Does every women's team need a woman coach?

It’s a question that comes up regularly in women’s and girls’ football. Should every women’s team have a woman coach?

 

My answer is probably not the one people expect.

 

No, I don’t think every girls’ or women’s team must have a woman coach. But I do think every club should be doing far more to recruit, develop and retain women coaches.

 

Some of the best coaches I’ve worked alongside and played for have been men. They’ve understood the players, created brilliant environments and treated every individual with respect. Equally, I’ve seen female coaches who weren’t right for the role.

 

Having said that, it’s impossible to ignore the value female coaches can bring.

 

For many girls, seeing a woman leading a team matters. It gives them someone they can relate to and shows that coaching is a pathway open to them too. If we want more female coaches in 10 years’ time, today’s players need to see women standing on the touchline, leading sessions and making decisions.

 

Women coaches may also have a different perspective on some of the challenges girls and women  face. Whether it’s understanding the impact of the menstrual cycle, body confidence during adolescence or simply recognising what it’s like to grow up playing in a sport that has traditionally been mal- dominated, experience can help build trust.

 

But none of those things automatically make someone a better coach.

 

Players deserve coaches who can develop them technically, tactically and personally. They deserve coaches who communicate well, create a positive culture and genuinely care about them. Those qualities aren’t exclusive to either men or women.

 

Where I do think clubs need to improve is in creating opportunities.

 

Too often, the same small group of volunteers ends up coaching year after year because they’re the people who put their hand up first. We should be actively asking mums, former players and current players whether they’d like to get involved. And if not, why not? What can we do to make coaching more attractive and accessible for women? Many don’t lack ability - they simply lack confidence or assume coaching isn’t for them.

 

Mixed coaching teams can also be incredibly powerful. Having both male and female role models gives players different perspectives and creates a wider support network.

 

Ultimately, I don’t think the conversation should be about whether a coach is male or female. It should be about whether they’re the right person for that group of players.

 

Let’s stop appointing coaches because of their gender. But let’s also stop accepting that girls’ football can thrive without investing in more women coaches. The goal shouldn’t be to replace one with the other, it should be to give every player access to excellent coaching while making sure women are equally represented on the sidelines.