What preference to athletes have towards gender of a coach?

The purpose of this study was to explore the career pathways of high-performance Women’s Super League coaches. Three male and three female coaches agreed to participate and share their unique career pathways, which became the basis for comparing their journeys. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, five recurrent themes emerged. These were (1) Previous playing experience, (2) role of the parents, (3) personal barriers that exist for both male and female coaches, (4) education courses specific to female football players, and (5) equal coaching opportunities. Using Gramsci’s hegemonic masculinity theory this study highlights how a culture dominated by men has witnessed a rise in female coaches due to the negotiation of power and opportunity within female football. Their experiences also reveal that coaching opportunities are becoming equal for males and females due to the introduction of female only coaching course and mentor programmes. They also described how the Football Association could enhance their educational programme by providing courses which raise awareness of the physiological, psychological and physical difference between male and female athletes. Further research is recommended examining the FA’s England DNA coaching philosophy to critically analyse how the FA seek to develop elite players, whether they distinguish the difference between male and female athletes and the guidance they provide for elite-level coaches