Improving Gender Equity in Sports Coaching
Leanne Norman
Abstract
Challenges for Women CoachesSport has historically been a context of constraint for women as both athletes and coaches, restricting agency and choices (Theberge & Birrell, 1994).However, sport can also be a site for transformation, as shown with increased participation and opportunities for women across multiple sports (Acosta & Carpenter, 2012).Women's lack of presence and political voice at high-performance levels is concerning for the potential impact on women at all stages of leadership and participation inside sport and the wider context.Sport plays a significant role in Western society in reinforcing gender distinctions, marginalising femininity, and promoting masculinity, and thus perpetuating unequal gendered relations (Saavedra, 2009).Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the interest of football (soccer) worldwide for women (see figure 1).As a result, UEFA (Union of European Football Associations; 2017) reported that football is the number one participation team sport for women in various countries including England, Norway, and Germany.However, whilst there is a growth in the number of women playing football, the same growth has not been mirrored with women coaches.Whilst FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) reported in 2019 that England had the highest number of women coaches (3520) in Europe, there are still only nine women coaches for every 91 male coaches in England.The gap is even more noteworthy when considering qualified coaches as demonstrated by there being approximately 10,033 UEFA B qualified male coaches in England, compared to only 301 UEFA B qualified