UK Coaching – the UK’s leading charitable organisation for physical activity and sports coaches – has today released a free digital resource to encourage and support females from London into coaching.
The digital guide includes a range of resources – from videos to infographics and advice on how to get into coaching – all in a bid to break down barriers and inspire more women and girls to give coaching a go in their local community.
The resource comes as part of the organisation’s Women Who Coach campaign – launched on International Women’s Day (8 March). The campaign brings into focus the many faces of coaching and features empowering female role models of all ages, sports and backgrounds. The campaign is designed to show that anyone can coach, exploding social stereotypes and raising awareness of the benefits of coaching.
Giselle Mather, the first woman to hold a full-time coaching position in Rugby Union when she joined London Irish as AASE Manager has blazed a trail to a senior position in sport. The now Director of Rugby at Wasps Women said:
“Female coaches can bring something different and that should be seen positively. People need to understand the strength of a diverse coaching staff and employ people based solely on their skills and experience. By doing that, we can create more opportunities for women and girls to get into coaching and the cycle will continue.
“I’ve got to prove that my gender is irrelevant. If I didn’t succeed it would bother me that people might then say, ‘we wouldn’t employ another woman because she wouldn’t cope in this environment’. If I can break down the glass ceilings that still exist then I will do, but if I can’t do that then I will do my level best to prepare the path for the next person, so they can.”
Kingston Upon Thames’ Edwina Brocklesby is another of the inspirational coaches included within the campaign. The 79-year-old has completed multiple marathons, six Ironman events around the globe and being part of the oldest team to complete the 3,014-mile The Race Across America ultra-endurance road cycling race.
“My message to other women is, it’s never too late to change your lifestyle and get more physically active.
“I want people to enjoy ageing and I also want to promote inclusivity and diversity, providing opportunities for older people living in areas of economic deprivation and from all different backgrounds to have access to sport and physical activity, because it is in those areas and populations where you can make the greatest difference.”
Director of Development at UK Coaching, Hayley Khan, added:
“By highlighting these inspirational coaches, we hope to empower and encourage more women to progress into the coaching profession. Through our free digital toolkit and other resources, we are able to support learning and development and show how simple it is to get into coaching, and to support existing coaches to expand their skills. We are committed to creating an equal and more diverse coaching workforce and sporting landscape and hope this is just another step forward in ensuring that anyone can feel empowered to give coaching a go.”
To find out more on how to get into coaching, increase your skills, or advance in your coaching role, visit the FREE #WomenWhoCoach digital toolkit www.ukcoaching.org/Women-Who-Coach-Toolkit.
