UNIVERSITY SPRINT TRAINING IN CHINA AND MALAYSIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF COACHING PRACTICE, STUDENT ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT, AND CONTEXT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.1163031Keywords:
Coaching Practice, China and Malaysia, Higher Education, Sprint Training, Student-Athlete DevelopmentAbstract
This paper reviews the sprint training studies published from 2021 to 2025 and interprets the evidence from a higher education perspective, especially with regard to university training practice in China and Malaysia. A systematic literature review approach was used and the reporting logic was informed by PRISMA 2020 to enhance transparency. Relevant studies were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus using sprint-training-related keywords, including acceleration, maximal velocity, resisted sprinting, force-velocity profiling, neuromuscular adaptation, sprint biomechanics, speed monitoring, and sprint recovery. The first search resulted in 188 records. After removal of duplicates, subject area screening and full-text assessment 53 studies were retained for final analysis. The review highlighted three main themes: sprint technique and acceleration mechanics; strength-speed integration and development of specific abilities; and fatigue, recovery and training monitoring. The findings indicate that recent research is becoming more data informed and individualised but remains focused on quantitative designs and elite or semi professional populations. Direct evidence on university athletes, coaching pedagogy in higher education and cross cultural comparison is limited. This paper recontextualises the literature on learning, coaching practice and student-athlete development to suggest that university sprint training should be understood as both a performance issue, and an educational and contextual issue, shaped by institutional schedules, support systems, and local training environments. This perspective offers a stronger conceptual basis for future comparative work on university sprint training in China and Malaysia.
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