Addressing the gender balance in coaching and leading

Last weekend, I was privileged to be one of 22 coaches gathered for mentor education, for female coaches, as part of the SCORE project. The project aims to raise gender equality in coaching and is funded by the Erasmus + Sport programme. I was nominated by the European University Sports Association through my work as Cross Country Coach at the University of Manchester writes Jackie Newton, UKA Level 3 Endurance Coach.

In recognition of the issues faced by female coaches, particularly at the higher levels of coaching, the aim of the weekend was to allow coaches to:

• Build a strong network of coaches
• Plan how to strengthen and support female coaches
• Plan how to strengthen female coaches' well being
• Plan how to increase the number of female coaches

 

The mentor training was delivered by Satu Kaski, Sport Psychologist, who facilitated discussion around the issues that face female coaches, ideas for breaking down existing barriers and strategies to support female coaches. Mentoring was identified as a useful way of providing opportunities for issue setting and generating solutions and much of the weekend looked at the various tools that could be used during mentoring sessions.

These discussions were interspersed with small group practice sessions where groups of four took turns to practise mentoring each other and try out the various strategies that had been presented. This was then followed with the groups coming together to discuss the skills and behaviours of both mentors and mentees so that, by the end of the day, a profile of what a mentor may do and be was created along with our thoughts of how a mentee would benefit.

 

The weekend was hosted by Cyprus Sports Organisation who welcomed the group with excellent  hospitality and, after a long day of thinking and discussing, treated us to a traditional dinner and dancing on the Saturday night! (It wasn't all work and no play!)

 

The project involves many partners including the European University Sports Association and also Sports Coach UK who have recently launched their Reach campaign. England Athletics are also working with local women in local clubs to tell you how they become involved in coaching and leading, what support was given, how they juggle family commitments, and work life. Become inspired by reading role models' stories here.

Let's support each other so that each and everyone of us can be who we want to be and provide positive running experiences for everyone that we work with!