Advancing Organizational Resilience in University Sport Organizations: A Governance- and Social Trust-Based Framework

Abstract

University-based   sports   organizations   experienced   unprecedented   structural, managerial, and   sociological challenges in thepost-pandemic era. Fluctuating participation levels, weakened communication channels, governance uncertainties, and the rapid digital transformation of sport ecosystems have highlighted the urgent need for reconceptualizing organizational resilience within university sport structures. While existing research in sport  sociology  emphasizes the  capacity  of  sport  to  generate  social  capital,belonging,  identity,  and  community cohesion, sport management literature focuses on governance, legitimacy, and institutional decision-making. Yet, no integrated  framework  has  been  proposed  that  unifies  these  domains  to  explain  how  university  sport organizations construct, maintain, and operationalize resilience. This conceptual study introduces the University Sports Organizational Resilience Framework (USORF), a multidimensional socio-managerial model developed to fill this critical gap. USORF synthesizesfour theoretical pillars: (1) organizational resilience theory, emphasizing adaptive capacity and continuity planning; (2) sport governance and legitimacy, rooted in transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement; (3) sociology of sport participation, highlighting identity formation and  social  capital;  and  (4)  post-pandemic  sport  ecology,  emphasizing  hybrid  participation,  digitalization,  and innovation.  The USORF proposes five core dimensions that  collectively  drive  resilience  in  university  sports: Structural  Robustness,  Managerial  Adaptability,  Social  Trust  &  Legitimacy,  Participation  Continuity,  and Innovation  Capacity.  Methodologically, this study is based  on  conceptual  synthesis  and  thematic  literature integration. As it involves no human participants, interventions, or personal data, ethical approval was not required. The framework provides: (1) the first unified resilience model for university sport  organizations,  (2)  a reconceptualization  of  resilience  as  a  dynamic  socio-managerial  ecosystem,  and  (3)  a  practical  roadmap  for enhancing organizational sustainability and student engagement. USORF offers a powerful foundation for future empirical research, theoretical advancement, and policy development in the management and sociology of sport.