Preparing future coaches: foreign language needs in sports education

Abstract

This study examines the impact of English proficiency on coaching professional development in sports, particularly within multicultural and internationally driven contexts. While physical conditions and technical skills receive significant attention, the need for soft skills, especially foreign language proficiency, remains under-explored. Thus, foreign language skills support professional communication and access to global sports science resources. Based on a quantitative approach, during the research, students from two major departments of the Kazakh academy of sport and tourism participated in a survey to assess the perceived importance of foreign language skills in coaching and to define the correlation between them and the type of specialization. The findings highlight that across academic years and sports specializations, students recognize the importance of English for understanding technical sports terms, communicating within multicultural teams, and supporting continuous professional development. This research underscores the role of English proficiency in fostering not only individual competitiveness but also the broader professionalization of sports education, suggesting that language training should be integral to sports curricula.