Identify the Problems
As part of the initial scoping exercise, it is important to identify what is ‘the problem’? This will be based on the audit. For example, there may be some systemic issues or practices that are proving most detrimental to women’s advancement as coaches. They might be the problem and therefore, that will be where the work is needed.
Chapter 1: Planning Suggested Actions
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If your sport does not collect gender in its coaching data, edit any admin processes to ensure going forward all data can be sorted by gender. This will help to identify if/when specific specific actions are required to address women in coaching in your sport.
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Consult with stakeholders via surveys and focus groups; women coaches (active and inactive), coach developers, male coaches, administrators.
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Ensure questions that relate to differences amongst women, e.g. ethnicity, disability, age etc. are included in data collection and surveys. Sports often only collect data separately and so are not tackling the problem intersectionally. Women of colour and/or women who are disabled will experience more complex issues than white women.
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Create a Coaching Audit Template for your sport that collects the information suggested.
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Consult and research other sports or your sport in other countries for resources.
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Communicate to all members, staff and Board that your sport are consulting with women coaches in order to develop a plan for increasing coaching numbers and supporting the development of coaches.
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Issue an annual survey for coaches asking some of the questions outlined in this toolkit. Discover the coaches’ motivations, barriers and challenges to coaching.
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Create small focus group sessions with coaches to better understand them. These focus groups could be segregated into coaches of different levels, e.g. those coaching children, those coaching adults, those coaching at an elite level.