Where are All the Women Coaches?
I recently participated in a panel discussion on the campus of U Mass Lowell at the class of my friend Jeffrey Gerson. Jeff has been one of the thought leaders in regard to gender as it relates to sport. Jeff wrote a study back in 2012 that highlighted the significant change in NCAA women's sports as it related to the increase of men coaching women specifically in ice hockey. Jeff's study highlighted the fact that men dominated the number of head coaches positions in ice hockey by an amazing 82% to only 18% women in 2014. The previous years numbers were 1998 male to female ratio of 50%-50% and in 2006 males began to dominate the field to 62%-38%. Now women comprise only 18%.
Jeff was ahead of the curve in his thought process as Fortune Magazine came out with an article on September 15, 2015 that reported: "in 1972, 90% of women's sports were coached by women and in 2012 that number dropped to 42.9%". The number of women who coach men's teams on the other hand has stayed the same--in 1972, only 2% of coaches of men's programs (all sports) were coached by a female and forty years later, in 2012 that number had not changed it remained at 2%. There has NEVER been a female head coach of a men's ice hockey team in Division 1. It has been my experience--too many years to count-- that once a sport takes off and makes money and has resources (NCAA) or has money (CLUB positions in youth sports) then we see a decline in women's leadership opportunities and a sharp increase in opportunities for men.
Gerson's Study points to slow growth in women's leadership opportunities in sport. Female Athletic Directors continue to only creep in number. A slight increase in women ADs in NCAA has occurred from 19% in 2006 and 22% in 2013. Academic studies show that typically when the AD is female, more females are likely to be hired. (Side bar question--I can't help but bring it back to ice hockey...then why are the numbers in hockey still rapidly declining--even the AD number is getting a little better--I'm scratching my head at this one ;)
A Woman's Touch
The recent panel: "The Business of Sports-Women's Professional Sports" was awesome because the speakers gave different perspectives on this and other interesting topics in women's sports. Participants were Shira Springer of the Boston Globe, Jeff Plush of the NWSL, Leslie Osbourne of the NWSL, and yours truly. I have to give Jeff Plush credit--when a student questioned him about hiring women in coaching, and how many opportunities they had in the NWSL, he commented that the soccer league had to do a better job hiring more women and that he was committed to getting that accomplished as one of their initiatives. I was actually pretty shocked as there was only ONE head female coach in TEN opportunities!! But it still begs the question...WHERE ARE ALL THE WOMEN COACHES??
I am really not sure anymore why this is happening. Most of the blame is placed on relationship building and networks that men have with each other--"The Good Ol' Boy" network. We all know that most hires in any job happen as a result of knowing someone who we have worked with before in some previous experience. In addition, I think that not only are the guys more hungry and motivated for the positions, but I also see that the female players have an aversion to being coached by women. This phenomena I see as incredibly alarming for our future female coaches. A head female coach must have excellent credentials and excellent relationship management skills to get buy in from her players. Even then it is rare that she will get it completely. This must change if we are to elevate women to top positions in sports.
The fact that there are no female coaches start in the youth sport arena. I am a proud parent and I was very involved in my kids' sports lives. But I must say that my own coaching position precluded me from coaching my kids' teams. I occasionally did classroom and gym class volunteering. I ran the occasional practice so that both my sons and daughters classmates heard a woman's voice in sport and hopefully went on to respect females in the sport space. We are trying to do our part in our family! My now 20 (almost 21) year old daughter, I am proud to say is on the Youth Soccer Board and is the Head Coach of the U12 Elite Girls soccer team. Meaghan is one of the few young women who coach at the competitive level. This must get better if we want a woman's voice at the "sports table". Now this is where the numbers of women need to improve if we want leaders to improve. Seeing women as sports leaders begins at a young age--kids, both boys and girls need to see their role models and leaders in both genders. With the absence of women in the sports space in the youth leagues, it perpetuates our lack of visibility in these leadership positions in the higher levels, including professional, of sports.
"Together" is a common thread in women's sports
Now I am definitely NOT blaming women. In fact to add coaching as another responsibility for women in the family dynamic could seem insurmountable! Women not only are holding down the fort in today's households, in many cases they also are the primary bread winners! There is not an easy answer...EXCEPT that if we want to succeed at this, ultimately we must make it a FAMILY priority to be leaders in the community as women. This must include SPORTS. It takes a strong presence from men supporting women. So Dad's, even though sports are what you love and where you want to be (on the sports pedestals)... we sometimes need you to step aside for the good of your daughters AND sons. It is important to hear BOTH voices in all power positions and sports are a microcosm of life. Think about it...it will help your son immensely to take direction form a woman (bedsides his mom and teacher). Some day he WILL have a female boss I can guarantee that so he might as well get used to it! So let's get more moms out there to lead the charge. If our vision of equity in sports starts with moms I guarantee it will get done and we will FIND the female coaches to lead a generation!
