From the perspectives of politicians and marketing executives, "soccer moms" exercise enormous influence in 21st-century America. Corporations lust after the buying power of this vast female demographic, while candidates covet the votes of these active, engaged women.

But soccer moms exert precious little muscle in perhaps the most obvious venue of all: the sideline. Recent research shows the scarcity of female coaches, already well documented at the college level, is just as evident in youth sports. Despite the tremendous surge of female athletes empowered by Title IX, few women are taking the next step of becoming a coach -- preventing their development as leaders at a time when women should be progressing up the sports ladder.

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RACHEL BLOUNT

April 21, 2009

Star Tribune