Does performance justify the underrepresentation of women coaches? Evidence from professional women’s soccer

Highlights

•	The paper examines team performance in women’s soccer in France, Germany and Norway.
•	The gender of the coach does not have a significant influence on team performance.
•	Previous playing experience of coaches does not play a part in team performance.

Abstract

In this paper, the authors empirically analyze the influence of the gender of the coach on team performance in women’s soccer leagues. Moreover, the authors examine the role of initial experience of coaches (as professional players) as an attribute that converges with gender diversity and influence performance. The sample includes the top divisions in France, Germany, and Norway from 2004 to 2017. The results from the regression model show that the gender of the coach is not a significant determinant of team performance (points per game). In addition, the initial experience of coaches does not alter the results. Therefore, managerial decisions of clubs with regard to the employment of coaches should not rely on gender.

Keywords:

• Coaches
• Gender
• Performance
• Women’s soccer

Acknowldgement

The authors acknowledge the valuable comments of Dr. Julio del Corral in the revised version of the manuscript. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes

1 Several studies incorporate this variable as a determinant of coaching performance in sports leagues (e.g., Bridgewater et al., 2011).

2 We conducted the same analysis with a lagged dependent variable. However, the results do not change and therefore, we do not include the model in the paper.

3 Some teams cannot employee coaches full time, so they even have to look for second occupations. For example, Regis Mohar, coach of VGA Saint-Maur, had to work in a laboratory to complement his job as a coach (Detout, 2015).