Visualization of the scientific production landscape on sports coach learning using the Bibliometrix tool: bibliometric and exploratory review of two decades of research
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- Miguel Andrés Peñuela-Arg´¨úello+−
- Cristian David Zapata-Piratova+−
- Boryi Alexander Becerra Patiño+−
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2026.12.1.12490Abstract
Various studies have examined sports coaches to understand their impact on performance, knowledge acquisition, and athlete training. However, to date, there is no bibliometric study analyzing research trends in coach learning. The objectives of the study were to map the scientific production landscape on sports coach learning to identify thematic gaps and develop an exploratory review to analyze categories of analysis related to knowledge acquisition processes. The search date was set between 1998 and 2024. The Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were consulted. The analysis was performed using Bibliometrix software. A total of 197 documents were included. The years 2021 and 2024 report the highest number of published studies. Scientific production on sports coach learning has been researched mainly from a qualitative approach (82.22%) and to a lesser extent from a quantitative approach (11.11%). The most productive countries are the United Kingdom and Canada. The International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching and Sheffield Hallam University have published the largest number of studies. The most relevant concepts were “learning,” “education,” and “mentoring.” Most research focuses on how coaches learn through formal and informal means. The increase in academic productivity demonstrates a positive willingness on the part of the international scientific community to understand the role of sports coaches from a teaching-learning perspective.
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