Coaching Male and Female Athletes: The Similarities and Differences

Despite the differences that adult male and female athletes have, children of both genders have the same athletic characteristics until they reach puberty. Once they reach adolescence, male's and female’s athletic performance change. A coach should design programs for both genders that are similar but also have some different objectives to specialize in the needs of each.

  1. Strength

    • Male and females do not differ in their lower body strength, which is related to their fat-free mass. Females, however, have less upper-body strength then males relative to fat-free mass. A large reason for this is that the majority of a women’s muscle mass is below their waistline. According to “Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning,” women reach their peak in strength by age 20 and men reach it between the ages 20 and 30. On average, a female’s strength is two-thirds that of a male. Though women should use lighter machine weights, both sexes can perform the same types of exercise. Both sexes can improve their strength through resistance training proportionately.

    Cardiovascular

    • According to the "Physiology of Sport and Exercise,” males and females have similar cardiac output as they advance through puberty, meaning their aerobic conditioning can be similar in duration. Though boys' hearts are bigger than females', they are proportionate to body size. Beyond puberty, a female's cardiac output is 70 to 75 percent that of a male's.

    Injuries

    • Female athletes are six times more likely then males to experience knee injuries. Their smaller bone structure and extra fat mass makes their knee joints more vulnerable. A coach needs to be aware of such facts when he or she designs programs for females. Workouts that strengthen the structure of the knee will help to reduce the likelihood of injuries to the knee.

    Children

    • During early childhood, males and females have a similar body composition and size making their sports performance similar. In late childhood, hormonal changes start the process that differentiates the two genders. Females begin to accumulate more body fat then males do, and males increase in fat-free mass. Males form larger bones then females, making them less prone to bone fractures.

    Puberty

    • When children reach puberty, changes start to distinguish males and females from one another. Females reach their maximum height much quicker than guys. Conditioning for females should be less intense and less weight should be used than with males during this time. Females are also at a greater risk for overtraining. Pain or discomfort is a sign of overtraining.