Members of Parliament have been informed that entrenched sexism, discrimination, and workplace bullying are preventing women from advancing in sports careers. During a parliamentary select committee meeting, experts revealed that qualified female coaches are frequently overlooked, undermined, and denied opportunities.
Lisa West, the policy head at Women in Sport, emphasized the detrimental impact of such hostile environments on women’s professional development in sports. “These environments are intolerable for women aspiring to establish their careers in this field. It is unjust to place women in such circumstances,” she stated.
The implications of this issue extend beyond individual careers, the experts informed the women and equalities committee during the inaugural evidence session of their inquiry titled “Beyond Participation: Routes into Sport for Girls and Women.”
Lisa Williams, head coach of the London All Stars women’s basketball team, pointed out that a coaching system that marginalizes women could lead to a lack of role models for athletes, limit the talent pool, and reinforce the notion that pivotal roles in sports remain predominantly male-dominated, despite the evolving landscape.
The committee learned that one in five female coaches reported incidents of harassment or bullying, revealing persistent biases that influence who is valued, promoted, and listened to within the sporting community.
Expert testimonies highlighted the constant sexism faced by female coaches, coming from various sources including parents and male colleagues. Williams remarked, “The situation is not improving. Although women are often hesitant to report incidents due to the absence of policies and consequences, we have observed a rise in reports from women recounting their negative experiences.”
Highly qualified women continue to be overlooked in favor of less experienced male counterparts. Hannah Dingley, the girls’ head of academy at Manchester City Football Club, shared her personal experience of being relegated to junior coaching roles. “I’ve often found myself only being offered positions to coach under-9s, despite being more qualified than many male coaches hired for older age groups. The assumption seems to be that I am too nurturing, empathetic, and gentle for high-level elite sports,” she explained.
Despite the increasing popularity of women’s sports, women hold only about 25% of coaching positions within UK Sport-funded programs, with even fewer in technical leadership roles. Emily Handyside, coaching lead at UK Coaching, and Amy Fazackerley, national partnership manager at Coach Core foundation, underscored the seriousness of this issue.
Handyside noted, “The number of women in coaching has fallen by 10% between 2022 and 2024 at grassroots levels, and by 6% at elite levels. The most significant declines are among women aged 18 to 34.”
A recent nationwide survey conducted by UK Coaching and Women in Sport revealed that harassment, bullying, and discrimination are primary reasons women leave coaching entirely, with many expressing feelings of insecurity and lack of support in male-dominated environments.
India Perris-Redding, women’s talent identification manager at Sale Sharks Women, referenced unpublished research from Premiership Women’s Rugby and the Rugby Football Union, indicating that 76% of female coaches perceive a gender performance gap in high-performance rugby. “Currently, we do not have any female head coaches on any teams, nor on the international stage for England,” she stated.
Emma Hayes, the former manager of Chelsea Women from 2012 to 2024, has been a vocal advocate regarding the challenges women face in football. “The reality is that male privilege has always been central in football in this country,” she remarked in 2023, asserting that women in the sport frequently contend with systemic misogyny and bullying.
Sarina Wiegman, manager of the England women’s national team, has also addressed the structural disparities within football, stating, “It’s curious that in sectors where women have higher positions, football is not one of them. I hope this changes quickly. We need more women in football, and that requires proactive measures.”
Former England head coach Tracey Neville echoed the sentiment, noting that women continue to strive for acknowledgment and respect in their roles.
