Change our game: gender responsive coaching can make a difference
New research has found male coaches often learn from experience, rather than education and development, about how to successfully meet the participation, wellbeing, and performance needs of the women and girls they coach.
Dr Zoe Avner from Deakin University’s Centre for Sport Research within the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) said while male coaches understand the importance of gender responsive coaching, they don’t always know where to access the support or guidance they need to develop key gender specific coaching knowledge and competencies.
‘Gender responsiveness in sport coaching has been associated with positive outcomes for all participants, and it can make a big difference in retention rates of women and girls playing sport,’ Dr Avner said.
‘We know men play a significant role as coaches of women and girls across all levels of sport, from community through to high performance. They also play an important role as allies in driving and supporting gender equality for women and girls in sport.
‘Coaches sometimes require support to develop critical skills to address any gendered assumptions and stereotypes and build sound relationships which can impact the athletes they coach. This is known as gender responsive coaching.
‘This research sought to examine the understanding of gender responsive coaching and associated practices amongst male coaches as a first step towards developing as an effective and impactful ally for women and girls,’ Dr Avner said.
Efforts to develop gender responsiveness in sport coaching should be addressed through a range of perspectives and alongside other longstanding structural inequalities including access to facilities and resources.
Some of the actions identified to support coaches in their approach to gender responsive coaching include:
- connecting new coaches with a mentor, who have more experience in coaching women and girls.
- facilitating opportunities for men to coach women and girls’ teams and athletes.
- placing equal value on coaching roles for men’s and women’s teams.
- ensuring women and girls athletes have equitable access to resources, such as training grounds, equipment and injury support and recovery.
- sharing case studies with a focus on women and girls within coach education modules.
Dr Avner’s research was funded by the Victorian Government’s 2022-23 Change Our Game Research Grants program and is summarised here.
Sporting organisations, clubs and coaches can access a guide to gender responsive coaching via the Deakin website.
Deakin media release, 20 August 2025
