Perspectives in women's football (part 2) "Time and Money…Money and Time": Barriers faced by coaches of women and girls playing football in Australia, a cross-sectional survey study.

OBJECTIVES

To explore characteristics and barriers faced by coaches of women's football in Australia.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey study.

METHODS

A convenience sample of coaches of women's/girls' teams registered to play competitive football in Australia during the 2023/2024 season was recruited through targeted emails, social media, and physical fliers. Questionnaire data using open and closed questions were collected between May and September 2024. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis.

RESULTS

44 coaches (17 women, 27 men) participated. Coaches generally reported having <10 years of coaching experience, with 34 (76%) being head coaches, and 16 coaches (36%) reported multiple coaching responsibilities with other teams or academies. Most coaches (84%) trained their teams 2 or more times per week, with an average of 116 training minutes per week. One coach reported that their team did not train. Twenty-nine coaches (66%) developed their own training plan, and most coaches (86%) had coached women or girls ≥50% of their career. Thirty-one coaches (70%) had access to coach education and training through their club or association. When asked "Has anything prevented them from achieving their full potential as a coach?", four categories were generated: competing priorities, financial burden, inadequate coaching support and individual factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the need to improve coaching pathways and monetary support to enable coaches to better support the next generation of women/girl football players in Australia.