How gender influences children and parents in youth sport

Recent research looks into the impact that a coach's gender can have on players and parents and how clubs can create a gender diverse coaching team

Gosford All Blacks U16s Girls Team

It sounds like a really basic statement, but it needs to be said: what you’re exposed to shapes who you are and your beliefs.

Recent research puts this into simple text for all to see. In partnership with Change Our Game, Victoria University in Australia surveyed parents/caregivers and children who played sport.

It’s not new information, but the report reveals that children are more exposed to coaches and officials that are men. However, female coaches are more likely within netball and swimming.

This exposure influences children’s satisfaction with a coach or official. Prior experiences impact how children see coaching.

If a child has had a female coach in the past, they were positively impacted and believed women could be good coaches.

There was also an extra positive impact for girls. If they had a female coach, their satisfaction levels towards a female coach was higher than boys.

The impact of what is considered the social norm means that parents and children are more likely to associate men as coaches before women.

---

Coaching Care Creativity now has paid subscriptions for people who want to and are able to support the publication. Plans are available for £5 a month or £50 a year.

---

So what does this mean?

You may say “Jess we know this already”. I’d say yes, that’s a fair point. However, it’s important to scruntinise what we think we know.

Now, researched and written in text for all to see are the findings around having female and male coaches visible for children.

Ensuring children get exposed to both male and female coaches is important because it has a positive impact.

A way to achieve this is to have a diverse team or group of coaches that interacts with children across their youth sport journey.

What people are exposed to in their youth shape who they become and how they think.

Below are some recommendations from the report to help you ensure children get a gender diverse coach and official experience. This helps them realise that everyone can be a great coach.

Three recommendations for clubs and teams:

1. Have female coaches and officials available to the players

Consider the gender balance of roles at your club. Are there opportunities for players to be coached or refereed by women?

Ensure players get coached by both men and women throughout their junior rugby pathway.

2. Promote positive parental attitudes towards female coaches and officials

Is there equal promotion of all male and female roles by your club? Could your social media or website run a spotlight series to help highlight everyone?

Ensure your club celebrates the milestones of all coaches and officials.

3. Encourage and support women to become coaches and officials

Does your club provide an inclusive environment for female officials? Could it do more to ensure a welcoming environment for visiting officials?

How does your club attract and develop female coaches and officials?

Read the report here

The Women in Sport research team at the Institute of Health and Sport, Victoria University conducted this research, with funding from the Victorian Government, through the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation’s Change Our Game Research Grants Program.

---

Coaching Care Creativity now has paid subscriptions for people who want to and are able to support the publication