An international survey titled “Analysing Gender Disparities in Youth Sport Coaching: An International Survey (FEMCoach Project)” has been published in Frontiers in Psychology. The study, conducted by a consortium of researchers—including Graça Pinto, Nuno Leite, Bruno Rosa, ΣΤΥΛΙΑΝΗ ΔΟΥΚΑ, Leonardo Cunha, Jorge Arede, Raquel Llado, Víctor López-Ros, Julio Calleja-Gonzalez, and Vanessa Dias—sheds light on the challenges and disparities faced by female youth sport coaches across Europe.
The FEMCoach project, funded under the Erasmus+ Sport initiative, aims to promote healthy female youth sport by developing coaches’ competencies. The survey serves as a foundational component of the project, providing valuable insights into the current state of gender equality in youth sport coaching.
Key Findings:
- Underrepresentation of Female Coaches: The survey reveals a significant underrepresentation of women in youth sport coaching roles across Europe. Despite the increasing participation of women in sports, coaching remains a predominantly male-dominated field.
- Barriers to Entry: Female coaches often face systemic barriers, including gender stereotypes, lack of mentorship, and limited access to professional development opportunities. These challenges hinder their career progression and retention in the field.
- Impact on Youth Athletes: The lack of female coaches can affect the development of young athletes, particularly girls, who may benefit from female role models in coaching positions.
Project Objectives:
The FEMCoach project seeks to address these disparities through the following objectives:
- Understanding Needs and Issues: Conducting research to understand the specific needs and challenges faced by female youth sport coaches.
- Promoting Competencies: Developing training programs to enhance the competencies of female coaches, focusing on the biological, psychological, and social needs of youth.
- Community Building: Establishing a supportive community of practice for female youth sport coaches to share experiences and resources.
- Raising Awareness: Increasing awareness among stakeholders about the importance of healthy female youth sport coaching and the benefits it brings to communities.
The project involves a consortium of organizations from various sectors and countries, including universities, Olympic committees, non-governmental organizations, and sport organizations. This collaboration enables the project to fulfill the objectives of Cooperation Partnerships, building the capacity of organizations to work transnationally and across sectors.
For more information and to access the full survey: Frontiers | Analysing gender disparities in youth sports coaching: an international survey (FEMCoach project)
