On April 10, 2025, Birmingham hosted the inaugural Annual Assembly for Women in Coaching, a significant event aimed at addressing gender disparities in high-performance sports coaching. Organized collaboratively by UK Sport, UK Coaching, and the UK Sports Institute, the assembly brought together over 50 members of the high-performance coaching community, including coaches and leaders from 39 different National Governing Bodies and sports agencies.
Addressing the Decline in Female Coaches
Recent research highlights a concerning trend: the percentage of female coaches in the UK has declined from 44% in 2022 to 38% in 2024, a 6% drop over two years. This decline underscores the ongoing gender disparities within the coaching profession.
Despite this overall decline, there has been a 6% increase in female coaches at the international level and a rise in the number of women coaches receiving payment for their roles. These positive developments indicate progress in certain areas, but the broader trend remains a concern.
Insights from the Assembly
Laurie Marsden, Coaching Support Advisor at UK Sport, emphasized the assembly’s purpose:
“This event was designed to anchor our commitment to understanding and supporting meaningful change. We hope to build a community who assemble on an annual basis to ask questions of ourselves and of one another to support progress.”
The assembly featured discussions and tasks aimed at understanding the lived experiences of coaches and developing cultures, policies, and practices that support more equitable environments. Attendees also explored recent research from Leeds Beckett University’s Centre of Social Justice in Sport and Society, UK Coaching, and the UK Sports Institute’s Women Thriving project.
The Role of Leadership and Male Allies
The assembly recognized the importance of leadership in driving change. By inviting both coaches and leaders, the event aimed to foster a collaborative approach to developing equitable environments. Male allies were also present, including Chris Stott, Head of Coaching Pathways at British Shooting, who stated:
“I want to understand more about the current opportunities and challenges for women in coaching and what I can do in my role to understand and support more women coaches to feel like there’s a way into sport and how to best support them once they’re there.”
Looking Ahead
The second Annual Assembly for Women in Coaching is scheduled for March 11-12, 2026, in Manchester. This ongoing commitment reflects the collective aim of driving meaningful change and increasing diversity within the coaching workforce across high-performance sport.
The inaugural assembly in Birmingham marks a significant step towards addressing gender disparities in coaching. By bringing together key stakeholders, sharing research, and fostering open discussions, the event has laid the groundwork for continued progress in creating a more inclusive and diverse coaching environment.
