The role of school administration in supporting sports activities: perspectives of administrators and classroom teachers

In order for sports activities to be conducted effectively and sustainably in elementary schools, it is necessary to jointly evaluate teachers’ practical experiences with the support of school administration. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of school ad-ministration in supporting sports activities in elementary schools based on the perspec-tives of administrators and classroom teachers. The study was conducted using a case study design, one of the qualitative research methods. The study group consisted of 12 school administrators and 19 classroom teachers working in the Keçiören district of An-kara. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form developed by the re-searcher and analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that administrators focused on the planning of sports activities, resource management, and inter-institutional collaboration, while teachers emphasized the implementation process, student motiva-tion, and inadequacies in physical infrastructure. Both groups identified the shortage of physical education teachers and the lack of sports facilities and equipment as fundamen-tal problems. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that a holistic management ap-proach—integrating the strategic leadership of school administration with teachers’ prac-tical experience, and supported by physical infrastructure and institutional collabora-tion—is necessary for the sustainable development of sports activities in elementary schools.