Sports coaching development in China: the system, challenges and opportunities

Despite China’s competitive sports success, particularly at the Olympic Games, little is known about the structures of coaching systems and coach development in China. To foster a comparative understanding of sports coaching development from different contexts and to inform and enrich investigative agendas in the area, this paper focuses on China and introduces its sports coaching systems and structures with an analysis built upon government policy and relevant Chinese literature. The paper delineates the two systems (elite and school), traces the changes of different versions of the skill grading system of Chinese sports coaches, outlines opportunities available for continued education; and highlights some of the current issues and challenges which hinder the development of Chinese sports coaches. Accordingly, suggestions for future policy and practice improvement are put forward in support of China’s mission to become a world sports power.