The 2026 International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) Executive Board Meeting was recently held at Beijing Sport University (BSU). Bringing together ICCE Executive Board members, experts and scholars from more than 10 countries and regions, the meeting featured in-depth discussions on upgrading global coaching education systems, developing professional standards and cultivating elite sports talent.

Wang Xinzhai, deputy director of the Department of Science and Education of the General Administration of Sport of China, highlighted the central role of coaches in the development of competitive sports. He noted that, as an ICCE Category A member, China will continue to actively participate in the council’s core activities, share its experience in coach development and sports talent cultivation, draw on advanced international approaches, and deepen practical cooperation in sports to support the coordinated development of coaching education worldwide.

Fan Zhanbei, Party secretary of BSU, reviewed the more than two decades of cooperation between BSU and ICCE since the university joined the council in 2005. He noted that the signing of a memorandum of understanding last year marked a new stage of institutionalized and regular cooperation in coach education and training, talent development and academic research.

ICCE President Lorraine Lafrenière highlighted BSU’s strong foundation in coach education, sports talent development and international exchange. She said the meeting provided an important platform for deepening collaboration and advancing global coaching development, and expressed her hope that it would serve as a new starting point for international cooperation in coaching education, research and practice.

The meeting featured a series of high-level academic presentations, offering BSU faculty and students valuable insights into global coaching trends and international training systems. Sergio Lara-Bercial, Jon Grydeland and Frédéric Sadys shared developments in global coach development and introduced coaching systems in countries including Norway and France. Chris Clements and Wiebke Fabinski discussed coach support mechanisms in the US Olympic and Paralympic systems and Germany’s standardized coaching education system, respectively.

During the thematic research workshops, experts and scholars from China and abroad engaged in focused discussions on coaching science and professional standards. Christine Nash, Chair of the ICCE Research Committee, provided guidance on conference abstract writing, review standards and peer-review mechanisms. Andy Rogers introduced the preparations and key arrangements for the 2027 Global Coach Conference, contributing to the professionalization and standardization of coaching research in China and internationally.

During the meeting, the Chinese edition of the International Coach Developer Frame Work was officially released. The guide establishes a valuable connection between international standards for coach development and the development of China’s coaching sector, providing an authoritative international reference for the professionalization, standardization and institutionalization of coach development in China.