PURPOSE: This interdisciplinary study examined elite Australian strength and conditioning coaches’ experiences and perspectives of coaching sportswomen to understand if/how coaches recognised the influence of gender (as opposed to biological sex) on their coaching practices.

METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with Level 3 certified strength and conditioning coaches (n = 11) working with sportswomen at professional, national, and international levels. Data were analysed via a collaborative analysis approach which drew on the interdisciplinary perspectives of the research team (sociology, sports science, sports management) to deliberate on key themes and practical implications.

RESULTS: Coaches identified a range of physical and social/ emotional attributes of sportswomen. However, coaches described inadequate discussion of gender in their formal sports science and strength and conditioning coaching education and were not confident in talking about the implications of gender or if/how they should adjust their coaching practices when working with sportswomen. Coaches drew on experiences of working with male athletes, sports science literature dominated by studies on male athletes, and gender stereotypes to interpret sportswomen and struggled with sportswomen’s perceived emotionality, how to approach menstruation, and whether sportswomen should be treated differently to men. 

CONCLUSION: Coaches lacked explicit knowledge on gender or how gender biases may be (unconsciously) impacting their coaching practices. There is an opportunity to revise strength and conditioning professional education to incorporate greater instruction on gender and how it may influence sportswomen and coaching contexts. Bringing sports science and sociological knowledge together will more effectively prepare coaches to work with diverse bodies and elite sportswomen in the changing Australian sports landscape.