Development of accreditation models for educational programs for coaches in extreme sports, taking into account international standards

Abstract

Extreme sports show a steady growth in popularity, which requires a revision of existing approaches to coach training and the creation of specialized accreditation models. This study is aimed at developing a comprehensive accreditation model for educational programs for extreme sports coaches, taking into account international quality standards for professional training. A mixed methodological approach was applied, including a systematic analysis of international accreditation practices, expert evaluation of extreme sports coaches' competencies, a cross-sectional survey of coaches from different countries, content analysis of educational programs, and mathematical modeling of accreditation processes. The empirical base consisted of 127 coaches from 18 countries, 52 educational programs, and 15 international accreditation organizations. It was established that existing accreditation models demonstrate limited applicability for extreme sports, with a conformity coefficient of $0.42\pm0.08$. The developed integrative model includes four basic components: a competency block with 34 specific competencies, a practical training block with a minimum of 180 hours in real conditions, a risk and safety assessment block, and an international certification block. Validation of the model showed a 37.2% increase in training effectiveness, a 24.6% reduction in incidents, and an increase in student satisfaction up to 82.3%. The proposed model may serve as the basis for creating international accreditation standards in the field of extreme sports and contribute to improving the quality of coach training in this specialization.