Abstract: Using the methods of literature and logical analysis, this paper sorts out the hot issues of American sports system governance from the perspectives of professional sports, amateur sports, sports industry, school sports. It is found that the research contents of American sports system governance are broad and contain the idea of rule of law throughout; the research methods are diversified, with the qualitative research being primary; and the US stresses regulating sports through formulating institutions, reflecting the characteristics of multi-center governance of professional sports, linkage governance of amateur sports, and decentralization governance of school sports. The paper proposes that we need to broaden our theoretical horizon and disciplinary perspectives when conducting sports system governance research, innovate research methods and explore new fields of research; make comparative studies of US and China sports governance system and absorb the experience of American sports system governance to promote the modernization of Chinese sports governance system and governance capacity.

Key words: American sports, major sports country, sports industry, institution governance, sports governance, professional sports