Gito

[] Article about how men coaches and women coaches affect the team being coached. Isn't the male interest in coaching female teams somewhat flattering? After all, the growing field competence and athleticism make coaching females a more interesting proposition than years ago. Perhaps the reduction in the percentage of female-coached teams actually indicates an increase in their competitiveness, creating a greater pool of both men and women interested in coaching these teams. But this, apparently, now becomes bad news.

[] Statistics of Women coaches in the NCAA and about the women's national soccer team and their search for a new coach. Who among us gives a second thought to the fact that 60% of the known candidates for the most visible coaching job in women's sports are not women? Men coaching women? Happens all the time, from peewee soccer and T-Ball to the NCAA finals. In fact, it's happening even more than it used to. In 1972, the year Title IX was enacted, more than 90% of the head coaches of intercollegiate women's teams in all sports were women, according to the Women's Sports Foundation. In 2006, that number plummeted to 42.4%. In collegiate women's soccer, specifically, it's now just under 30%, down from 33% in 1997.

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It is often heard from male and female athletes that he or she prefers a male coach. Eighty percent of all coaches at the high school and college level are male. At the collegiate level, only two percent of the coaches of men's teams and less than half of the coaches of women's teams are female. (Acosta, Women in Intercollegiate Sport, 2002) When members of disadvantaged groups are admitted into fields in which they have, historically, been the victims of discrimination, there are many subtle and overt barriers to achieving equal footing with members of majority advantaged groups. It's important to take a careful look at the myths and misconceptions being voiced and, as educational leaders, commit ourselves to educating the media, our athletes and the general public about the insidious impact of historical discrimination against women in employment as coaches.