physical Education, Ker.C., Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Shahab Bahrami bahramishahab208@gmail.com 10031947532846005346 10031947532846005346 No Department of Physical Education, Ker.C., Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Mona Farzadfar mona5549@iau.ac.ir 10031947532846005347 10031947532846005347 Yes Department of Physical Education, Ker.C., Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Sajad Soroush s.soroush2016@gmail.com 10031947532846005348 10031947532846005348 No Department of Physical Education, Ker.C., Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran