Kelly Lindsey, Giselle Mathers, Jess Freeman & Sarah Kelleher explore the world of women sports coaches

S14 EP 4

This episode is a slightly different format, as I talk to a panel of game changers about a specific topic – and in this case it’s women in sports coaching. 

Just 10% of accredited coaches at the Summer and Winter Olympics over the past decade have been female and we rarely see women in high profile coaching roles in our biggest sports. 

This conversation explores why this is and what needs to change? 

My guests for this episode were:

• Kelly Lindsey, Sporting Director at Lewes FC & former Head Coach of the Afghanistan women’s national team and the Moroccan women’s national team 

• Giselle Mather, Director of Rugby at Ealing Trailfinders and formerly Director of Rugby at Wasps Women who was the first female Level 4 rugby coach in Britain

• Jess Freeman, Community Coach at Harlequins & a rugby coach at Dorking

• Sarah Kelleher, former Irish Hockey Captain who is now a national coach for teams in England and Ireland

Having discussed their own experiences and journeys as women in sports coaching we explore the current gender balance in football, rugby and hockey in grassroots and elite coaching, and consider which sports are doing things well. 

We discuss why having more women in coaching matters, what makes a ‘good’ coach and what’s preventing equality. Finally we consider what needs to change for the future and my guests share some fantastic advice for other female coaches.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery grant.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production