Determinants of Women’s Involvement in Coaching Individual and Team Sports in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the involvement of women in coaching individual and team sports in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Specifically the study focused on: establishing and distinguishing between participation of women and men in coaching individual and team sports, assessing the factors influencing women’s participation in coaching individual and team sports, determining the challenges faced by women in individual and team sports coaching and identifying strategies to address the challenges faced by women in individual and team sports coaching. The Social Dominance Theory (SDT) guided the study. The study was conducted using a descriptive survey research design. It involved a broad category of issues related to women’s participation in coaching sports in Nairobi City County. The population for the study comprised women and men involved in both individual and team sports in Nairobi City County. Stratified random sampling was employed to select a sample of 164 women and men in individual and team sports. The coaches and heads of organizations who participated in the study were selected through purposive sampling. The involvement in coaching in individual and team sports is skewed towards men. Factors influencing women’s involvement in coaching individual and team sports include family constraints, attitudes, perceptions and resources. The challenges are lack of clear career pathways and administrative support, competition from men and the high cost of training with minimal returns Proposed strategies to enhance women’s involvement include workshops, proper remuneration, change in stereotyping women involved in coaching sports, courses targeting women with flexible learning modes, promotion of women coaches and coaching, and sponsorship through sports organizations. The conclusions of the study are that few women than men coached individual and team sports in Nairobi City County, gender related factors and challenges influenced women’s participation in coaching individual and team sports, which if addressed could mitigate the situation. The study recommends further investigations that would establish how many women athletes’ transit to coaching compared to their male counterparts; and to address the lack of awareness of initiatives put in place to support their involvement in coaching sports.