Enhancing Leadership Skills in Sports Managers through Virtual Reality: Evidence from Iranian Clubs

This study aims to investigate whether emerging virtual reality (VR) technologies can address the limitations of traditional leadership training by enhancing the development of leadership skills among sports managers in Iranian clubs. The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of VR-based training on key leadership competencies, including decision-making, communication, and situational awareness. Employing a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design, the research targeted Iranian sports managers as its population. A purposive sampling approach was used, and thirty managers (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) from various Iranian clubs were selected. The experimental group received VR-based leadership training, while the control group underwent conventional instruction. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations were conducted using validated leadership skill inventories and situational judgment tests. Data analysis involved paired t-tests and ANCOVA to identify significant changes, with effect sizes calculated to assess practical relevance. Results showed that the VR-trained group exhibited statistically significant improvements in decision-making speed, communication effectiveness, and adaptive leadership behaviors. Qualitative data highlighted high engagement and perceived realism as key factors in facilitating learning transfer. The immersive VR scenarios provided a risk-free environment for practicing complex leadership challenges, enhancing experiential learning and confidence. This study demonstrates that integrating VR into leadership training offers a transformative approach to developing sports managers’ competencies, particularly by addressing shortcomings of traditional methods. The novelty of this research lies in the use of advanced VR tools in the Iranian sports context and the empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness, encouraging broader application of VR-based educational strategies in sports organizations.