Bad behaviours and toxic culture

Individual behaviours and cultural norms influence women's participation in elite coaching. ²

• Gender bias and discrimination continue to shape the experiences of many women coaches, affecting their sense of belonging and opportunities for progression. ²
• High performance coaching environments are often characterised by long hours, demanding workloads and limited flexibility. In addition, longstanding gender stereotypes can influence perceptions of coaching capability, leading some women coaches to feel they must work harder to establish their credibility and expertise. ²
• Athlete perceptions of leadership can be shaped by the culture of their sport or club, including traditional assumptions about who is best suited to coaching roles. ²
• Coach wellbeing is not always prioritised, highlighting an opportunity for greater support across the high performance system. ²
• Historical norms and established practices continue to influence expectations of what successful high performance coaching looks like, which can make change and innovation more challenging. ²