Clash of sports organization cultures: Differences in table tennis training and coach–athlete relationships between China and Poland

Abstract

This study focused on Chinese-origin table tennis athletes and cross-national comparisons of sports organization cultures with respect to perceived differences in the training process, competition, and coach–athlete relationships between China and Poland. Interviewed Chinese players and Polish coaches reported adaptation problems of Chinese athletes in Poland and numerous differences in table tennis training, organizational culture, and player–coach relations. Chinese athletes were used to a highly disciplined sports environment and formal relationships with coaches. Most of them reported work experiences in Poland as confounding factors in the organization of the training system and the coach–athlete relationships. These relationships were a source of coaching problems, as well as frustration among athletes. Presented cross-national analyses reveal some of the hidden aspects of sports migrations and the impact of cultural differences. The increasing globalization of sports shows that cultural differences should be considered in coaching education, and intercultural competency should be part of coaches’ continuous professional development.

Values and physical activity among sports science students in France and China: a transcultural analysis

“…The large number of players available all over the country presumably forces them to place less emphasis on the game’s playful dimensions and instead focus on the competitive side (e.g., authoritarian coaching, strong conformity to the rules, etc. ); while in Europe, the hedonist–playful dimension of the game is seen as very important for motivating players over the long term ( Lenartowicz, 2023 ). We therefore speculate that sport or physical activity is prototypically associated in memory in Europe with hedonism and stimulation, but not necessarily in China ( Hanel et al, 2017 , 2018 ).…”