Off-colour Landscape: Framing Race Equality in Sport Coaching

The article examines how UK sport organisations have framed race equality and diversity, in sport coaching. Semi-structured interviews were used to gain insight into organisational perspectives towards ‘race’, ethnicity, racial equality, and whiteness. Using Critical Race Theory and Black feminism, colour-blind practices were found to reinforce a denial that ‘race’ is a salient factor underpinning inequalities in coaching. The dominant practices employed by key stakeholders are discussed under three themes: equating diversity as inclusion; fore fronting meritocracy and individual agency; and framing whiteness. We argue that these practices sustain the institutional racialised processes and formations that serve to normalise and privilege whiteness. We conclude that for Black and minoritised ethnic coaches to become key actors in sport coaching in the UK ‘race’ and racial equality need to be centred in research, policy and practice.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2015-0174