Guylaine Demers, Université Laval, SRG 2006
Français
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the experience of novice female coaches during their first two years of coaching. Literature on this subject has pointed up
a multitude of issues in the various types of participation by women in sport, namely the involvement of women in leadership positions (coaches, officials, managers). This project focuses more specifically on female coaches of sport. This choice is based on research findings that show an under-representation of women in coaching positions and a decline in their numbers in the past 30 years (Coaching Association of Canada [CAC], 2002; Acosta, Carpenter, 2004; Sport Canada, 1999; Hall, Cullen, and Slack, 1990; Laberge, 1992, 1993). Not only are there fewer female coaches than there are male coaches, but women who choose this profession remain in their position for approximately four years, compared to 11 years for their male counterparts (Hart, Hasbrook & Mathes, 1986). The purpose of this project is to understand the daily experience of new female coaches by describing their first two years of experience in that position. Specifically, our study aims to: (1) describe the entry profile of women who choose
to become coaches; (2) identify the issues faced by female coaches and their achievements in their first two years of coaching; (3) identify the reasons novice female coaches continue coaching for a second and third year; (4) determine why novice female coaches leave their positions after one or two years; (5) compare the issues and achievements experienced in the first year with those in the second year; and, (6) compare the issues and achievements experienced
in group sports with those that occur in individual sports.
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the experience of novice female
coaches during their first two years of coaching. Literature on this subject has pointed up a
multitude of issues in the various types of participation by women in sport, namely the involvement of women in leadership positions (coaches, officials, managers). This project
focuses more specifically on female coaches of sport. This choice is based on research findings
that show an under-representation of women in coaching positions and a decline in their
numbers in the past 30 years (Coaching Association of Canada [CAC], 2002; Acosta,
Carpenter, 2004; Sport Canada, 1999; Hall, Cullen, and Slack, 1990; Laberge, 1992, 1993). Not
only are there fewer female coaches than there are male coaches, but women who choose this
profession remain in their position for approximately four years, compared to 11 years for their
male counterparts (Hart, Hasbrook & Mathes, 1986). The purpose of this project is to
understand the daily experience of new female coaches by describing their first two years of
experience in that position. Specifically, our study aims to: (1) describe the entry profile of
women who choose to become coaches; (2) identify the issues faced by female coaches and
their achievements in their first two years of coaching; (3) identify the reasons novice female
coaches continue coaching for a second and third year; (4) determine why novice female
coaches leave their positions after one or two years; (5) compare the issues and achievements
experienced in the first year with those in the second year; and, (6) compare the issues and
achievements experienced in group sports with those that occur in individual sports.
SCRI 2007 Presentation Slides
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