Coach-to-Athlete Communication in Badminton: A Scoping Review of Content, Delivery, and Context

Coach-to-athlete communication is an important component of sports coaching. However, badminton-specific evidence remains dispersed across different communication approaches and settings. This scoping review aimed to map the content, delivery characteristics, and contexts of human coach-to-athlete communication in badminton and identify gaps relevant to competitive match intervals. Following JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched from inception to September 3, 2026. Seven of the 172 identified records met the eligibility criteria following reassessment. The evidence comprised two experimental studies of coach-delivered feedback, three studies providing qualitative accounts of communication, and two questionnaire-based studies assessing athlete preferences or perceptions. Communication-related findings included technical and corrective instruction, positive feedback, encouragement, perceived autonomy support, interpersonal support, and menstrual health-related communication. Reported delivery characteristics included corrective cues, explanations, demonstrations, individualized feedback, and sensitive interpersonal approaches. The evidence was concentrated in skill-training and general coaching settings, and no included study directly examined communication during live competitions, official in-match intervals, or between-game intervals. Overall, the evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, emphasizing the necessity of direct investigation of coach-to-athlete communication during competitive badminton.