Challenges and progress: women’s participation in table tennis coaching courses in Brazil

The Table Tennis University is a  program  of  the  Brazilian  Table  Tennis  Confederation  (CBTM)   that   has   the   main   objective   of   hosting  a  complete  training  program  for  the  development  of  coaches,  referees,  and  managers   of   Brazilian   Table   Tennis. Coach Education Program is mainly outlined  through  three  courses,  namely:  Beginners,  Athlete  Development  and  High  Performance This study aimed to analyze women's participation in Coach  Education  Program  in Brazil, considering changes over time, regional distribution, and course context (Beginners or High Performance). Data from 660 coaches certified by the CBTM between 2021 and 2024 were collected from the official CBTM website (https://www.cbtm.org.br/). Results show that women coaches remain underrepresented, accounting for 121 (18%) of participants. Efforts to promote gender equity have led to a 24% increase in women's participation over the years, compared to 3% for men. However, women's participation remains uneven geographically, with the majority concentrated in the Southeast region (n=42; 35%). Additionally, their involvement is largely restricted to Beginners course (n=108; 89%), while men dominate High-Performance Course (n=111; 21%) (x²=6.553, p-value=0.038). These findings highlight persistent gender disparities in Brazilian table tennis coaching, particularly in High-Performance course and regions outside the Southeast. While progress has been made, structural and cultural barriers continue to limit women's access to leadership roles in sport. Future initiatives should focus on expanding opportunities for women across all regions and course levels to ensure more equitable representation.