Women Coaches in High School Sport

Women Coaches in High School Sport Anonymous Sport Administration July 27th, 2004

Background • Prior to Title IX, women coaches were paid zero dollars for their efforts as junior high, high school, and college coaches. • Before 1972, women’s sports were governed under separate athletic departments and women held 90% of coaching and athletic director positions in women’s sports.

Background • Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendment prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in the provision of educational programs and activities in all secondary and postsecondary educational institutions that receive federal funds. • Participation opportunities • Scholarship dollars • Athletic program benefits

Background • College Athletes • 42% of all college athletes are female • Study body ratio is 46/54 • College Coaches • 44.1% of the coaches of women’s teams are female • Women hold 57.2% of the paid assistant coaching jobs within NCAA athletics

Background • High School • No data on women coaches! However, • In 1971, 1 of 27 girls participated • Now, 1 of 2 girls participate in no less than one sport in high school • Making up 42% of all high school athletic participation • Title IX Complaints are now emerging at the high school level for noncompliance

Question • There has been a decline in the number of women coaches at the collegiate level in all divisions but an increase in opportunity for female participation. Is there an under representation of women coaches at the high school level?

Rationale • Title IX was enacted 32 years ago, thus producing plenty of qualified women to coach and administer • There is an increase in opportunity for girls • Teams and scholarships • 1 of 2 girls participate at the high school level, however their participation goes without strong female leadership and role modeling

Hypotheses • Head Coaches of boy’s athletics are more likely to be male • Head Coaches of combined sports, i.e. cross country, track, tennis, are more likely to be male • Head Coaches of girl’s athletics are more likely to be male

Methods • Survey based research • Survey population: Athletic Director’s of all New Mexico High Schools • Survey will be sent directly to state high schools, c/o athletic director. • NMAA will provide all information necessary for schools and administrators

Example Survey Survey Request SPORTMALE FEMALE Football _____ _____ Girls BB _____ _____ Boys BB _____ _____ Girls Soc. _____ _____ Boys Soc. _____ _____

Methods IV= Sport IV= Gender of Coach DV= % Coach Data For Each Gender

Variables • Dependant Variables • % coach data for each gender • Independent Variables • Gender of Coach • Sport • Broken down into individual sports, both girls and boys

Statistics • Chi Square X² • Sample Size • One Athletic Director per school • 155 public and private high schools in New Mexico • Total Subjects: 155 AD’s

Chi Square Table • Percent Coach Data For Each Gender Response Male % (n=?) Female % (n=?) Total 100%

Power • Power is not relevant to my Survey based research, yea!

Limitations • Lack of survey’s returned • Not all school’s can financially fund all 17 sports • Lack of AD interest and desire to participate • Lack of women applying for coaching positions in New Mexico

Findings • I anticipate to find an overwhelming majority of high school coaching positions occupied by males despite the high female participation rates • In addition, I expect to find a majority of women’s teams coached my males

References • Lopiano, Donna. Equity in Women’s Sports- A Health and Fairness Perspective. www.womenssportsfoundations.org • www.ncaa.org • Title IX at 30: Report Card on Gender Equity. www.ncwge.org • www.nfhs.org

Thank You! Questions?

Women Coaches in High School Sport