Despite recent on-pitch successes and increased media exposure for women's sport in the UK, a study from UK Coaching indicates a 6% decline in the overall number of female coaches in recent years. This decline is particularly pronounced at grassroots level, with a 10% dip in female volunteer coaches, which significantly impacts pathways in amateur sport.
Emily Handyside, head of Britain's professional sports coach association, stated that female coaches "must work twice as hard as a man to be respected and credible." She added that assumptions lead people to expect a man as a coach, making women feel like they do not belong.
Additional research points to systemic barriers faced by women coaches, such as bullying, harassment, and unequal opportunities. New FA data suggests that half of all girls playing organised football would confide in a female coach, compared to just one in eight for a male coach. However, only 7% of grassroots football coaches in England are women.
While opportunities are reportedly increasing at the elite level, with eight out of 14 Women's Super League managers now women, cost and childcare remain significant barriers at grassroots level. Former England international Fara Williams highlighted the high cost of coaching licences, such as the £14,000 Uefa Pro Licence, as a deterrent.