How can Sports Schools Transform “Crisis” into “Opportunity”?—Based on a Multi-case Analysis

This study examines the process, mechanisms, and outcomes of sports schools transitioning from a state of crisis to one of opportunity. Three sports schools of different types in different regions and levels are analyzed as case studies: Jingshan Tennis School in Hubei Province, Changxing County Sports School in Zhejiang Province, and Bayannur Sports School in Inner Mongolia.Based on the practical logic of how sports schools fall into a crisis, search for opportunities, and overcome challenges, it is found that sports schools explore a reform path that focuses on leveraging intensive advantage resources, establishing flexible mechanisms,and enhancing educational capabilities during the transition from diverse programs to specialized programs, traditional models to diverse models, and passive acceptance to capacity expansion. Drawing on the theoretical logic of “crisis-effect-mechanism”, the study reveals that sports schools are driven by “capable individuals” governance and flexible governance, fostering bottom-up reform. Through vertical integration and horizontal collaboration in organizational structure reform, sports schools develop driving mode driven by capabilities and interactive openness, which serve as the core driving force for their transformation from a state of crisis to opportunity. Ultimately, through resource integration and goal alignment, sports schools achieve iterative integration of organizational functions, enhancing their ompetitiveness during the transformation process. The study concludes by emphasizing the need to drive the reform and development of sports schools by addressing policy gaps, optimizing resource allocation, and strengthening internal governance.