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Last week's Coach Note focused on creating an environment that promotes participation and development for girls and young women in sports, offering resources to that end and encouraging coaches to identify 1-2 areas where they can make a positive impact. This week shifts our attention to one of the single most significant ways we can drive participation and develop this culture: increasing the number of female coaches in youth and high school sports.
Dr. Nicole LaVoi returns in the video above to share just why having female coaches is so important. As the Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota, LaVoi leads a national effort to increase participation and keep girls "in the game". While there are many fantastic male coaches out there, LaVoi tells us that less than 20% of youth coaches are female. She explains that female coaches can be same-gender role models. Girls of all ages benefit from the leadership of women who can help them navigate the world around them, boost their confidence and share their own experiences through sport. Having a female coach can also create a virtuous cycle that keeps girls in the game longer and encourages young women to pursue coaching and mentoring the next generation when their playing days are over.
Parents may very well be the solution to the current lack of female coaches. Every person reading this either is a woman or knows a woman who would make an excellent coach. Many women have a wealth of athletic experience that you could impart upon a team. For others, coaching a team may seem intimidating. Fear not! Some of the best youth coaches come into the game with little experience but a desire to help children grow and develop. The X's and O's of coaching can be learned, it's the willingness to share your time and build relationships that will have a lasting impact.
With this in mind, consider how you can increase the number of female coaches by at least one person in the coming year. Whether that's you or someone you know, make a commitment to advocating to get more women in the game. Are you a male coach? Bring on a female assistant! Do you have a high school or college aged daughter? Get her involved! A friend who might want to do this with you? Join forces to provide a pair of role models for a team of girls. If you're a high school or league administrator, make it an emphasis to increase the number of female coaches in your school or league.
We know how difficult it can be to balance family, work and the many other obligations that women (particularly mothers) have, but we believe finding time to coach a child's team is a tremendously rewarding experience for both the adult and the young women who benefit. No matter where you're at in life, we encourage you to find a way that you can be a part of increasing the number of girls and women in sports - both as athletes and coaches.
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