2 — Women in leadership positions in sport

About Course

Exploring gender dynamics in sport, with a focus on overcoming barriers to increase the representation of women in leadership and coaching roles.

Description and overall objective

This course examines gender dynamics in sport, focusing on overcoming barriers and strategies to increase women’s representation in leadership and coaching roles. It explores gender theories, obstacles and challenges such as bias, stereotypes and work-life balance, the impact of diverse leadership and practical strategies for managing these challenges and promoting women’s leadership in sport.

By attending this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills to analyze gender dynamics in sports leadership, identify and address biases and stereotypes, develop effective strategies for enhancing women’s representation in coaching and leadership roles, and implement best practices for fostering an inclusive environment that supports women coaches.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, you will be able to:

Explain and apply gender theories to analyze gender dynamics in sport.
Identify and address biases, stereotypes and patriarchal structures that prevent the advancement of women in coaching and leadership positions.
Defend the benefits of diverse leadership in sport and its impact on both innovation and performance.
Address challenges related to motherhood, work-life balance, and co-responsibility, and understand policies that support women’s participation in sport.
Develop and implement practical strategies and tools to increase women’s representation and promotion in coaching and sport leadership roles.

Course Content

Unit 2.1 Gender theories and dynamics in sport
This unit explores different gender theories and their relevance to sport studies. It also explores concepts such as the social construction of gender, intersectionality and how these influence the perception and participation of women in sport.

Overview
Defining Gender
Gender, Sport and Masculinity
Activity 1 (Quiz): The impact of gender on sport and physical activity
Gender, Sport and Women
Activity 2 (Real World Examples): The impact of gender on sport and physical activity on the ground
Intersectionality
Activity 3 (Individual/Small Group Reflection): Intersectionality: The impact of different characteristics on women’s relationship with sport
What can we do to give girls a more positive start?
Key takeaways

Unit 2.2 Barriers and challenges to women’s advancement in sports coaching
This unit identifies and analyses the main barriers women face in advancing in the field of sports coaching. It also includes a discussion of the implicit biases, gender stereotypes and patriarchal structures that limit women's opportunities as coaches.

Overview
Introduction and Recap
Activity 1 (Individual/Small Group Discussion): What do good coaches need to be able to do?
Entry into Coaching
Activity 2 (Individual/Small Group Discussion): Organisatonal barriers that may stop women coming into coaching?
Staying in Coaching
Activity 3 (Individual/Small Group Discussion): What situations or features of the environment may deter women from staying in coaching?
Staying in Coaching: Gendered Expectations
Advancing in Coaching
Barriers and challenges to women’s advancement in sports coaching: Summary

Unit 2.3 Impact and importance of diverse leadership in sports
This unit explores the benefits of diversity in sport leadership. Understanding the inclusion of women and underrepresented groups in leadership roles can improve decision-making, team cohesion and overall performance.

Overview
Why diverse leadership matters
Key benefits of diversity in leadership
The current state of diversity in sports leadership
Time for self-reflection
How gender-specific qualities affect sports organizations
Activity 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct words to learn more about the specificities of female leadership
Benefits of including women in leadership
Benefits of including underrepresented groups

03:28
How diversity drives innovation and creativity
Supporting activity
Time for Interactive thinking
Promoting fairness and ethical leadership
Quiz
Time for reflection
Enhancing team dynamics and cohesion
The organizational effectiveness of diverse leadership
Case Study: Diverse leadership in action
Advocating for diversity in your organization
Time for reflection
Practical Steps to Increase Diversity
Key Takeaways
Time for final reflection

Unit 2.4 Co-responsibility, motherhood and work-life balance
This unit examines the main specific challenges faced by women in the sport sector in managing work-life balance and, in particular, motherhood. It also looks at policies and practices that support shared responsibility and how these can facilitate women's increased participation in sport, particularly in coaching positions.

Unit 2.5 Strategies and tools to increase the representation and advancement of women in coaching
This final section presents practical strategies and tools to improve the representation of women in coaching and leadership roles in sport. These include mentoring programmes, leadership training, inclusive recruitment policies and techniques to create a more equitable working environment.

Overview
Introduction and Recap
Activity 1 (Brainstorm): Share current examples of good practice and tools to increase representation and advance women in coaching
Strategies to support women in coaching
Empower female coaches
Provide clear pathways for development
Offer support and remove barriers
Use role models
Support relationships and networks
Provide mentoring programs
Help administrators to understand female coaches’ needs
Create a positive and inclusive environment
Resist biases and stereotyping
Activity 2 (Individual/Group Task): Create a strategy for recruiting and/or advancing women in coaching in your context?
Summary

Assessment Quiz

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About Course

Course Content

Unit 2.1 Gender theories and dynamics in sport This unit explores different gender theories and their relevance to sport studies. It also explores concepts such as the social construction of gender, intersectionality and how these influence the perception and participation of women in sport.

Overview

Defining Gender

Gender, Sport and Masculinity

Activity 1 (Quiz): The impact of gender on sport and physical activity

Gender, Sport and Women

Activity 2 (Real World Examples): The impact of gender on sport and physical activity on the ground

Intersectionality

Activity 3 (Individual/Small Group Reflection): Intersectionality: The impact of different characteristics on women’s relationship with sport

What can we do to give girls a more positive start?

Key takeaways

Overview

Introduction and Recap

Activity 1 (Individual/Small Group Discussion): What do good coaches need to be able to do?

Entry into Coaching

Activity 2 (Individual/Small Group Discussion): Organisatonal barriers that may stop women coming into coaching?

Staying in Coaching

Activity 3 (Individual/Small Group Discussion): What situations or features of the environment may deter women from staying in coaching?

Staying in Coaching: Gendered Expectations

Advancing in Coaching

Barriers and challenges to women’s advancement in sports coaching: Summary

Unit 2.3 Impact and importance of diverse leadership in sports This unit explores the benefits of diversity in sport leadership. Understanding the inclusion of women and underrepresented groups in leadership roles can improve decision-making, team cohesion and overall performance.

Overview

Why diverse leadership matters

Key benefits of diversity in leadership

The current state of diversity in sports leadership

Time for self-reflection

How gender-specific qualities affect sports organizations

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct words to learn more about the specificities of female leadership

Benefits of including women in leadership

Benefits of including underrepresented groups

How diversity drives innovation and creativity

Supporting activity

Time for Interactive thinking

Promoting fairness and ethical leadership

Quiz

Time for reflection

Enhancing team dynamics and cohesion

The organizational effectiveness of diverse leadership

Case Study: Diverse leadership in action

Advocating for diversity in your organization

Time for reflection

Practical Steps to Increase Diversity

Key Takeaways

Time for final reflection

Overview

Key challenges

Fostering co-responsibility in sports: Policies and practices

Real-world examples of co-responsibility in action

Challenges in implementation

Quote

Quiz: Balanced or Not balanced? Choose the correct answer.

Time for reflection

Quiz

Overview

Introduction and Recap

Activity 1 (Brainstorm): Share current examples of good practice and tools to increase representation and advance women in coaching

Strategies to support women in coaching

Empower female coaches

Provide clear pathways for development

Offer support and remove barriers

Use role models

Support relationships and networks

Provide mentoring programs

Help administrators to understand female coaches’ needs

Create a positive and inclusive environment

Resist biases and stereotyping

Activity 2 (Individual/Group Task): Create a strategy for recruiting and/or advancing women in coaching in your context?

Summary

Assessment Quiz

Assessment Quiz

Earn a certificate of completion

Student Ratings & Reviews

Unit 2.1 Gender theories and dynamics in sport
This unit explores different gender theories and their relevance to sport studies. It also explores concepts such as the social construction of gender, intersectionality and how these influence the perception and participation of women in sport.

Unit 2.3 Impact and importance of diverse leadership in sports
This unit explores the benefits of diversity in sport leadership. Understanding the inclusion of women and underrepresented groups in leadership roles can improve decision-making, team cohesion and overall performance.