Course Content
6 — Framework for gender mainstreaming in coach education

Addressing Gender Bias and Stereotypes in Sport Coaching

Biases —both conscious and unconscious— remain significant barriers for women in coaching. These biases influence recruitment, evaluation, and leadership pathways.

Effective tools to address bias include:

  • Implicit Association Tests (IAT) in training sessions
  • Reflective journaling and peer feedback exercises
  • Structured mentorship programs pairing male and women coaches
  • Storytelling from diverse coaching voices to challenge dominant narratives

Recent research by Evans and Pfister (2020) found that exposing coaches and educators to personal testimonies and data on structural inequality improved empathy and policy advocacy.