Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2246-5904

Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

College of Applied Human Sciences

Department

Athletic Coaching Education

Committee Chair

Kristen Dieffenbach

Committee Member

Jennifer Kasi Jackson

Committee Member

Michael Ryan

Committee Member

Nefertiti Walker

Committee Member

James Wyant

Abstract

Women in strength and conditioning roles at the NCAA Division I level account for approximately 16% of the S&C coaching professionals (NCAA, 2022). Between 2000 and 2022, only six studies have examined the population of female strength and conditioning coaches (SCC). The aim of this project was to understand the challenges women SCC have experienced reaching, entering, and sustaining to late career. Another goal was to learn how women SCC navigated through the barriers within the coaching profession. Due to the construction of gender in organizations, role congruity theory has been used to analyze the experiences of women in sport leadership positions. This theory suggests women are expected to perform communal and more stereotypical roles (Tiell et al., 2012). The data collected was through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a phenomenological approach to learn more about this population of women SCC. Some of the key findings included women SCC in late career still contending with bearing the burden of doubt, experiencing professional isolation, and dealing with body changes as they age within the profession. Similarities and differences of career phases are compared and contrasted against the experiences and themes of the late career S&C professionals who have been studied over the last few decades. Role congruity theory was used to learn more about the experiences of women SCC. Aspects such as gender dynamics, treatment, and changes within the profession were of particular focus. The roles taken on by SCC include aspects such as the coach as a leader, the coach as a role model and the coach as a champion or performer. Some of the top responsibilities listed include training multiple teams and administrative duties. There are impacts of gender expectations in terms of the types of roles and responsibilities women SCC end up predominantly handling within the profession.

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