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Gender essentialism in coaching discourses often goes unnoticed by coaches yet promotes gender stereotypes. Currently, no coach development program addresses gender essentialism. This study tested the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a novel web-based coaching intervention comprising seven self-led modules, aimed at reducing gender essentialism among coaches. A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with 102 coaches of adolescent girls across multiple sports. Coaches were randomized into the intervention condition (n = 54) or a waitlist control condition (n = 48). Both intervention and control group participants completed a baseline self-assessment prior. Intervention group participants undertook Coaching HER Foundation modules over 2 weeks and completed a postintervention self-assessment. Control group coaches completed the postintervention assessment without completing the Coaching HER Foundation modules. Based on the data, coaches found the intervention easy to follow, relevant, applicable, and enjoyable. Efficacy analyses illustrated the intervention group reported lower levels of gender essentialism at postintervention compared with the control group. Study results must be considered in relation to the small sample size and high attrition rate (72%). Study findings will inform intervention optimizations based on participant feedback, after which Coaching HER Foundation will be made freely available within a wider coach education and training framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coaches influence athletes' body image, but often feel ill-equipped to address body image concerns and inadvertently perpetuate harmful body ideals. No evidence-based, empirically-tested body image intervention for coaches exists. This study evaluated the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a novel web-based intervention (body confident coaching [BCC]), comprising five self-led 20-min modules. A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with 97 coaches of adolescent girls (Mage = 36.6yrs, SD = 10.4; 70% women). Coaches were randomized into the intervention (n = 52) or waitlist control condition (n = 45). Intervention condition participants completed baseline self-assessments (demographics, target outcomes), took part in BCC over two weeks, and completed post-intervention self-assessments (target outcomes, acceptability, adherence). Waitlist control participants completed baseline (demographics, target outcomes) and post-intervention self-assessments (target outcomes), after which they received unmonitored access to the intervention. Intervention condition participants who completed post-intervention assessments (n = 16) finished all five modules and 75% reported engaging with the additional resources. Coaches found the intervention easy to follow, appropriate, useful, and enjoyable. Preliminary efficacy analyses indicated that the intervention condition reported higher levels of self-efficacy toward body image (ηp2 =.19), and lower levels of fat phobia (ηp2 =.39) and gender essentialist beliefs (ηp2 =.20) at post-intervention, compared to the waitlist condition. A limitation of this study is the small sample size and high attrition rate (51%), which may bias results. Following modifications to the intervention and trial protocol, BCC will be evaluated in a large-scale randomized controlled effectiveness trial. Lay summary: Body dissatisfaction is common among girls in sport, but coaches are unprepared and unskilled to address these concerns, and few resources for coaches exist. A new education program was found to be appropriate, useful, and enjoyable for coaches and improved their ability to recognize and address athletes' body image concerns. It is important for sport organizations to understand and recognize the relationship between athletes' body image and their broader mental health and sport performance, as well as coaches' influence on, and responsibility to address, body image concerns among their athletes and to promote body positive sport environments. BCC can increase coaches' self-efficacy to identify and address athletes' body image concerns, as well as reduce coaches' fat phobia and gender essentialist beliefs. BCC: a pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating the acceptability of a web-based body image intervention for coaches of adolescent girls Trial Registration: This trial has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of privately and publicly funded studies conducted around the world. Registration date: 7 April 2022; Registration ID: NCT05316558. . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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