Gender, women, and community sport coaching

This chapter provides a critical reflection of gender and women’s involvement in coaching in a community sport context. Utilizing an intersectional lens, the chapter examines the experiences of women soccer coaches working in community soccer clubs in Australia. Limited attention has been given to how discourses privileged within community sport impact women coaches. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 15 community-level soccer coaches, the chapter critically examines women’s experiences of coaching within a traditionally male-dominated community sport environment, including their experiences of coach education. The data presented illustrate the ongoing structural and cultural constraints women coaches experience within community sport. Findings suggest that women encounter ongoing sexism that intersects with homophobia, ageism, and racism, and leads to many coaches becoming disillusioned and isolated. Greater attention needs to be focused on improving community sport clubs cultures that recognize and support the capabilities and strengths diverse women coaches provide.