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The only woman on her goalkeeping course, Kaysha Franchi is frustrated by a lack of female representation – and has advice for those who feel similarly.
It’s very noticeable that there are many male coaches in the women’s and girls’ game – but there are far fewer female coaches in the men’s or boys’ game.
This is true at all levels, from grassroots up to the elite level. For me, it raises the following questions:
As someone who has been coaching within the men’s and boys’ game since I started my coaching journey, this disparity has been the norm for me.
As I have progressed as a coach, I have constantly noticed that I am one of a small group of female coaches that I know of who are coaching within the boys’ game.
Within the last few months, I have completed the National Goalkeeping Course through the Football Association.
On this course, it was me and 25 others – 28 in total, if you include the coach developers. As the day was about to start, and everyone was arriving, I was disappointed to learn that I was the only female coach on the course.
Usually this doesn’t bother me, but, at that moment, it left me with the following three emotions...
Alone: I understand we were all there together, working towards the same coaching qualification. However, I felt as though coaching was one of the few topics which we could relate to together and talk about.
Not having another female figure there made me feel very isolated, as I felt restricted in what I could talk about with the male coaches.
Disappointed: As someone who reads a lot and keeps up to date with football, I’ve seen a lot about the rising number of female participants in coaching and playing. But, in my experiences, I am yet to see this happening.
Being one of only three girls on both my ‘Introduction to Football’ and Uefa C licence courses, and the only woman on my National Goalkeeper Course, I felt a little disappointed as I thought there would be more women there.
Confused: As someone who hasn’t had any issues in applying for the courses, I was left confused as to why the ratio of male coaches was so much higher.
I wanted to know if there was any reason for this. I know several other female coaches, so it made me think – where are they?
The following are different things that I looked at when trying to overcome any challenges or feelings I encountered...
1. Remember the end goal and what you are trying to gain
One of the most, if not the most important part to remember is, ‘what is your end goal?’.
For me, it was completing the course and getting the qualification. So, although it may have been disappointing not to have other female participants involved, I still completed and achieved my end goal of gaining the qualification.
Another key takeaway is that everyone on the course was working towards the same qualification, which leads into the second point.
2. You are all equal to one another
Regardless of the coaching environment your peers are currently coaching in - whether it be at grassroots level or going into county, semi-professional or even the professional game - you are all on the same course working towards the same qualification.
"You are where you are for a reason. Be confident in yourself and your ability..."
So, although you might be coaching at a higher level, you are no more qualified than your peers on that day, and that’s something you should always think about.
3. Be confident
Trying to be confident is one bit of advice I’d give to any current or aspiring female coaches.
You are where you are for a reason. It is so important to be confident in yourself and your ability as well as your knowledge.
Being a coach who has been questioned by many players that I have coached, it is important to remember who you are and your position. You haven’t got to where you are by luck; you have worked hard to achieve what you have achieved, therefore you have every right to be confident in yourself.
4. Try and be the change to gender bias
Unfortunately, there is still gender bias within football – in 2023, 82% of women in football have experienced gender bias and discrimination.
I believe this is what is holding back many women from wanting to get into coaching and working towards their badges.
It is rare to see a female coach as part of a professional team, especially in the men’s game, but if the qualifications are the same, then why is this still the case?
I have experienced this first hand. It is still happening. The only way to overcome this is to keep proving people wrong and use other people’s doubt to fuel you.
It will get you further in what you are doing. It has definitely helped get me further in my coaching journey.
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