Attracting the Best and the Brightest Begins with Recruiting More Women Professionals

Through four decades of sporadic growth in tennis participation, the percentage of women USPTA/RSPA professionals has remained at about 18%. In an October 12, 2003 article, Joel Drucker of wrote that women coach less than ten percent of the Top 150 singles and 50 doubles players who compete on the Hologic WTA Tour.

The issue is not quality. It is quantity. The tennis industry would be healthier and more vibrant if it attracted the best and the brightest men and women, integrated them into the system, and retained them. A necessary part of that process is the attraction of women professionals and coaches.

In the March 2025 RSI/ADDvantage Magazine, RSPA professional Susan Nardi discussed ways women tennis professionals and coaches add value to the industry. She emphasized the importance of cooperation in attracting more women professionals and coaches.

This article informs that discussion by evaluating changes in the United States population by sex (sex and gender are distinct concepts), the labor force participation rate, and educational attainment. It concludes with an analysis of NCAA demographic data for women tennis coaches.

Population

It is interesting to look at the ratio between the number of males and females over time. The Census Bureau calls this the sex ratio, or the number of men per 100 women. Since 1950, there have been more women. Census reports the following:

• In 1910, there were more males (106.2)

• In 1950, there were fewer males (99.2)

• In 1980, there were fewer males (94.5)

• In 1990, there were fewer males (95.1)

• In 2000, there were fewer males (96.3)

• In 2010, there were fewer males (96.7).

The Census Bureau expects the U.S. population will have fewer males through at least 2050.

The data in Table I shows the number of males increased by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.31%, and the number of women increased by 0.37% between 2000 and 2023. The M/F (sex) ratio is less than 1.0. There were more women in the population than men in 2023.

Tables II and III use single-year Census data to determine the number of males and females in the custom age categories. The M/F ratios tell a different story from Table I. Men outnumber women.

Table II looks at the population under 6 years and ages 6 to 17, the category for most junior players.

Two things stand out in Table II. First, slowing fertility rates caused the number of males and females to change at declining CAGRs. Second, there were more males than females in both age groups.

In 2023, the junior market was about 470,000 smaller than in 2020. In addition, there were about 1.2 million more boys than girls.

In Table III, the number of females, ages 18 to 24, increased by 0.49% from 2020 to 2023, and the number of males grew by 0.53%. There were about 639,000 more males than females in 2023. The M/F ratio was above 1.04 in all years.

The category of 25 to 54 is critical because it is the prime age for tennis players, professionals, and coaches. Between 2020 and 2023, men increased by 335,000, and women added 416,000. The M/F ratio for the age category dropped to slightly more than 1.01.

The single-year Census data (not shown) shows a significant shift when people reached 46 years. The M/F ratio dropped below 1.0 and stayed below that level for the remaining 54+ years.

Women in the Workforce

Chart I shows how the role of women in the workforce has changed since 1950. At that time, the labor force participation rate for men 16+ years was 86.2% (light burgundy line). In contrast, the labor force participation rate for women 16+ years was only 33.4% (light orange line). In the years since then, there was a significant increase in the number of women who entered the workforce. At the end of 2024, 57.4% of women and 67.9% of men participated in the labor force. Extensive research details the reasons for the decline in the participation rate for men and the increase for women.

The prime working age is 25 to 54 years. The labor force participation rate for women in the prime working age group (dotted dark orange line) increased from 35.9% in 1950 to 77.9% at the end of 2024. The participation rate for men in their prime working years (dotted burgundy line) declined from 95.8% in 1950 to 89.0% at year-end for 2024.

The increased number of women in the workforce shows their willingness to work to support their families and the economy. Presumably, their present occupations (outside the tennis industry) align better with their personal and professional goals than working as a tennis professional or coach.

Education Attainment

The data in Chart II shows that about the same percentage of men and women (25 years or older) completed at least four years of high school between 1965 and 2024. Since 2001, a slightly higher rate of women (light orange line) attended at least four years of high school than men (light burgundy line). In 1965, 49.9% of women attended at least four years of high school. That increased to 91.8% in 2022. A similar increase occurred for men. In 1965, 48.0% attended at least four years of high school. By 2022, that value had risen to 90.6%.

From 1965 to 2013, a higher percentage of men, 25 years or older (dark burgundy dotted line), completed four years or more of college than women in the same age group (dark orange dotted line). Since 2014, women have had a higher percentage of college attendance than men. In 1965, 12.0% of men, and 7.1% of women attended at least four years of college. In 2002, 36.2% of men and 39.0% of women attended at least four years of college.

Women have played a more prominent role in the economy and society because of their increased educational attainment and presence in the workforce. Their presence has been critical given the decline in the labor force participation rate for men. There is a strong demand for quality women employees in most professions, including stiff competition for women tennis professionals and coaches.

NCAA Women’s Head and Assistant Tennis Coaches (2012 to 2024) The NCAA has created its Demographic Database to track the characteristics of coaches and athletes in all sports.

Chart III compares changes in the percentage of women head and assistant tennis coaches in all divisions and DI.

The change in all divisions for head tennis coaches (light burgundy line) was relatively flat between 2012 and 2024, with a value of 28.6% in 2012 and 28.5% in 2024.

The percentage of assistant tennis coaches for all divisions (dark burgundy dotted line) started at 43.4% in 2012 and ended at 39.3% in 2024.

The percentage of DI head tennis coaches (light orange line) trended upward during this period. In 2012, about 32.0% of head coaches were women, and in 2024 there were 40.0%.

The percentage of D1 women assistant tennis coaches (dark orange dotted line) trended downward for five years and was flat through 2014. In 2012, 54.7% of the DI assistant coaches were women, and there were 46.7% in 2024.

What Does the Future Hold for Women Tennis Professionals and Coaches?

The data in this article supports the case that women are a critical component of the American economy, including the tennis industry. The number of qualified women for all professions has increased significantly.

The analysis of the NCAA demographic data is a microcosm of what is happening in the tennis industry. On a positive note, the percentage of female coaches for women's teams increased at the DI level. Hats off to DI coaches for leading the way!

On the other hand, additional work is essential to increase the number of women coaches in the DII and DIII divisions. And do not forget the clubs, parks, schools, and other facilities.

Companies are recruiting women to work in construction, manufacturing, the military, sales, marketing, accounting, advanced technology, and healthcare (the list goes on ad infinitum). The leaders of the tennis industry must work together to attract and retain the best and brightest women and men to make the industry healthier and more vibrant.