Why Female Athletes Decide to Become Coaches

Conclusion

Before I present my conclusions, it is worth reiterating that the issues discussed in this article are based on interviews with 18 high performance female athletes and four female coaches. Thus, my goal is not to draw general conclusions applying to every aspect of the female athlete’s and coach’s experience. What I want to do is to take the situation of a small group and extract as much information from it as possible to advance the cause of female coaches. I also intend to call in question some commonly held beliefs on the issue of the shortage of female coaches. Finally, I will identify potential measures to promote the involvement of women in coaching. Again, my intention is not to be all-encompassing; on the contrary, I am in favour of moving ahead one step at a time.

The article grew out of issues I had with the concept of the role model in sports coaching. I found that the equation female coach = more female athletes becoming coaches was a very popular notion, but was not supported by facts.

Based on all the interviews, I believe that, although it is constantly being referred to, the role model does not operate the way people think it does. The role model does have an impact, but it is very subtle. Both the coaches and the athletes attach more importance to the coach’s personality than to his or her gender as a factor influencing them to take up coaching. However, closer analysis of the athletes’ statements shows that they appreciate qualities more closely associated with women’s coaching style — human qualities, dedication and commitment, and the focus on the athlete’s personal life. Can we imagine a male athlete making such statements? Based on this finding, I have to conclude that having a female coach does indeed encourage some female athletes to become coaches: their coach embodies qualities that they appreciate and values that they share, and such attributes are found more often, though not exclusively, in female coaches. In my opinion, if we want women in coaching positions to exert more impact, then we must devise means to make their role in recruiting new female coaches more visible and explicit. Having a female coach does not in and of itself guarantee that more female athletes will take up coaching. In this context, some of the recruitment measures mentioned by the participating coaches seem to be very promising.

With respect to the athletes’ desire to become coaches, I was shocked to find how much these high performance athletes doubted their ability to perform coaching tasks. Their responses confirm the results of studies in the sociology of sport, which indicate that girls’ experience of sport is very different from that of boys. According to the literature on the subject, girls’ experience of sport boils down to a fear of failing, of being incompetent, and of not being able to meet expectations. Social influences are one explanation for this. Unlike boys, who are constantly being encouraged by family, friends, and teachers to participate in sports, girls receive less support and encouragement from the adults around them. As a result, many girls develop few of the leadership skills required for coaching. Most of the athletes interviewed stated on several occasions that “leadership is a male thing” and that, “if you need more leadership, you have to bring in a man.” This shows the extent to which leadership qualities are associated with stereotypes and identified as being male.

Having more female coaches will not automatically produce more young female coaches. We must institute specific, practical measures for female coaches and future coaches. Future female coaches must be prepared for their role as recruiters. This could probably be done by including in their training a module focusing specifically on the importance of encouraging more female athletes to take up coaching. Current female coaches must be given practical recruitment tools. It is not good enough to say that they are doing a poor job of recruiting; on the contrary, they must be supported in their recruitment efforts, which — it bears repeating — come on top of the many responsibilities they already assume! I invite you to share your recruitment tips and success stories with the Journal by contacting Anna Mees, director of CAC’s Women in Coaching Program. We will be pleased to consider your ideas to advance the cause of women in coaching.

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le Journal en français

JULY 2004
Vol. 4, No. 5
Front Page
CONTENTS

Why Female Athletes Decide to Become Coaches — or Not

Introduction

Current Knowledge of Under-Representation of Female Coaches

Questions

What the Athletes Said

What the Coaches Said

Conclusion

References

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