SPORT COACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS: PERSPECTIVES AND FEATURES.

The evolution of sports coach education programs on a global scale is a dynamic and ever-improving process. This study aimed to scrutinize the characteristics, overarching development trends, and structure and content of sports coach education programs. The research involved 46 experts, each with a minimum of 8 years of coaching experience across 12 diverse sports, who participated in a comprehensive survey. Information retrieval relied on specialized scientific databases, utilizing keywords such as "coaching," "sport coaches," "program," and "education program." A total of 4539 publications were identified, with 501 selected for inclusion in this research. The study's findings reveal discernible variations in the global practice of training sports coaches, encompassing differences in program structure, content, duration, and qualification evaluation criteria. Despite these differences, a common thread unites sports coaching education programs worldwide, reflecting shared features, structures, and content. The field has matured into a prestigious domain with recognized importance in the social, scientific, and academic spheres. These results offer valuable insights for the development and effective implementation of sports coach training programs, contributing to the ongoing refinement of coaching practices globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]