INTRODUCTION: Considering the role of socialization factors in encouraging people to participate in sports and the importance of the family in this process, the present study aimed to assess the contextual factors affecting the role of the family in sports socialization among the athlete relief workers of the Red Crescent Society. METHODS: This exploratory qualitative research used the Glaser Grounded theory. The statistical population of the research included 16 professors of sports sociology and experts of the Red Crescent Society, who were interviewed using a targeted non-probability sampling method with maximum diversity or heterogeneity based on the theoretical saturation index. The data were analyzed based on three stages: open, axial, and selective coding. FINDINGS: According to the findings, the contextual factors include the two main categories of community conditions and family conditions and six subcategories, including management and structural limitations, financial and facility limitations, little participation of parents in sports activities, little family investment in sports, emotional support, and raising families' awareness of sports. CONCLUSION: Apart from physical strength, people need to meet other requirements to become an athlete. Moreover, in addition to individual abilities, facilities, access to opportunities, and socialization factors, such as family and community conditions, have also major roles to play in the process of becoming an athlete.
