New research suggests that female coaches are feeling exhausted due to the persistent sexism present in the football industry.
A study of 115 female coaches in the UK, conducted by Kick It Out, discovered that 80% of participants had encountered discrimination in a coaching setting. Additionally, 60% had contemplated resigning from their positions due to mistreatment based on their gender.
Hollie Varney, the chief operating officer of Kick it Out, stated that numerous women expressed their deep interest and dedication towards coaching, but also mentioned feeling drained from constantly being undermined, questioned, and overlooked in coaching settings.
The issue of sexism in football must be addressed in order to increase the representation of women in coaching. The results of this study can hopefully inspire positive changes and make coaching a more inclusive environment for women.
Most of the coaches who were surveyed are involved in coaching youth football. 86% of them have completed a coaching course. Among those who reported experiencing sexism, the majority of cases were caused by the actions of other coaches.
Upon further analysis, the survey revealed that 55% of participants reported having their viewpoints disregarded or challenged, and 48% had been queried about their understanding of regulations. Additionally, 35% felt unsupported in the coaching setting, yet 60% perceived the environment to be welcoming.
Respondents were critical of clubs for not having sufficient measures in place to handle reports of sexism. This lack of trust in the system may have contributed to the discovery that 71% of individuals who faced sexism during a coaching course were not comfortable reporting it.
A coach, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted her reasons for leaving the game. “I have a passion for coaching and motivating girls to play football, and female coaches serve as important role models,” she stated.
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“I have faced significant personal challenges in recent years due to sexist behavior from my fellow coaches. While I chose not to pursue it further in order to avoid potential repercussions, the ongoing sexism I have encountered has ultimately led me to step down from coaching.”
“Improvements must be made by clubs in their support of existing female coaches and implement a procedure for addressing reported instances of sexism.”
Source: theguardian.com
