Tenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

This paper draws on both theory and practice to explore some of the complexities of coaching women and girls in combat sports. Much research has identified a tendency for these activities to be shaped by social norms surrounding gender propriety, which can present unique difficulties for effective coaching practice. However, these are not insurmountable difficulties, while at the same time there exit possibilities within combat sports coaching to directly challenge ideas about gender which can otherwise be harmful to women’s and girls’ inclusion and development. The paper offers a short overview of how some of these issues manifest in practice, and how coaches can effectively deal with them in their day-to-day work.