Over the last few years of publishing almost weekly articles on FCN Insights and building a community of over 3,000 followers, weâve tried to give our readers up-to-date statistics, opinion pieces, reflections and development ideas â all with one clear aim: to empower female coaches and change the systems in which they operate.
As we move into 2026, we want this Substack to become even more of a resource â a tool to help create meaningful change for everyone within it.
Not just for coaches â but also for governing bodies, teams and organisations who are trying to create the right environments, structures and tools to navigate what is often a complicated (and sometimes non-existent) pathway for female coaches in sport.
For over 12 years, weâve been at the forefront of providing female coaches with a platform â and supporting pathway providers with the tools they need to open the doors to an untapped cohort of talented coaches.
During that time, weâve worked alongside organisations including Nike, British Athletics, England Boxing, Tottenham Hotspur, World Athletics, WHOOP, SPAR International, Women in Sport, Australian Athletics, Athletics Canada, the Belgian Olympic Committee and Leeds Beckett University. Through this work, weâve gained deep insight into how organisations across a wide spectrum of sports operate â and what it really takes to create high-performance systems that thrive for everyone involved.
Weâve also supported coaches from around the globe working in some of the worldâs biggest leagues and Olympic sports â from the NFL and WTA to diving, football, athletics, swimming and rugby, to name just a few.
Across all of this work, one thing has remained consistent: the need for clearer pathways, multi-layered coach development, and fairer access to opportunity.
Whatâs changing in 2026
As we begin a new year, this Substack will play a more intentional role in continuing our work as the leading global community of female coaches who support, drive and influence real change in sport.
Throughout 2026, weâll be sharing frameworks, systems, insights, interviews, reflections and research from some of the worldâs best coaches, athletes and coach developers â all designed to support long-term progression in coaching.
Our content this year will be anchored in our own framework â one weâve developed over the last 12 years and successfully applied across the organisations weâve worked with, and the coaches weâve had the privilege to support.
We call this framework PRO.
What is the PRO Framework?
The PRO Framework is a practical, systems-based model that helps organisations and coaches do three things:
Unlock true performance potential
Drive purposeful cultural change by strengthening relationships within the system
Build and navigate environments where opportunity is accessible â and advancement is equitable
At its heart, PRO is about empowering change and achieving purpose â not through one-off programmes, but through strategic systems thinking.
Itâs designed for long-term, consistent improvement â not quick fixes.
It helps organisations shift culture.
It helps coaches build sustainable careers.
And it helps everyone work toward a shared outcome.
What we mean by PRO: Performance, Relationships and Opportunities
Performance
This is about the performance of the individual coach within the system. Are they fully equipped to thrive at the highest level? And how can an organisation or team actively support their coachesâ performance development?
This includes coaching experience, technical expertise, qualifications, wellbeing, leadership and communication skills. In simple terms: how do we ensure a coachâs performance meets the standards required within specific environments?
Relationships
This focuses on the dynamics between people inside the coaching and performance system. Do teams work well together? Are coachâathlete relationships healthy, respectful and psychologically safe? How do staff relationships influence team and athlete performance? And are people genuinely valued within the system?
Opportunities
This pillar looks at the policies, procedures and practices that create pathways for female leaders and coaches.
How are coaching roles advertised, appointed and retained? Why are certain coaches given opportunities over others? Are systems fair and transparent â or do they continue to favour the same groups?
Whatâs coming nextâŚ
Starting next week, we begin with PERFORMANCE. Weâll explore the concept of the coach as a performer, and unpack the layers of performance coaches need to address to build a strong, sustainable foundation for growth.
The following edition will focus on RELATIONSHIPS, where weâll introduce the power of Dunbarâs theory in building effective networks.
In week three, weâll move to OPPORTUNITIES, helping you navigate the ever-changing world of sport â and the barriers that continue to prevent women from reaching high-performance environments.
A guest post will follow later in January â and then, we cycle back to Performance, and repeat.
Join the leading global community of female coaches who support, drive and influence real change in sport.
đ What Weâre Reading this week:
Fearless; How to Win Your Way in Work & Life by Dr Pippa Grange A book for both athletes and coaches in understanding the impact that fear has not just on your sports performance, but your everyday. Dr Pippa Grange gives some great insights into the psychological aspects of fear as well as tools for conquering and controlling your fear.
đ§ What Weâve Been Listening Too This Week:
The Tennis Podcast: Cheap, Flat and Shallow. Did anyone really win the Battle of the Sexes? A knowledgeable and candid review of the tennis match of Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios in late December 2025.
đ§ A Quote Weâve Been Reflecting On This Week:
âResponsibility equals accountability equals ownership. And a sense of ownership is the most powerful thing a team or organization can have.â
â Pat Summitt
Great resource. Subscribed!