Leadership Development for Women in Strength and Conditioning

ABSTRACT Leadership is a skill that can be developed like any other skill, and strength and conditioning specialists should learn and practice their leadership skills to create optimal environments for enhancing athlete performance. Women in sports often face additional gender-specific challenges as they navigate leadership positions, reflected by the fact that only 16% of head strength and conditioning coaches were women in 2022. This article begins by examining the definitions of leadership and the application of leadership to the clinical nature of strength and conditioning. The common barriers women face in leadership in this field are then presented from a multilevel perspective, and strategies are discussed to navigate these barriers. Last, specific action items are presented for women to understand and develop their leadership skills and move forward in employment or association leadership positions, considering best practices to mitigate common barriers. After reading this article, women will understand the value of leadership for those in strength and conditioning and have various practical application ideas for leadership development to mitigate common barriers reported in the field.