In this episode, we dive deep into the systemic barriers that women face (and still face!) in sports coaching with Dr. Nicole LaVoi, a leading expert in gender equity in sports.

Despite the surge in female athlete participation since Title IX, why have women's coaching numbers significantly declined? And Dr. LaVoi shares actionable strategies for women navigating male-dominated environments.

Key Takeaways

• Historical Context: When Title IX passed in 1972, over 90% of women's teams had female coaches, but that number has dropped to around 45% today.

• Dual Career Pathway: Men often have the advantage of coaching both men's and women's teams, while opportunities for women to coach men's teams are scarce.

• Systemic Barriers: Understand the societal, organizational, and interpersonal barriers that impact women in coaching, including the "likability-competence double bind."

• Supportive Networks: Build and leverage networks with like-minded women to foster collaboration and mentorship in challenging environments.

• Self-Advocacy: Remember that nobody cares about your career more than you; advocate for yourself and your work.

Dr. Nicole LaVoi is the Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota. She is a prominent researcher focusing on gender equity in sports leadership and has dedicated her career to addressing the barriers women face in athletics.

Resources Mentioned

• Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport

• CoachingHer.com - Free resources for coaching girls effectively

• BodyConfidentSport.com - Tools for creating body-positive environments in sports If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with someone who needs to hear it. Join us next week for more insights into health, performance, and challenging outdated narratives in women's sports!

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