Women coaches have almost tripled, but 'misogynistic and abusive' behaviour remains

The Australian Institute of Sport's Women in High Performance Coaching project has seen the number of female head coaches in funded sports nearly triple since its inception in 2021. Now sitting at over 25 per cent, this progress is still deemed insufficient by AIS Director Matti Clements. Women coaches often face misogynistic, abusive behaviour, as well as challenges balancing careers and family.

They also encounter difficulties entering the field and advancing in their careers. The AIS report emphasizes the need for cultural change within the sporting sector to address these barriers. Clements attributes the shift to a greater focus on wellbeing in high-performance sport, which encourages diverse individuals to stay in the system, including female coaches.

Louise Sauvage, a decorated Paralympian and coach, has observed an evolution in women's coaching over the past two decades. She believes female coaches bring unique perspectives and attributes that complement male coaches. Sauvage acknowledges facing barriers as a coach with a disability and stresses the importance of communication and understanding to overcome obstacles.

Diversity in coaching, including First Nations and culturally diverse coaches, is seen as a competitive advantage, benefiting both athletes and the sport itself. The AIS report highlights these challenges and strategies across sports funded by the institute, which primarily involve Olympic and Paralympic sports. However, comparable issues persist in professional codes like AFLW, NRLW, A-League Women, and WBBL.

The WNBL is nearing parity with four women coaches among its nine, and five of Super Netball's eight coaches are women.