Gender Inequality In Sports Coaching: Insights From The Femcoach Project

Gender inequality has a significant impact on the sporting world. An investigation was conducted under the framework of the Female Sport Coaching Training Programme (FEMCoach) project (number: 101134453). This foundational-level study aimed to examine the educational support available to women coaches. A comprehensive literature review informed the development of a survey designed to put theoretical findings into practice and summarize the needs of women in sports coaching. Data were collected from 463 coaches (45% women and 55% men) across various countries and sports. The online survey consisted of 40 questions organized into seven topics: (1) sociodemographic data, (2) the inclusion environment for sports practice, (3) coach professional activities, (4) menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception and pregnancy/childcare, (5) barriers for females in sport, (6) coaches’ courses, and (7) gender differences. The survey results revealed significant differences in the opinions of men and women coaches regarding the barriers and stigmas faced by women, which were often described in terms of mistrust, discrimination, lack of parity with male counterparts, and patriarchal societal structures. Based on gender criteria the sample was divided in two groups (women and men). Most women [72% (±5%)] and men [63% (±5%)] agreed that issues related to the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception, and pregnancy/childcare were insufficiently addressed in coach education. An overwhelming majority of both women [92% (±3%)] and men [87% (±4%)] concurred that these topics should be more thoroughly covered in training programs. Also, 80% (±5%) of women and 54% (±5%) of men indicated that women coaches sometimes face discrimination or mistrust. Additionally, 78% (±6%) of women and 64% (± 5%) of men recognized disparities in opportunities between genders. Open-ended survey responses emphasized that educational programs can play a critical role in promoting gender equality, highlighting a lack of content related to equity, identity, and female-specific biological issues. The main conclusion is that sport coach education programs can help promote gender equality and equal opportunities between genders, they must include topics related to female biology and gender identity and promote open coach/athlete communication.