Coaches’ Adaptation to the Use of Technology in Futsal Athlete Development

Abstract

The development of sport technology is changing how coaches design, monitor, and evaluate futsal athlete development. However, technology adoption at local academy level is not uniform because it is shaped by coaches’ digital competence, device availability, costs, and practical needs in training. This study aimed to describe coaches’ adaptation to technology use in futsal athlete development at SGF Academy (Syaffnah Graha Futsal), Bengkulu City, during 2024. A qualitative case-study design was employed. Data were obtained through training observations, in-depth interviews with coaches and athletes, and review of training documentation. The data were analyzed thematically through coding, category development, theme generation, and source triangulation. The findings indicate four major patterns of adaptation: smartphone-based video use for technical and tactical evaluation; communication applications for scheduling and feedback; simple digital recording of training load; and technology selection based on cost and ease of use. Technology supported faster and more documented feedback, yet limited devices, digital literacy, network stability, and the absence of an integrated monitoring system remained important constraints. The study concludes that technological adaptation develops gradually and pragmatically. Its effectiveness depends less on the sophistication of the device than on its alignment with training objectives and the coach’s ability to translate information into coaching decisions.