AusLeisure

A new report by Victoria University researchers found that representation of women in coaching and officiating roles in community sport can challenge attitudes and positively influence gender bias among children.

The study, Shaping attitudes: Exposure to women coaches and officials influences children and parent perceptions, was funded by the Victorian Government's Office for Women in Sport and Recreation through its Change Our Game Research Grants Program.

Women remain significantly underrepresented as coaches and officials across community sport, which means children are denied the opportunity to see and experience women in leadership roles.

A total of 75 children (aged between four and 17) and their parents shared their first-hand experiences and attitudes of women as coaches and officials, including in Australian rules football, basketball and swimming. Of the children who provided insights into their experiences, 96% had exposure to men as coaches, while only 65% had exposure to women as coaches.

The VU research team, led by Dr Kara Dadswell, found that children with exposure to predominantly women officials showed higher satisfaction with women in these roles.

Dr Dadswell explained “the study confirms that there is a bias among children towards linking men as being coaches and officials, rather than women.

“But these engrained gender roles can be shifted for both girls and boys by providing them with an opportunity to experience women as coaches and officials at an early age.'

Key findings reveal:

• Previous experiences with having a woman coach positively influenced children’s belief that women can be great coaches
• Parental attitudes significantly influence their children's attitudes
• Girls' satisfaction levels with having a woman coach and/or official was higher than boys.

The report offers a number of recommendations for community sporting clubs to help address the lack of representation of women in coaching and official roles, including:

• Create targeted plans to attract, develop and retain women as coaches and officials
• Enlisting the assistance of parents to voice their positive support for women in these roles
• Supporting the representation of women from diverse backgrounds as coaches and officials.

Backing the research, Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence stated “giving children the opportunity to experience women as coaches and officials in community sport brings enormous benefits.

“This research demonstrates how the representation of women in coaching roles within community sport can increase satisfaction and actively reshape the attitudes of both parents and young boys and girls.”

Sarah Styles, Director of Victoria’s Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, added “understanding that unconscious bias is being engrained from a young age, and heavily shaped by parents, emphasises the importance of action to ensure women are involved in coaching and officiating at all levels.”

Click here to download the Research Summary. 

Related Articles

11th April 2024 - HCF continues its support of netball in Australia and boosting women’s health awareness

1st March 2024 - Investment in Perth’s Cockburn ARC female changing rooms aimed at attracting more women and girls

23rd February 2024 - Football Australia reveals strategic vision to build on FIFA Women’s World Cup legacy

22nd February 2024 - Victoria University research finds female referee uniforms are male-centric

16th February 2024 - Rugby Australia announces new investment in women’s game

5th February 2024 - Applications open for 2024 Change Our Game Community Activation Grants program

23rd January 2024 - AFL releases new guidelines on community sport facilities

5th January 2024 - YouGov study delivers strategies for retaining girls in organised sport

28th October 2023 - Community sports club volunteers key to driving female participation

25th October 2023 - Victoria University team awarded for saving a life after medical incident

11th October 2023 - Australian Golf Foundation shares how clubs can apply for Junior Girls’ Golf Scholarship program

20th September 2023 - Victoria University and SIA educate sports sector on current integrity threats

23rd August 2023 - Victoria University sport experts give FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 an overall A-minus score

22nd July 2023 - Victoria University and Puma release findings of international study into girls attitudes to sport uniforms

10th July 2023 - Victoria University’s Hans Westerbeek shares insights on emerging challenges in sport integrity

9th June 2023 - Australian Sports Commission develops free training for community sport officials

11th January 2023 - Victoria University community sport research shows girls want to have fun

28th June 2021 - Victoria University analysis highlights need for women from culturally diverse backgrounds to become sport leaders

26th May 2021 - Victoria University launches sport data analytics short course

25th May 2021 - Victorian Government continues to support Change Our Game program

26th February 2021 - Victoria University study shows inappropriate uniforms impact desire of girls and young women to participate in sport

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.