“You Gotta Be Tough”: Challenges & Strategies of Female Coaches in Youth Sport

Michael A. Messner

April 22, 2009

Over the past 30 years, girls’ increasing participation in youth sports has been nothing short of revolutionary. During this same time period, few women have become head coaches in youth sports and when they do volunteer, they are often relegated to the position of "team mom." To address this "leadership gap," sport scholar Michael Messner examined a Southern California community’s youth soccer, baseball and softball leagues. His research asks the following questions: What are the barriers preventing women from coaching youth sports? What challenges are faced by the few women who do coach? What strategies do these women develop to survive—and sometimes thrive—as youth sports coaches, and what can we learn from their strategies? Messner explores these questions and outlines why recruiting and supporting female coaches is so important for our families, our communities, and our children.