Women in Sports Coaching

Women in many Westernized countries encounter a wider variety of career opportunities than afforded in previous decades, and the percentage of women leaders in nearly every sector is on the rise. Sport coaching, however, remains a domain where gender equity has declined or stalled, despite increasing female sport participation. The percentage of women who coach women are in the minority in most sports, and there is a near absence of women coaching men. This important new book examines why. Drawing on original multi-disciplinary research from across the globe, including first-hand accounts from practicing coaches, the book illuminates and examines the status of women in coaching, explores the complex issues they face in pursuing their careers, and suggests solutions for eliminating the barriers that impede women in coaching. Developing an innovative model of intersectionality and power constructs through which to guide research, the book covers issues including sexual identity, race, motherhood, cross-gender coaching and media coverage to give voice to women coaches from around the world. As such, Women in Sports Coaching is essential reading for serious students and scholars of sports coaching, sport sociology or anyone with an interest in gender and sport.

Nicole M. LaVoi is a Senior Lecturer in Kinesiology and Co-Director of the Tucker Center for Girls & Women at the University of Minnesota, USA, and former collegiate tennis coach and USPTA tennis teaching professional. Her research pertains to gender and coaching, and media portrayals of women in sport. She is the primary author of the longitudinal Women in College Coaching and Report Card research series.

Introduction Part 1: Underlying Theoretical Framework 1. A Framework to Understand Experiences of Women Coaches Around the Globe: The Ecological-Intersectional Model 2. A Socio-cultural Examination of a Lack of Women Coaches in Sport Leadership Positions 3. An Ecological/Multisystem Approach to Understanding and Examining Women Coaches Part 2: Women Coaches and Other Intersectional Identities 4. Lesbian Coaches and Homophobia 5. Women Coaches of Color: Examining the Effects of Intersectionality 6. Coaching and Motherhood 7. Cross-Gender Coaching: Women Coaching Men 8. Female Athletes Conceptions of Leadership: Coaching and Gender Implications 9. Female Assistant Coaches: Planting Seeds and Growing Roots Part 3: Seeing, Listening to and Researching Women Coaches 10. Women in the Sport Media: Where are the Coaches? 11. Hear Their Voices: Suggestions for Developing and Supporting Women Coaches from Around the World 12. Women in Coaching: Theoretical Underpinnings among Quantitative Analyses 13. Women in Coaching: Theoretical Underpinnings among Qualitative Research Part 4: Strategies for Change Concluding Thoughts: Creating Change for Women Coaches