The Impact of Female Sport Coaches: Role Models for the Next Generatio

Gender equity in higher education settings, such as academic faculty and admission to graduate schools in medical and STEM fields has been well researched (Ceci & Williams, 2011; Cheryan, 2011; Moss & Racusin, 2012). Based on this previous research, there is a pattern of implicit bias towards female applicants for professorships, as well as admissions to graduate and research positions that results in an imbalance of men and women in these positions. However, less research has been conducted on the gender inequities that exist in another area of higher education, collegiate athletics. The purpose of this project is to identify if the gender of a head coach, as a role model, impacts his or her players self-perceived coaching self-efficacy (ability to perform the duties associated with a job) and desire to pursue a career in a sports coaching. Specifically, this study will focus on the female student-athletes who compete for NCAA Division III women’s soccer programs. The results could help to determine if it is important to have female head coaches of female teams, or if men and women have similar effects on their female athletes in terms of desire to enter the coaching profession and their self-perceived coaching self-efficacy. The need for equity in sport leadership roles is vital for empowering the next generation of women to lead in athletics and other areas. Ultimately the major consequences of improved equity of women in leadership roles in one environment, such as athletics, may improve the circumstances of marginalized groups in other situations