Self-Assessment Checklist for Institutions
To support institutions in identifying where they stand and what steps they might take, this framework offers a self-assessment tool. The checklist is intended to stimulate internal dialogue, guide planning, and surface both strengths and gaps in gender responsiveness. It can be used periodically to track change, as a requirement in internal evaluations, or as part of an accreditation or quality assurance process.
Some of the key questions an institution should ask itself include:
- Does our leadership actively and publicly support gender equality in coaching education?
- Do we have a written policy or strategy that addresses gender mainstreaming?
- Are women equitably represented in leadership, teaching, and curriculum development roles?
- Are our course materials free of gender bias and inclusive of different coaching pathways and identities?
- Do we offer training and support to staff on gender-sensitive practices?
- Have we conducted a gender audit or equity review within the last three years?
- Do we gather and use sex-disaggregated data in our planning and evaluations?
- Do our recruitment and admission procedures include measures to improve gender balance?
- Are safe reporting mechanisms in place for incidents of harassment or discrimination?
- Do we collaborate with women’s sports networks or gender advocacy organizations?
The checklist is not about perfection, but about progress. Institutions are encouraged to use their responses as a foundation for planning, set specific and time-bound goals, and revisit the checklist regularly. When used in this way, the self-assessment becomes not just a diagnostic tool, but a driver of real institutional change.
In addition to the checklist provided above, institutions may also benefit from using the “Gender Equity Assessment Tool” by Ann Murray-Brown (2019), which assesses equity across five dimensions: Access, Participation, Resources, Benefits, and Decision-making. Each domain is rated from 1 (no equity) to 5 (full equity). This method provides a quick visual overview of institutional gender dynamics and can support structured reflection and reporting.
Figure 1. Gender Equity Assessment Rubric adapted from Murray-Brown (2019), used to self-assess institutional equity across five dimensions.

Source: Murray-Brown, A.M. (2019). Useful tool to assess gender equity: WHO Gender Responsive Assessment Scale: Criteria for assessing programmes and policies https://www.annmurraybrown.com/single-post/useful-tool-to-assess-gender-equity
