Exploring the Digital Frontier in Sports Training: Coach's Perspectives, Influential Factors, and Case Study in Indonesia

. This study aims to determine the perception of coaches in the entry of digitalization of sports and the effect of gender, age, region, educational background, and training experience on the perception of the entry of digitalization of sports. This research is a quantitative research with a cross-sectional survey method. The data collection instrument uses a questionnaire that has been tested for validity and reliability using the corrected item-total correlation test and the Cronbach'Alpha test. Percentage analysis was used to determine the coach's perception, while ordinal regression was used to determine the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. The study results found that 39.9% of coaches agreed, and 39.4% strongly agreed with digital technology in sports. Two independent variable indicators influence coaches' perception of the inclusion of digitalization in the world of sports: the level of education and training experience. This study concludes that it is essential to develop the digitalization of training programs; this is related to the convenience of coaches and athletes in monitoring the development of student-athlete training programs


Introduction
The rapid development of technology has penetrated various fields, including sports.Overall, fitness technology has the potential to have a significantly impact on public health, research, and policy (Sullivan & Lachman, 2017).Sports applications can also enhance student engagement and motivation in sports activities (Martin et al., 2015).Moreover, due to the impact of COVID-19, there is a specific demand in the world of sports for a transformation towards digitalization (Glebova et al., 2022).Numerous software and hardware solutions have been developed to facilitate fitness and sports activities more easily.Some of the most popular were created about ten years ago (e.g., Strava, Endomondo, Fitbit, Runkeeper, Runtastic, Map-MyRun), and since then, have led to significant changes in workout routines (Barratt, 2017).This digitalization of physical activity allows athletes, as well as amateur athletes, to increase motivation and plan their physical activity sessions such as setting goals, measuring and recording activity, real-time monitoring, sharing data on each session, monitoring the achievements of others, earning incentives and rewards, and giving and receiving feedback (Lehra et al., 2022;Soulé et al., 2022).Digital applications have also proven to be much more accurate in measurements by Biswas et al. (2022) and Rosendahl et al. (2022), making them suitable for enhancing sports performance.
Achievement sports require a long-term process with a planned training program.The training program is a plan of stages arranged systematically to achieve the highest level of performance.It also serves as a binding guideline in writing that contains the necessary steps to achieve the set goals.
The training program aims to ensure that the training runs optimally, the process becomes objective, and the focus remains on achieving performance goals.Recognizing the importance of a well-prepared training program, every coach is obliged to develop, implement, and monitor it.In the current era of digitalization, a considerable amount of software has been developed to assist coaches in preparing and evaluating exercise programs.Digital apps can also assess how exercises are performed under supervision (Cristina et al., 2022).Another advantage of digital applications is that they can reduce the risk of sports injuries (Kozina et al., 2022;Navarro et al., 2022).The application of the exercise program facilitates coaches in creating and compiling training plans (Ibrahim et al., 2021), supported by available templates and training menus.However, despite the convenience offered, competence in IT is required, which may be an obstacle, especially since many coaches in Indonesia, particularly those in remote areas, are not familiar with such technology.Research Frevel et al. (2022) state that by 2030, sports technology will significantly impact all three user groups: athletes, consumers, and managers.Moreover, there are differing opinions regarding the usefulness of digital exercise program applications, with older individuals finding them more challenging to use (Möller et al., 2022).
Based on the background mentioned above and the varying opinions from researchers about the acceptance and benefits of digital sports applications, the study aims to determine the level of acceptance among sports coaches in Indonesia towards the digital era in sports and identify the most dominant factors in terms of gender, age, educational background, and training experience.Understanding the effectiveness of digitizing training programs is crucial for gaining insights into the needs and constraints in the field.To provide more specific data, information was collected from Eastern, Central, and Western regions of Indonesia.Eastern Indonesia, including Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara, often faces challenges in geographic accessibility and limited infrastructure.Conversely, Western Indonesia, comprising provinces like Banten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java, has high population densities and more advanced technological infrastructure.Central Indonesia, including provinces such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, reflects diversity in geographical and demographic aspects.By considering these differences, researchers hope this study will offer a more comprehensive insight into how the acceptance and implementation of digital sports technology varies across Indonesia.

Methods
This research is quantitative, employing a cross-sectional survey method.This survey was conducted using the Google Forms platform from February 1, 2023, to January 30, 2024.In this study, the dependent variable was the perception of acceptance of sports coaches towards the digitalization era in the world of sports, while the independent variables included gender, age, education level, region, and training experience.The questionnaire was assessed using a Likert scale with five answer options: strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree.The answers reflect the attitudes, opinions, and perceptions of the respondents.

Participant
This study involved 203 respondents, following recommendations suggested by Kennedy (2022), and the minimum number of samples with high reliability was 100.Respondents were spread across 33 provinces throughout Indonesia.Respondent characteristics are divided into five criteria: Age, Gender, area of residence, Training Experience, and Educational Background.Respondents to this study consisted of individuals who met several predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria.Inclusion criteria include individuals who are active as sports coaches, both professionally and amateur, and have experience in the field of sports training.They must also be 18 years of age or older and have the ability to complete the questionnaire independently by providing honest and accurate responses.On the other hand, exclusion criteria include individuals who are not sports coaches, have not reached the age of 18, are unable to complete the questionnaire independently, or are not located in the territory of Indonesia.

Data collection instrument
A questionnaire of 17 questions has been prepared to explore respondents' perceptions of digitalization in sports, especially regarding the use of digital applications in training programs.These questions cover various aspects, from the acceptance of digital applications in preparing training programs to their potential benefits for coaches and athletes.Each question was designed to reveal the respondent's views on the likelihood, readiness, and benefits of using technology in the sports training context.Before being used, this instrument has undergone a validity and reliability test to ensure reliability in measuring the variables you want to study.Thus, it is hoped that this questionnaire can provide in-depth insight into how sports coaches in Indonesia respond to the digitalization phenomenon in the world of sports and its potential impact on athlete training and development.

Information Collection Procedures
The information collection procedure was conducted via a Google Forms link and distributed to respondents who met the inclusion criteria.The link is distributed through sports training education associations throughout Indonesia and sports trainer and physical trainer communities.Respondents must fill out the questionnaire independently and provide honest and accurate responses.After the data collection period ended, data was collected and analyzed to evaluate the perception of acceptance of digitalization in sports and the factors that influence it.

Statistical analysis
Quantitative data was processed to analyze descriptive statistics presented in percentages and frequencies.In addition, this study conducted a validity and reliability test to test the instrument and the validity of the data.The validity test uses the corrected item-total correlation where the result of r < 0.3 indicates a less valid component.The reliability test measures the questionnaire's consistency when done repeatedly.In this study, the approach used was Cronbach'Alpha (Cronbach, 1951).If the Cronbach Alpha coefficient shows 0.9, then it was considered Excellent, 0.9 > 0.8 was considered Good, 0.8 > 0.7 was considered Acceptable, 0.7 > 0.6 was considered Questionable, 0.6 > 0.5 was considered Poor, and 0.5 > was considered Unacceptable (Sharma, 2016).The ordinal regression test was used to determine the influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable, which was used when the data from the independent variable has an ordinal scale.All data analysis in this study used IBM SPSS version 24 software.

Result
Table 1 above shows the data distribution based on gender, age, education level, the region where the date is located, and training experience.Age consists of ages under 20 years, 21 years to 30 years, 31 years to 40 years, 41 years to 50, and 51 years and over.Educational levels consist of bachelor of non-sports, bachelor of sports, master of nonsports, master of sports, doctor of non-sports, and doctor of sports.The data is in three regions: western, central, and eastern Indonesia.Training experience consists of 0 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years, and above 10 years.
Table 2  Table 3 above shows the results of the validity and reliability of the question instrument.The above results indicate that 17 questions are declared valid and reliable.This is proven because the Corrected Item Total Correlation is r > 0.3.In contrast, Cronbach's Alpha, if the Item is Deleted, has a value of > 0.7, so it is considered reliable.
The data in Table 4 above shows the results of respondents' perceptions of the development of digital technology.
Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that most coaches positively perceive the development of digital technology in sports.More than 79% of coaches agree or strongly agree that using digital applications in training programs can enhance preparation effectiveness, facilitate monitoring and evaluation of training programs, and improve the quality of training.Additionally, most coaches agree that digital technology can increase athletes' enthusiasm in training, enhance their competence as coaches, and streamline communication with athletes and coaching staff.However, about 20% of coaches still feel doubtful or disagree with using digital technology in sports.Table 5 shows that the gender indicator does not have a relationship and affects the coach's perception of digital technology development because sig < 0.173 and chisquare value > 0.05.While the region has a relationship and correlation with the coach's perception, the correlation is very weak.From Table 2, it can be concluded that only the coach's age, education, and experience have a reasonably strong correlation and influence the coach's perception of the development of digital technology.In Table 6.The results of statistical tests using the ordinal regression test method showed that only indicators for Bachelor of Non-sports and Bachelor of Sports education indicators and training experience of fewer than ten years have contributed to supporting the development of digital technology in sports training programs.They have value power in explaining the perception of coaches in digital technology development 65.2%.

Discussion
Based on the data analysis, two significant findings will be discussed in this study.The first finding is that most of the coach respondents in Indonesia are optimistic about digital technology in sports, and the second finding is that two indicators influence the coach's perception of digital technology in sports.The indicators are the level of education and duration of training.
Digital technology cannot be avoided in the 4.0 era, especially in Indonesia.In the international world, sports technology has been a leading trend from 2016 to 2022 (Thompson, 2015(Thompson, , 2016(Thompson, , 2017(Thompson, , 2018(Thompson, , 2019(Thompson, , 2022)); wearable technologies include activity trackers, smart watches, heart rate monitors, GPS tracking devices, etc.According to Loland (2002), sports technology was created to facilitate human work.When directed towards achievement sports, digital technology also plays an essential role in the world of sports, and this is in line with what was conveyed by Priya et al. (2020), Liebermann et al. (2002), Luo & He (2021) that recent advances in information technology support athletes to improve performance during training and competition.Specifically, there are many advantages if technology is applied in sports.Digital applications can influence the positive behavior of athletes in training by Oyibo et al. (2018) and Sokolovskaia et al. (2022), and increase the motivation of young people to exercise Zach et al. ( 2016) and Muktiani et al. (2022).Furthermore, Listyarini et al. (2021) found a significant relationship between the use of digital media with physical activity and fitness.Jeong et al. (2022) also noted that digital applications are a valuable resource for providing information.
Referring to some of the research above about the positive benefits of digital sports technology, it is very natural that most coaches in Indonesia strongly agree with digital technology in sports, especially in creating exercise programs.In line with Priyambada et al. (2022), coaches positively accept the integration of digitalization in sports.According to the responses from the coaches, many stated that the use of video in digital applications is crucial to facilitate the delivery of training material.This aligns with the findings of Erawan et al. (2020), who noted that athletes understand and apply exercises more effectively after watching instructional videos.Conroy et al. (2014) observed that instructional and demonstration forms are prevalent in digital fitness applications.Based on some of the literature reviewed, it is imperative to develop technology swiftly in Indonesia.However, factors just as critical as the technology itself include the quality of coaches in utilizing technology, as technology is a tool that proves useful only when employed correctly (Garad et al., 2021;Hew & Cheung, 2013).Competence for coaches is paramount in enhancing the quality of training (Stodter & Cushion, 2017).Supporting this, Hsu et al. (2012) andSouza Júnior et al. (2022) argued that pedagogical and instructional strategies are essential in the use of technology, with pedagogical design being a key factor in the successful delivery of material.It is necessary to avoid perceiving technical ability as a panacea (Casey et al., 2017).
Coaches skilled in the digital domain of sports are essential.This is consistent with findings on the correlation between coaches' perceptions and their educational attainment.Coaches, particularly those with sports-related degrees, support the inclusion of digital technology in sports.Education is a key indicator for coaches to develop effective training programs (Leite et al., 2011).A well-educated coach is crucial for fostering a successful sports training process, and those with higher education levels tend to provide more effective feedback during the coaching process (Mason et al., 2020;Woods et al., 2021).Education serves as a vital conduit for adapting to and mastering new technologies (Lleras-Muney & Lichtenberg, 2002), and educated individuals are often seen as more productive at work than their less-educated counterparts (Kampelmann et al., 2018).
The Education Group significantly influences an individual's willingness to embrace technology in their work.Educators play a role in this, as the educational process familiarizes students with technology (Chimo, 2012).Undergraduate students are taught that increasing competence is intrinsically linked to their ability to utilize technology.Moreover, the demands of modern employment necessitate adaptability and proficiency in technology (Beer & Mulder, 2020).Beyond educational level, the duration of training experience is also a factor.Coaches with extensive training experience are likely to continually seek ways to enhance their training quality.According to Costa et al. (2021), ample experience heightens coaches' awareness of developing new models and training methods.Additionally, prolonged coaching experience fosters positive communication between coaches and athletes (Erickson & Jean, 2016).Surveys have also revealed a preference among coaches for online-accessible training programs.Online platforms enable training to be accessed from any location at any time, unimpeded by distance.This aligns with Nurtjahjanti et al. (2021) and Suhandiah et al. (2022) who found that online media has significantly benefited education, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact.Since the onset of COVID-19, the shift towards online learning and training has been pronounced (Haryati et al., 2021).
Research on technology in sports within Indonesia has room for growth, presenting an opportunity for sports academics to begin developing digital applications in the field, particularly in Indonesia.Stoszkowski et al. (2017) noted that technology usage is a key factor in enhancing the appeal of coaching.Competencies in digital technology are increasingly sought after in today's digital age, notably in administrative services, digital-based fitness assessments, and media coverage (Ermakov et al., 2022).Furthermore, sports technology can be developed cost-effectively & Nikiforova, 2021).

Conclusion
This study lays the groundwork for advancing digital sports technology in Indonesia, recognizing its pivotal role in elevating athletic performance.However, it is equally important to enhance coaching competencies to fully leverage technological advancements.Future research should delve into the application of digital technology within specific sports training scenarios and further investigate the de-terminants shaping coaches' attitudes towards such technology.Pursuing these inquiries will contribute to the formulation of more inventive and efficacious training methodologies, thereby bolstering athletes' accomplishments and augmenting coaches' proficiency in the application of digital technology.

Conflict of Interest
Authors do not receive endorsement from any organization for submitted work.The author has no relevant financial or non-financial interest to disclose above presents a Cronbach's Alpha reliability value of 0.955 with 17 items, indicating a very high level of consistency in the analyzed measurement instrument or questionnaire.

Table 6 .
The effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable