For female coaches aiming to reach the pinnacle of their profession, the statistics can seem dispiriting, with only low numbers making it to the elite. But all is not lost, and UK Coaching is taking the lead in striving for gender equality in sport.
It’s clear from the numbers that not enough women are making their way up the coaching hierarchy, and pure mathematics is saying that in many instances top female athletes are being coached by male coaches, and top males more often than not are also being coached by men.
Although women in the UK predominantly coach women and children, a tiny sub-section of female coaches are bucking the trend by coaching men. Former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo broke new ground as far back as 2014 by becoming Andy Murray’s coach.
In the UK, Jenny Archer and Rachel Hooper have found their own ways to overcome prejudice, manage egos and achieve success. Both admit, however, that it has not been easy.