Burke, Michael and Hallinan, Christopher J (2004) Aspirational Coaching: Leadership in Victorian Junior Women's Basketball. In: TASA 2004 refereed conference : proceedings : revisioning sociology. Richmond, Katy, ed. The Australian Sociological Association, St. Lucia, Qld.

Abstract

This research project analyses a sporting setting, elite junior basketball in Victoria, and investigates, via participant observation and interview, the strategies used by both male and female coaches to improve their own situations, and to broaden their margins of liberty in acting. The effect of the implementation of Title IX in American College sports has been one of increased opportunities for women to play sport. Yet, whilst the number of female athletes has increased, there has been a substantial reduction in the number of female coaches and administrators. The suggested reason for this is that as women’s sport became part of the college sport economy, opportunities for coaching were given to men. Our research would suggest that such a discrepancy in the sex of coaches occurs in a number of sporting settings that are not professional. We would suggest that the coaching discourse precedes the existence of monetary reward, and it is this discourse, which limits the type of subject positions that females can appropriate. Annual conference of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) held at the Beechworth Campus of La Trobe University, December 8-11, 2004

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