More gender diversity needed in coaching, provincial report finds

When Dayna Corelli was playing soccer growing up, there weren’t female coaches. Even now, she says she’s one of just a few in the region.

“On the boys’ side, when you’re looking to match up with a coach, you have options,” Corelli said.

“You have people of different ages and a little bit more diversity within those ages and backgrounds. But on the girls’ side, it’s so limited.”

Corelli is also general manager of the newly formed Sudbury Cyclones Soccer team.

A new report out this week from the Coaches Association of Ontario surveyed coaches across the province and found they face challenges like time, capacity, costs and stress.

But it also found a lack of diversity, particularly with gender.

It found that 59 per cent of coaches were men, 39 per cent were women and two per cent did not disclose their gender.

A new report from the Coaches Association of Ontario found there are both challenges and rewards for those who volunteer to coach sports. (Photo from video)

“I think we have to be making changes today that will affect tomorrow,” said executive director Jeremy Cross.

“I think we need to be working on the area of recruitment, so looking at the young people of today and equipping them with the competent skills and education to take on leadership roles in their community so they can be that leader in the future.”

Corelli said we need to start looking at female athletes as future coaches and treat them accordingly.

MORE OPPORTUNITY

“I think we’re just not looking at our young female athletes in the same way that we might look at our males saying, ‘You could ref, you could give back and coach,’” she said.

“I think there just needs to be more exposure at younger ages and more opportunity.”

The report also found that those who do coach find it rewarding and feel they’re making a difference in their community.

Cross coaches youth basketball and has experienced a lot of positive experiences in that capacity.

“I love seeing the players come back next year to play again. I love the friendship part, I love the competitions part. There is so much to be loved about coaching,” said Cross.

“It’s a very valuable experience but ultimately I really do think it’s about seeing the light bulb moments go off for children and youth participating in sport.”

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This is the first study of its kind that looks at coaching across all levels and the impact it has on sport and recreation in Ontario.

The Coaches Association of Ontario said it hopes to conduct similar reports each year and in the future, it will break down stats for regions across the province.