Purpose: The purpose of this study was to design a model of perceived freedom in students' sports leisure.
Materials and Methods: The research method was mixed (qualitative-quantitative). The statistical population in the qualitative section included elites aware of the research literature. The small section also included the midwifery of physical education and non-physical education students of the Azad University based in Tehran. In the qualitative section, a semi-structured interview was conducted with 10 members of the qualitative community to achieve theoretical saturation. In the quantitative section, 384 students were selected as the statistical sample of the present study. The research measurement tool in the qualitative part included a semi-structured interview and in the quantitative part a 15-item questionnaire taken from the interview. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to psychometric the research structures. Structural equations were used to analyze the data using SPSS and AMOS software. Based on fitness indicators (GFI, CFI, RMSEA) and other fitness indicators (CFI, NFI, IFI), the perceived freedom model in students' sports leisure time has a good fit.
Findings: Thus, the 5 factors of perceived control of leisure time, perceived ability (competence) of leisure time, leisure needs, depth of participation in leisure time and vitality (playfulness) affect the perceived freedom in students' sports leisure time.
Conclusion: Therefore, in order to have a successful leisure experience, people must feel that they have an acceptable level of skills and abilities required and appropriate to that activity.