Policy implementation and challenges in sports development programs: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

Vollständiger Abstract

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Sports development programs (SDPs) aim to facilitate meaningful participation in sport, but their effectiveness depends not only on policy design but also on implementation and stakeholder experiences. This qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis examined stakeholders’ perspectives on policy implementation in SDPs across diverse international contexts. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches of Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar identified eligible qualitative and mixed-method studies published in English between 2020 and 2025. Twenty-five studies were included and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Checklist, and findings were synthesized using thematic synthesis. Five analytical themes emerged: (1) governance and financial pressures; (2) policy–practice gaps; (3) structural and capacity constraints; (4) power and inequality; and (5) cultural and motivational challenges. The findings indicate that SDP policies are not implemented linearly but are interpreted and enacted within organizational and sociocultural contexts shaped by governance pressures, resource limitations, organizational priorities, stakeholder interests, and cultural expectations. Although policies can strengthen accountability and standardization, they may also constrain organizational autonomy and locally responsive implementation. Effective SDP implementation therefore requires balanced governance that combines accountability with flexibility, adequate organizational capacity, meaningful stakeholder participation, and context-responsive strategies to expand sporting opportunities, promote inclusion, and reduce inequalities in access to sport.