Male Coach/Female Coach: a Theoretical Analysis of the Female Sport Experience

Abstract

A model based on tenets of Social Exchange Theory (Blau, Homans) and Expectancy Value Theory (Rotter) was developed to examine the effects of a gender-homogeneous (female-only) vs. a moderately gender-heterogeneous (female athletes with male coach) sport environment on the female athlete. Based on the theoretical framework and review of the literature it was argued that in the gender-homogeneous environment, relatively high expectancy values are associated with the presence of female role models, the sense of career potential, the opportunity to exercise instrumentalism, the sharing and reinforcing of values, the richness of affiliative interaction, and the perceived personal value to the group. In the gender-heterogenous environ ment, suggested variables with high expectancy value included the potential for competitive success, the opportunity for visibility and recognition, and the attractiveness of male authority figures.