--- title: Coaching Girls Effectively description: By changing how we coach, we make coaching more effective. With intentional adjustments, coaches help girls enjoy lifelong benefits of staying in sport. image: https://www.coachingher.com/hubfs/blog_header%20(16).png --- [Skip to content](https://www.coachingher.com/the-coaching-her-journal/coaching-girls-effectively#main-content) [![Copy of coachingher_logo_rgb](https://www.coachingher.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20coachingher_logo_rgb.png?width=2830&height=929&name=Copy%20of%20coachingher_logo_rgb.png "Copy of coachingher_logo_rgb")](https://coachingher.com) - About - [About Coaching HER](https://www.coachingher.com/about-coaching-her) - [Collaborators](https://www.coachingher.com/collaborators) - [Tucker Center](https://www.coachingher.com/tucker-center) - Engage - [Learning & Community](https://www.coachingher.com/learning-and-community) - [Organizational Champions](https://www.coachingher.com/champions) - [Educational Champions](https://www.coachingher.com/educational-champions-start) - [Types of Champions](https://www.coachingher.com/champion-types) - [Consulting & Advisory](https://www.coachingher.com/consulting) - [Invest in HER](https://www.coachingher.com/invest-in-her) - Resources - [Explore FREE Courses](https://www.coachingher.com/courses) - [Articles, Guides, and News](https://www.coachingher.com/the-coaching-her-journal) - [FAQ](https://www.coachingher.com/faq) - [Publications](https://www.coachingher.com/scholarlypublications) - [Videos](https://www.coachingher.com/the-coaching-her-journal/videos) - [Newsletter Archive](https://www.coachingher.com/newsletter) - [Contact Us](https://www.coachingher.com/contact-us) - [![Start Your FREE Course Today](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/46527152/interactive-340950391497.png)](https://cta-na2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIKbybnh6qQucl2SR%2F17FMqTgui%2BYPw3kEof%2BQB3RzRoUtlnOoJdZxJAHiluhscTYoYT5rgpwJtFsPkdEFD93adHUme3KZQD3sg3raqJjHzuYSHHlft8gkq1EE23j%2B8dttJKCawFVpyv5DRyqDfxhSbeiX5KmhgFZgBh9iPUoVx3L299ynWFwzJUdJwAc%2ByfSWDi0idLQ%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=340950391497&portalId=46527152) ☰ # Coaching Girls Effectively [By The Coaching HER® Team](https://www.coachingher.com/the-coaching-her-journal/author/by-the-coaching-her-team) January 2026 ![Coaching Girls Effectively](https://www.coachingher.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog_header%20(16).png?width=1200&height=675&name=blog_header%20(16).png) [Download a Printable PDF >>](https://www.coachingher.com/hubfs/Coaching%20Girls%20Effectively.pdf) Coaching girls effectively is about being aware and intentional. The data shows that **girls who feel heard by their coaches are 2.5 times more likely to stay in sport** (Aspen Institute Project Play, 2020), and **athletes with positive coach relationships report better mental health and confidence** (Tucker Center, 2018). Coaching matters not just in what is taught, but in how girls experience the environment. Girls experience the world and sport differently than boys, due to societal expectations and biases, including how some coaches ‘coach’ them. To coach girls effectively while reducing gender stereotypes, the **Coaching HER®** curriculum focuses on shifting from "traditional" coaching (which is often based on how boys are coached) to a **gender-responsive** model. Research shows coaches often perceive girls as physiologically inferior, psychologically weaker, and socially unsuitable to sport, compared to boys. These common gender stereotypes fail to create inclusive, safe, and empowering environments for girls, reducing retention in sport ([Goorevich & LaVoi, 2025](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21640629.2024.2309786)). A common stereotype is that girls are "fragile" or "less competitive" than boys. Coaching HER*®* suggests pushing back by keeping expectations high. In reality, girls want to be coached seriously and taken seriously, as athletes. They want clear feedback, challenges, and opportunities to improve. ### So what does coaching girls more effectively actually look like? It starts with coaching the individual, not the stereotype. Set high expectations based on each athlete’s skill and effort. Be specific with feedback so girls know how to improve. Use language that focuses on growth, learning, and confidence, not stereotypical assumptions about physicality, ability, toughness or motivation. Coaching more effectively also means listening and engaging. Simple check-ins—asking girls how they’re experiencing practice, what helps them learn, what they want to improve, or what makes them feel supported—send a powerful message. When girls feel safe sharing their thoughts, engagement increases and trust grows. Finally, coaching more effectively means creating opportunities for connection and leadership. Encourage teamwork, recognize effort, and invite girls to lead warm-ups, drills, or team conversations. These small shifts reinforce that girls belong, are capable, and are valued. Coaching girls effectively isn’t about changing who girls are, it’s about changing how we coach. When coaches make intentional adjustments, girls are likely to stay in sport longer, develop confidence, and carry the benefits of sport far beyond the season. ***Important Note:* Coaching education works best as a steady stream of information.** Coaching better doesn’t happen in a single training or one-time workshop, it happens through consistent learning over time. A monthly focus (i.e., one module, one concept, or one reflection) gives coaches space to learn, try something new, and adjust. Topics like challenging stereotypes, belonging, communication, leadership, or confidence can be introduced one at a time and reinforced throughout the season. This approach respects coaches’ time while recognizing that coaching girls effectively is an ongoing skill-building process, not a box to check. #### References Aspen Institute Project Play. (2020). *State of Play: Trends and Developments in Youth Sports*. Deloitte. (2023). *Women’s Sports: The Next Generation of Growth and Opportunity*. [Goorevich & LaVoi, 2025](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21640629.2024.2309786) Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. (2018). *Developing Physically Active Girls: An Evidence-Based Multidisciplinary Approach*. ## Related Guides - ![Coaching With Perspective: How Trish & Corey Kennedy Model Athlete-Centered, Bias-Aware Coaching](https://www.coachingher.com/hs-fs/hubfs/coaches_guide_jan2026.png?width=1200&height=628&name=coaches_guide_jan2026.png) - ![INCLUSION STARTS WITH LISTENING: MEETING GIRLS WHERE THEY ARE](https://www.coachingher.com/hs-fs/hubfs/coaches_guide_nov2025.png?width=1200&height=628&name=coaches_guide_nov2025.png) - ![Great Coaches Don’t Just Teach the Game — They Change Lives](https://www.coachingher.com/hs-fs/hubfs/coaches_guide_oct2025.png?width=1200&height=628&name=coaches_guide_oct2025.png) [For Coaches](https://www.coachingher.com/the-coaching-her-journal/tag/for-coaches) ![Foundational_course_badge](https://www.coachingher.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foundational_course_badge.png?width=70&height=70&name=Foundational_course_badge.png) ### Foundational Course Understand how girls develop, challenge gender stereotypes and bias, recognize diverse identities, and apply practical strategies that better support girls throughout their sport experience. [Learn More](https://learn.coachingher.com/page/7003/foundation) More ways to get involved ### Subscribe to The Coaching HER® Newsletter Sign-up to receive The Coaching HER® Playbook, featuring the latest resources, research, tools, and news delivered directly to your inbox. Email Address     ### Wear Your Support Show your commitment to creating better sport experiences for girls. The Coaching HER® collection includes apparel and merchandise that help coaches, leaders, and advocates share the message that every girl deserves to feel supported, valued, and included in sport. [Explore the Coaching HER® Store](https://www.mnalumnimarket.com/collections/coaching-her-collection) ### Invest in HER Support Coaching HER® to help keep girls in sport. Make a gift today and be part of the movement. 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