Abstract:
International sociology of sports coaching conceptualizes coaching behavior as a complex process of social interaction. The field has produced substantial findings on topics such as power dynamics in athlete-coach relationships, the social construction of sports coaching roles, and coach education systems. While the existing body of scholarship in China on coaching studies and the theme of “interpersonal interaction” has laid a critical foundation for the development of a Chinese sociology of sports coaching, it nonetheless exhibits certain limitations. There is thus a need to actively draw upon international scholarship, promote a shift in research paradigms, employ sociological critical tools, and further cultivate the “sociological imagination”. To advance the independent development of China’s sociology of sports coaching, this study proposes specific directions across three dimensions: core content, research approaches, and academic missions. It proposes deconstructing interaction mechanisms through a multidimensional framework of “technology-power-emotion-interest;” analyzing the value systems underlying sports coaching ethics, role perception, and evaluation standards under the tension of structure-agency dynamics; and exploring the operational logic of coach management, development, and organizational systems from institutional and cultural perspectives. Furthermore, sports coaching practices should be viewed as a “social mirror” to reflect on the evolution of sports systems. To delve deeper into these issues, it is essential to immerse in field research within domestic competition and training settings, fostering the emergence of original concepts through empirical engagement. Cross-sport comparative studies should be conducted to examine how the “technological ecosystem” of different sports differentially shapes interaction behaviors within the framework of “technology-society” co-construction. The sociology of sports coaching in China aims to integrate theoretical resources from both domestic and international sources, engage in critical dialogue, achieve theoretical innovation, and ultimately empower the development of sports coaches and the optimization of sports coaching practices in the Chinese context.