Managing Stereotypes: A NEW Online Course

You can't eradicate stereotypes, but you can be aware of how to manage them...writes The Coach Learning Group Co-Founder and PGA Professional, Sue Shapcott. 

As coaches, we are exposed to the multitude of stereotypes that exist in golf. By definition, stereotypes are simply “pictures in our heads” about categories of people and experiences. There are stereotypes about what golfers are, what they are not, and who is and isn’t a golfer. Stereotypes are a way for us to organize the world around us, and they are not inherently a bad thing. However, stereotypes can have very real effects on the people they target.

Researchers have studied the effects that stereotypes have (stereotype threat) across a range of experiences. The bottom-line is that when people know they belong to a group that is expected to underperform, they do.

Although coaches will not be able to eradicate golfer stereotypes, we can be aware of how to manage them. By doing so, we may keep more diverse players in golf. Our course, ‘Managing Stereotypes’ explores why people underperform when they experience stereotype threat. In the case of golfers, it describes situations that may trigger stereotype threat and challenges coaches to think through ways to minimize its effects in their own coaching environments.

The Coach Learning Group’s courses have been awarded CPD Points by the PGA. As part of the Member Education Programme, successful completion of this 'Managing Stereotypes' course yields 15 CPD points. Members are invited to register for on-line courses HERE.