Coaching in uka “hostile environment for women”

Sports coaching in the UK has been described as a “hostile environment for women”, after research showed that twice as many female coaches have experienced bullying when compared to men.

The report, Reimagining Sport Coaching: Designing a System That Works for Women, is one of the most in–depth studies of its kind into the experiences of coaches in the UK. Conducted in partnership by Women in Sport and Leeds Beckett University, the research surveyed 2,000 coaches, alongside senior leaders in sport.

It showed that, across all coaching roles from grassroots to elite, nearly a third (30%) of women report experiencing bullying, compared with 15% of men. Women also report higher levels of harassment (21% vs 12% of men) and aggression or violence (22% vs 19% of men). Among women coaching at grassroots level, 26% report bullying, compared with 38% in talent pathway roles and 46% in high ‑ performance environments. Men report consistently lower levels across all domains (10% grassroots; 26% talent pathway; 24% high ‑ performance). For women, authority brings risk rather than protection, creating conditions that make long ‑ term participation increasingly difficult to sustain. Worryingly, the perpetrators of harassment of women coaches – which is often sexualised – are mostly fellow coaches, suggesting hierarchical, male ‑ dominated environments.