Rationale/Purpose: High-performance sport systems offer athletes access to a range of experts including excellent coaches. This study examines the macro-, meso- and micro-level factors associated with coaching elite women athletes within a high-performance sport system.

Design/methodology/approach: This research was underpinned by constructionism and critical feminism. The data were collected via semi-structured in-depth interviews with 10 international male elite rowing coaches with experience in coaching men and women athletes and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings: The data shows that at the micro-level, coaches differentiate their practices based on the gender of the athlete. These practices are influenced by meso-level factors (perceived value of sport participated by women) and shaped by macro-level factors (socio-cultural background of the coaches).

Practical implications: Coaches’ socio-cultural experiences influence their construct of gender and affect their approach to coaching women athletes. Hence identifying macro-level factors can help managers understand coaches’ perspectives, philosophy and practice at a micro-level.

https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2019.1641139

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-de-haan/