Women's World Cup: why are there so few female coaches in football?
The number of female referees has increased by 21%, and female coaches have risen by a whopping 75%.
- The number of female referees has increased by 21%, and female coaches have risen by a whopping 75%.
- In Spain, Barcelona are setting the standard for world record attendances, with 91,648 fans watching their Women’s Champions League game against Wolfsburg in April 2022.
- Italy, with two female coaches among ten top-division posts, and Germany, with just one of 12, fare even worse.
- So, why is there such a dearth of female coaches in women’s football?
Women need women for inspiration
- Many would argue there’s a need for female coaches at the top levels of women’s football to act as an inspiration for young, aspiring female coaches (and players too, of course).
- However, when female coaches act in ways that are inconsistent with gender stereotypes – meaning assertive and decisive – they’re considered unfeminine.
- The second element relates to the high competence threshold – women coaches in elite sport face higher expected standards but lower pay than male coaches.
- And the final element identifies how female coaches can be perceived as competent or likeable, but rarely both.
A bright future?
- At the elite level, for the first time we now have a generation of players who are full-time professionals, just like their male counterparts.
- So what does the future hold for elite female coaches?
- Some of the current crop of elite female players will naturally be expected to move into coaching when their playing careers come to an end.
- This may take time, but at least progress is being made on various fronts for the girls and young women coming through.