The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of student sports based on lifelong learning and sustainable development within school settings. The research was conducted using a grounded theory methodology with a systematic approach. Participants included 15 experts with sufficient knowledge and experience in student sports, selected through purposive, criterion-based sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that the foundational context for developing student sports includes access to sports facilities and equipment, specialized management in schools, and effective advertising and information dissemination. Intervening conditions involved both facilitating and hindering factors, while contextual conditions included human resources, financial and infrastructural elements, sports culture-building, coordination among responsible institutions, and student-specific factors. Strategies identified were school sports management, domestic and international collaboration, financial and economic measures, and educational and research initiatives. The outcomes included student-specific and school-level impacts, growth in mass and elite sports, cultural and social benefits, and improvements in physical and mental health. Overall, the model suggests that equipping school sports infrastructure, emphasizing specialization and advanced management, and fostering coordination and interaction among stakeholders can significantly improve student performance, promote both elite and community sports, generate beneficial cultural and social effects, and enhance students’ overall well-being.