New research shows that sports coaching in the UK is a hostile environment for women.
Coaches are the backbone of sport in the UK, from grassroots to high performance. They give their time, energy and expertise to support others to be active, to find joy and belonging in sport, achieve their potential and win medals and trophies.
Millions of people coach across the UK each year, around half are paid in some capacity, even if only for an hour a week. Coaches are passionate, committed and love what they do.
But this research shows that for too many women, coaching is not experienced as safe, fair or sustainable.
-
30
%
of women coaches report experiencing bullying compared to 15% of men
-
18
%
fewer women than men say their opinions are heard and respected
Women coaches face discrimination, their voices are marginalised and their competence is more frequently challenged. Coaching is often treated as informal labour, characterised by insecure contracts, unclear progression routes and inconsistent support. While this lack of structure affects all coaches, women are disproportionately disadvantaged.
For women, coaching is not only precarious, it is deeply unequal. Bullying and harassment are part of the reality too, which many women navigate simply for doing their jobs. In a system that offers less security, less support and greater risk, women leaving coaching is often framed as a personal choice. This research shows it is anything but.
This is a systemic issue. It is about how sport responds when women hold authority and what happens when that authority is not respected, protected or valued.
Conducted in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, the report is the most in-depth study of its kind into the experiences of coaches. Drawing on the voices of 2,000 coaches and 67 senior leaders in sport, the research shows the realities of what it is like to be a sports coach in the UK today.
Our recommendations
We are calling for sustained cultural reform across the sport system to improve the experiences of women coaches. At a moment when women’s sport is growing in visibility, participation and ambition, there is a real opportunity to reset how coaching is valued, structured and supported.
With the right reforms, coaching can become more sustainable, quality and retention can be strengthened and environments created where all coaches, women and men, are respected, protected and supported to thrive. This is not only essential for women coaches, but for the future health and sustainability of sport as a whole.
To make this change real, we recommend that Sports Councils embed the following expectations as a condition of grant funding:
- Introduce and implement anti-misogyny policies at all organisational levels, supported by appropriate training.
- Use gender impact reporting and gender budgeting to identify and address disparities in pay, expenses and investment between the sexes in coach development.
- Take active steps towards gender-balanced leadership, with transparent annual reporting on the gender composition of senior leadership and the coaching workforce.
- Establish and publicise independent, trusted reporting mechanisms for coaches to report harm safely and with confidence.
These actions set a clear direction for change. We encourage all organisations that employ or deploy coaches to adopt them as part of a shared commitment to safer, fairer and more sustainable coaching environments.
These findings underline the need for real cultural and system change
Chris Boardman CBE, Chair of Sport England
“These findings underline the need for real cultural and system change, particularly to improve the experience and retention of female coaches.
“If we are serious about closing the gender activity gap, women and girls must feel safe, valued and supported — and see women in senior coaching and leadership roles, visibly proving that sport is a place where they belong. ”
– Chris Boardman CBE, Chair of Sport England
