“I definitely need that support” : examining support for women sport coaches

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Shelby N. Anderson (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Diane Gill

Abstract: In the United States, organized competitive sport for girls and women has grown substantially, especially prevalent since the passage of Title IX. Despite tremendous growth in college athletic participation, the percentage of women coaching college athletics has decreased. Prior to Title IX, women coached 90% of women’s sport teams. Today this percentage is stagnant at around 40%. Despite 35+ years of research on this issue, the gender gap in sport coaching remains the same. The Ecological-Intersectional Model (EIM) provides a framework to guide research on the experiences of women coaches. The EIM integrates (1) ecological systems theory, (2) intersectionality, and (3) power. Much of the current literature focuses on the barriers women coaches encounter and on singular aspects of the EIM. Scholars argue research needs to shift its focus from barriers to focus on supports. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine women sport coaches’ experiences of support across the EIM levels using qualitative interview methods from a feminist perspective. Participants included 18 NCAA DIII head women coaches who participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The interview questions centered on the support women coaches have, need, and want across the social-ecological spheres. Once completed, the interviews were transcribed verbatim. The guiding analytic approach, reflexive thematic analysis, revealed three levels of patterned meaning: overarching theme, themes, and subthemes. The overarching theme was termed, Paradox of Support. The participants indicated both having support and needing support. All coaches identified at least some support and all coaches identified support they needed and wanted. Numerous ways to better support women in coaching, from their perspectives, were identified. At the individual level, coaches needed support in the form of advocacy, inclusive parental leave policy, childcare, a flexible workplace, work-life balance strategies, and mental health resources. At the interpersonal level, coaches needed formal and informal networking and mentoring opportunities with coaching colleagues, both within and outside of their athletic department. At the organizational level, coaches needed support from athletic administration in terms of checking-in, a full-time assistant coach, equitable budget, facilities, and salaries, and professional development resources. At the socio-cultural level, coaches wanted support through anti-bias training. Several more supports are discussed in the findings. In sum, the participants offered many ideas for support and by using the EIM as a guiding framework, this study expanded our current understanding of how women coaches currently experience support, how they would like to experience support, and provided guidance to improve their experiences. Findings from this dissertation have the potential to inform future programming, policy, and education to support women sport coaches.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2022
Keywords
Coaching, Gender, Support, Women
Subjects
Women coaches (Athletics) $z United States
College sports for women $z United States

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