Money, family and sexism - why the number of women coaches is dropping

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that the number of women in coaching is falling in the UK, even as women’s sport has gained more visibility and success on the pitch. The article cites UK Coaching research showing an overall 6% drop in female coaches in recent years, with a sharper 10% decline among grassroots volunteer coaches. Emily Handyside, head of Britain’s professional sports coach association, says women often have to work harder than men to be seen as credible, and that assumptions about what a coach looks like can make the role feel less accessible.

The piece highlights several barriers facing women at different levels of the game. These include bullying, harassment, unequal opportunities, childcare demands and the cost of coaching qualifications. BBC Sport says only 7% of grassroots football coaches in England are women, and that coaching access can be limited by the experience requirements attached to higher-level badges. Former England midfielder Fara Williams said the price of qualifications made coaching unrealistic for her after playing, while coach Zoe Conning described the difficulty of progressing without elite experience and the financial strain of travel and course fees.

There is more positive progress at elite level, especially in the Women’s Super League, where the share of women coaches has risen compared with earlier in 2023. BBC Sport says a FIFA rule requiring women’s teams to have a female head coach or assistant has also helped at the top end. But interviewees argue that grassroots football still lacks enough support, funding and practical pathways for women, with Handyside calling for stronger government involvement and better retention measures.