This study was undertaken to understand the strategies used to retain female high school head coaches. A sample consisting of 354 interscholastic athletic administrators and coaches of women's teams responded to a questionnaire consisting of 37 retention strategies (under the categories of developmental opportunities, program support, financial incentives, job definition, and communication) which elicited the extent that each strategy was used. To verify the subscale structure of the questionnaire, item-to-total correlations and internal consistency estimates (Cronbach's alpha) were carried out. After four iterations, 20 items were retained to measure five dimensions of retention strategies: developmental opportunities, financial incentives, program support, job expectations, and communication. The results of the 2 (Gender) × 2 (Position) × 5 (Dimension) repeated measures ANOVA showed significant two-way interaction effects for both gender and position. Tukey's post hoc analyses indicated that all subgroups rated communication as the most used dimension for retaining female high school coaches and rated developmental opportunities as the least used.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abelson, M.A.
(1986). Strategic management of turnover: A model for the health service administrator. Health Care Management Review, 11, 61-71.
2.
Acosta, R. V.
, & Carpenter, L. J. (1988). Perceived causes of the declining representation of women leaders in intercollegiate sports—1988 update. Unpublished manuscript, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY.
3.
Acosta, R. V.
, & Carpenter, L. J. (1992). Women in intercollegiate sport—A longitudinal study: Fifteen years update, 1977-1992. Unpublished manuscript, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY.
4.
Ary, D.
, Jacobs, L. C., & Razavieh, A. (1985). Introduction to research in education. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
5.
Best, J. W.
(1981). Research in education. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
6.
Coakley, J. J.
(1994). Sport in society: Issues and controversies (5th ed.). St. Louis: Times-Mosby.
7.
Fowlkes, M.
, Coons, B., Bonner, P., & Koppein, L. (1987). The Wisconsin ides. A grassroots approach to quality coaching for girls' sports. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 58, 36-40.
8.
Hart, B. A.
, Hasbrook, C. A., & Mathes, S. A. (1986). An examination of the reduction in the number of female interscholastic coaches. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 57, 68-77.
9.
Hasbrook, C. A.
, Hart, B. A., Mathes, S. A., & True, S. (1990). Sex bias and the validity of believed differences between male and female interscholastic coaches. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 61, 259-267.
10.
Heishman, M. F.
, Bunker, L., & Tutwiler, R. W. (1990). The decline of women leaders (coaches and athletic directors) in girls' interscholastic sport programs in Virginia from 1972 to 1987. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 61, 103-107.
11.
Helmer, F. T.
, & McKnight, P. (1989). Management strategies to minimize nursing turnover. Health Care Management Review, 14, 73-80.
12.
Holmen, M. G.
, & Parkhouse, B. L. (1981). Trends in the selection of coaches for female athletes: A demographic inquiry. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 61, 9-18.
13.
Isaac, S.
, & Michael, W. B. (1981). Handbook in research and evaluation. San Diego, CA: Edits.
14.
Jackofsky, E. F.
, Salter, J., & Peters, L. H. (1986). Reducing turnover among part-time employees. Personnel, 63, 41-43.
15.
Jenkins, S.
(1988). Turnover: Correcting the causes. Personnel, 65, 43-48.
16.
Lovett, D. J.
, & Lowry, C. (1988). The role of gender in leadership positions in female sport programs in Texas colleges. Journal of Sport Management, 2, 106-117.
17.
Mercer, M. W.
(1988). Turnover: Reducing the costs. Personnel, 65, 36-40.
18.
Oglesby, C. A.
, Shelton, C. M., Demchenko, V., & Thumler, B. B. (1987). COACH project. Coaches and officials acquire competencies here. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 58, 40-44.
19.
Pastore, D. L.
(1991). The status of female coaches in two year colleges. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 62, 22-26.
20.
Pastore, D. L.
, & Meacci, W. G. (1990). Coaches' recommendations for recruiting and retaining female college coaches. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 61, 86-89.
21.
Pastore, D. L.
, & Whiddon, S. (1983). The employment of males and females in athletics and physical education in the state of Florida. The Physical Educator, 40, 207-210.
22.
Peters, B. S.
, & Kegel, J. M. (1988). Managing turnover: Slowing the revolving door. Journal of Accountancy, 165, 124, 126-128.
23.
Priest, L.
(1990). A time to plant—What administrators can do for coaches to increase retention rates. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 61, 56.
24.
Schafer, S. P.
(1987). Sports need you. The Colorado model. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 58, 44-47.
25.
Sisley, B.
, & Capel, S. (1986). High school coaching filled with gender differences. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 57, 39-43.
26.
Sisley, B. L.
, & Delaney, F. (1990). Coaching education for novice women coaches—The Oregon model. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 61, 60-64.
27.
Stangl, J. M.
, & Kane, M. J. (1991). Structural variables that offer explanatory power for the underrepresentation of women coaches since Title IX: The case of homologous reproduction. Sociology of Sport Journal, 8, 47-60.
28.
Sudman, S.
, & Bradburn, N. M. (1982). Asking questions. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
29.
True, S.
(1986). Coaching: Study evaluates reasons behind declining number of women coaches. Interscholastic Athletic Administration, 12, 18-19, 21.
30.
Watts, L. R.
, & White, H. C. (1988). Assessing employee turnover. Personnel Administrator, 33, 80-85.
31.
Wilkinson, S.
, & Schneider, P. M. (1991). The representation of men and women in secondary physical education and interscholastic athletic programs in the state of Illinois. The Physical Educator, 48, 100-103.
32.
Woods, R. H.
, & Macaulay, J. F. (1989). Prescription for turnover: Retention programs that work. Cornell Hotel Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 30, 78-90.
