Last year we partnered with graduates from the UBC Sauder School of Business to look at the experiences, barriers, and opportunities of female coaches and referees in volleyball. Thank you to all of you who participated in the survey and focus groups. We are excited to share with you an update about what we heard and what we would like to do next…
We heard some clear themes: Many of you told us that it can be hard to understand the pathway into and through coaching and officiating, with gaps in communication and support. You also shared that access to mentorship is limited and that a male-dominated culture, gender bias, and poor behaviour from spectators can impact confidence and enjoyment. Finally, we heard that time pressures and family responsibilities can make it difficult to stay involved long term. For more information about what we heard click here.
Looking forward, we are focusing on five key actions to better support you and improve the experience for women in our community:
- Host a province-wide retreat to create opportunities for connection, learning, and support.
- Improve conduct and communication to ensure safer, more respectful environments.
- Strengthen and expand the female mentorship program to reach and support more participants.
- Implement exit surveys to better understand why people leave and how we can improve.
- Tell our story by celebrating and raising the profile of female coaches and referees.
We can’t do this alone—and we would love your help. We are looking for volunteers to join small working groups to bring these ideas to life. Even an hour of your time can make a difference.
Please consider signing up to get involved. Together, we can build a more supportive and inclusive future for women in volleyball.