Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1473445
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SUMMER 2022 | 19 Female Coaches RESEARCH "I realised I am nine years helping out, but I have changed over to nine years coaching. I call myself a coach now, so that was from the Community of Practice." INFLUENCE OF THE CLUB ENVIRONMENT ON THE EXPERIENCES OF VOLUNTEER WOMEN COACHES T his article highlights the key findings from Irene Hogan's PhD in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, under the supervision of Dr Richard Bowles and Dr Niamh Kitching. Irene is a coach and coach developer from the Bride Rovers club in Cork while both Richard and Niamh coach in the Oola club in Limerick, with Richard an active coach developer for the LGFA and GAA. The PhD research focused on the expe- riences of volunteer women coaches across the island of Ireland. 25 women representing 16 LGFA clubs across nine counties were interviewed to explore their experiences as volunteer coaches in their respective clubs. A further nine women, from three clubs, took part in focus groups to determine the effectiveness of a club-based, season long Community of Practice (CoP) that their club was participating in. This article focuses on the coaches' experiences within their respective club environments. Direct quotes from the participants are outlined, along with a call to action for all club members. It is hoped these quotes will resonate with you or someone you know and/ or start a conversation to consider if your club environment evokes similar experiences. The sample quotes from the coaches highlight areas of improvement at club level regarding the perceptions of women's roles in clubs and the possible biases that exist. A combination of the coaches' experiences culminated in the development of a "Dear club" letter as outlined below. This letter can be used by LGFA club members and officers as a checklist to determine what their club is doing well and what areas need improving. "I describe myself as the token female because they have to have a female. I was very much standing on the sidelines, just if the girls needed to go to the toilet or that kind of stuff. Now I'm trying to get a bit more involved in the actual coaching." "Frustration particularly, when I am just completely ignored, which does happen now and again but I prob- ably will continue coaching until my youngest gets to the age where they don't allow coaches like me." "I never played football, but I got pushed into the admin- istration role. When my kids started, I asked the coach did he want a hand and he said no. A year or two later I got asked about doing secretary, but I never wanted an admin- istration role. I would have much preferred to be on the pitch but that is the percep- tion that is there". "I remember one of the par- ents coming up to me before a county final saying 'do you want my husband to stand with you on the sideline?' and I said 'why for what rea- son?' and she said 'just to be there'".