Women Ski Coaches Association (WSCA) works to develop, retain, and advance women in ski coaching leadership.
DEVELOP EXEMPLARY WOMEN SKI COACHES QUALIFIED FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS BY
Recruiting female athletes that exhibit coaching potential
Sharing knowledge, experience, and expertise within WSCA network
Funding professional development opportunities to ensure all coaches have access in lieu of employment status
RETAIN WOMEN SKI COACHES BY
Collaborating with existing organizations to share research and stories that demonstrate why women coaches matter and facilitate a conversation around this challenging topic
Supporting strong female leadership at all levels of sport (local, regional, national, international governance)
Promoting professional standards in ski culture and attempting to change workplace norms that prevent equal opportunity
ADVANCE WOMEN SKI COACHES BY
Connecting women coaches and encouraging mentorship through the WSCA network
Educating employers on the bias women face in the hiring process by teaching people to hire women based on potential
Discussing career goals and providing experience based career counseling within the WSCA network
Stewarding career pathways for qualified women candidates in skiing leadership at all levels (local, regional, national, international) and advocating for women to fulfill crucial decision making positions when hired
In recognition of the vast network of allies and supporters of women coaches in skiing, all athletes, officials, coaches, volunteers, fans, athletic administrators, media, and industry professionals are welcome to join and contribute.
Long Term Goal
To work towards gender equity in ski coaching and ski leadership at all levels of the sport (local, regional, national, and international)
A SIDE NOTE ABOUT OUR GOAL
Currently, men occupy 99% of coaching positions across all male sports teams. Most coaching gender equity research and organizational advocacy work is focused on the need for more women coaches in charge of female sports teams and same sex role models. In skiing, there are very few teams that have separate coaches for men’s and women’s teams. Consequently, we have a bigger societal challenge than most other sports to develop, retain, and advance women coaches. Women will not choose to be coaches or stay in the coaching profession if they do not see that it is possible to advance their careers to the highest possible levels. We need women in leadership positions of both men’s and women’s programs (college, elite, national team) to show our extremely driven, talented, smart, determined, capable, athlete pool that ski coaching is a viable career path. Put simply, to achieve our goal of gender equity in coaching, people have to be okay with women coaching men.
Organization Ground Rules
We aim to fill members with energy and avoid focusing on problems and obstacles. Our meetings and events will be fun, creative and solution focused.
Big things that happened in 2022
Inaugural Gear Up Program Launched
Creation of Trail To Gold Fellowship
Second Annual Ski Leaders of Tomorrow Trip
