Lucy Piggott
About
I am Associate Professor in sociology of sport. My research is broadly focused on issues of equality, diversity and inclusion in and through sport. I hold a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science from Loughborough University (UK), an MA in Sport and Society from the University of Brighton (UK) and a PhD in Sport Sociology from the University of Chichester (UK).
The focus of my PhD thesis was gender equity in English sport leadership and governance. During my time at the University of Chichester, I was closely involved in the organisation of the Anita White Foundation (AWF) and its key projects, including acting as coordinator of the Women's Sport Leadership Academy. In my previous role as Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, I managed the Women's Sport Leadership Academy for High Performance Coaches. I continue to act as an advisor to the AWF.
My current projects primarily continue to focus on issues relating to gender equity and inclusion in various forms of sport leadership and governance. This includes projects on national and international sport federations, sport for development and peace organisations, and esport organisations.
Research
I have worked on a number of funded research projects related to equality, diversity and inclusion in sport. This includes analysing the career pathways of British postholders in international sport governance (funded by UK Sport), assessing the state of gender equity and gender action in international sport governance (funded by UK Sport), the tailoring of soccer referee development for the women's game (funded by the English Football Association), an evaluation of the impacts and challenges of community sport groups in the UK becoming more inclusive and accessible for girls (funded by Sported), and a review of literature and policy relating to transgender, intersex and non-binary people in sport and physical activity (funded by the University of Hertfordshire and supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance).
Publications
Pre-2020 Publications:
Piggott, L. & Pike, E. (2019). “CEO Equals Man”: Gender and Informal Organisational Practices in English Sport Governance, International Review for the Sociology of Sport. DOI: 10.1177/1012690219865980
Piggott, L., Pike, E. & Matthews, J. (2019). England: A ‘Sporting Future’ for All? In A. Elling, J. Hovden & A. Knoppers (Eds.), Gender Diversity in European Sport Governance (pp. 105-116). Oxon: Routledge.
Pike, E., White, A., Matthews, J., Southon, S. & Piggott, L. (2018). Women and Sport Leadership: A Case Study of a Development Programme. In L. Mansfield, J. Caudwell, R. Watson & B. Wheaton (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Feminisms in Sport, Leisure and Physical Education (pp. 809- 823). London: Palgrave MacMillan.
Pre-2020 Commissioned Reports
Piggott, L. (2020). Transgender, intersex and non-binary people in sport and physical activity: A review of research and policy. Commissioned by University of Hertfordshire.
Datson, N., Everley, S. Greenlees, I, and Piggott, L. (2020). Tailoring Referee Development for the Women's Game. Commissioned by The English Football Association.
Piggott, L. and Pike, E. (2020). An evaluation of the impacts and challenges of community sport groups becoming more inclusive and accessible for girls. Commissioned by Sported.
2025
-
Nesse, Martin;
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Agergaard, Sine.
(2025)
Navigating the in-between: social workers’ perceptions and experiences of facilitating sport for unaccompanied minor refugees in Norway.
International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
Academic article
2024
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria.
(2024)
“It’s Like This One Man’s Baby”: Gender and Decision-Making Power in Sport for Development and Peace Organizations.
Journal of Sport Management
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Mehus, Ingar;
Adriaanse, Johanna.
(2024)
Gender Distribution in Sport for Development and Peace Organizations: A Critical Mass of Women in Leadership and Governance Positions? .
Journal of Sport for Development
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Matthews, Jordan J. K..
(2024)
Gender representation and policy implementation in the governance of international Paralympic organizations.
Edward Elgar Publishing
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Hovden, Jorid;
Knoppers, Annelies.
(2024)
Why Organization Studies Should Care More about Gender Exclusion and Inclusion in Sport Organizations.
Research in the Sociology of Organizations
Academic article
2023
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Matthews, Jordan;
Adriaanse, Johanna.
(2023)
Analysis of career pathways of British postholders in international sport governance.
UK Sport
Report
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Tjønndal, Anne .
(2023)
“It becomes a fight against who I am, rather than what I say”: Gender, positionality, and inclusion in esports leadership.
International Review for the Sociology of Sport
Academic article
-
Nesse, Martin;
Agergaard, Sine;
Piggott, Lucy Victoria.
(2023)
Young refugees’ experiences of accumulating horizontal and vertical social capital through organised and informal sports.
International Review for the Sociology of Sport
Academic article
2022
-
Piggott, Lucy;
Matthews, Jordan;
Adriaanse, Johanna.
(2022)
Analysis of career pathways of British postholders in international sport governance: Interim Report.
UK Sport
Report
-
Piggott, Lucy;
Tjønndal, Anne ;
Hovden, Jorid.
(2022)
Leadership and gender inclusion in esports organisations.
Routledge
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Velija, Philippa;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
Gender Equity in UK Sport Leadership and Governance.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
Past, Present, Future: Policy and Gender Equity in English Sport Leadership and Governance.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Simpkins, Elena;
Velija, Philippa;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
The Sport Intersectional Model of Power (SIMP) as a tool for understanding intersectionality in sport governance and leadership.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Velija, Philippa;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
Introduction.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2021
-
Matthews, Jordan;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
Is gender on the international agenda? Gender representation and policy in international sport governance.
UK Sport
Report
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
“You only go from what you know”: the reproduction, resistance and evolution of gendered recruitment and selection processes in English sport governance.
European Journal for Sport and Society (EJSS)
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
Gender Policy in Sport Governance: A Comparison of Norway and England.
Fagbokforlaget
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
Gender and social inequity in and through sport leadership.
Edward Elgar Publishing
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2020
-
Christian, Ed;
Kelly, John S.;
Piggott, Lucy;
Hoare, James.
(2020)
A demographic analysis of UK adventure sports coaches.
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy;
Matthews, Jordan.
(2020)
Gender, Leadership, and Governance in English National Governing Bodies of Sport: Formal Structures, Rules, and Processes.
Journal of Sport Management
Academic article
Journal publications
-
Nesse, Martin;
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Agergaard, Sine.
(2025)
Navigating the in-between: social workers’ perceptions and experiences of facilitating sport for unaccompanied minor refugees in Norway.
International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria.
(2024)
“It’s Like This One Man’s Baby”: Gender and Decision-Making Power in Sport for Development and Peace Organizations.
Journal of Sport Management
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Mehus, Ingar;
Adriaanse, Johanna.
(2024)
Gender Distribution in Sport for Development and Peace Organizations: A Critical Mass of Women in Leadership and Governance Positions? .
Journal of Sport for Development
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Hovden, Jorid;
Knoppers, Annelies.
(2024)
Why Organization Studies Should Care More about Gender Exclusion and Inclusion in Sport Organizations.
Research in the Sociology of Organizations
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Tjønndal, Anne .
(2023)
“It becomes a fight against who I am, rather than what I say”: Gender, positionality, and inclusion in esports leadership.
International Review for the Sociology of Sport
Academic article
-
Nesse, Martin;
Agergaard, Sine;
Piggott, Lucy Victoria.
(2023)
Young refugees’ experiences of accumulating horizontal and vertical social capital through organised and informal sports.
International Review for the Sociology of Sport
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
“You only go from what you know”: the reproduction, resistance and evolution of gendered recruitment and selection processes in English sport governance.
European Journal for Sport and Society (EJSS)
Academic article
-
Christian, Ed;
Kelly, John S.;
Piggott, Lucy;
Hoare, James.
(2020)
A demographic analysis of UK adventure sports coaches.
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
Academic article
-
Piggott, Lucy;
Matthews, Jordan.
(2020)
Gender, Leadership, and Governance in English National Governing Bodies of Sport: Formal Structures, Rules, and Processes.
Journal of Sport Management
Academic article
Books
-
Velija, Philippa;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
Gender Equity in UK Sport Leadership and Governance.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Part of book/report
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Matthews, Jordan J. K..
(2024)
Gender representation and policy implementation in the governance of international Paralympic organizations.
Edward Elgar Publishing
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Piggott, Lucy;
Tjønndal, Anne ;
Hovden, Jorid.
(2022)
Leadership and gender inclusion in esports organisations.
Routledge
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
Past, Present, Future: Policy and Gender Equity in English Sport Leadership and Governance.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Simpkins, Elena;
Velija, Philippa;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
The Sport Intersectional Model of Power (SIMP) as a tool for understanding intersectionality in sport governance and leadership.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Velija, Philippa;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2022)
Introduction.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
Gender Policy in Sport Governance: A Comparison of Norway and England.
Fagbokforlaget
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
Gender and social inequity in and through sport leadership.
Edward Elgar Publishing
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Report
-
Piggott, Lucy Victoria;
Matthews, Jordan;
Adriaanse, Johanna.
(2023)
Analysis of career pathways of British postholders in international sport governance.
UK Sport
Report
-
Piggott, Lucy;
Matthews, Jordan;
Adriaanse, Johanna.
(2022)
Analysis of career pathways of British postholders in international sport governance: Interim Report.
UK Sport
Report
-
Matthews, Jordan;
Piggott, Lucy.
(2021)
Is gender on the international agenda? Gender representation and policy in international sport governance.
UK Sport
Report
Teaching
Courses
Supervision
PhD Supervision
Martin Nesse, The Norwegian Model of Sports as a Care and Welfare Actor in the Civil Society (Present, NTNU)
Tina Danielsson, Women's Experiences of Menopause in Norwegian Workplaces (Present, NTNU)
Helen Curtis, The International Women and Sport Movement: Understanding progress and assessing impact of gender equity goals and strategies (Present, University of Hertfordshire, UK)
BA and MA supervision
I supervise students at both bachelor's and master's levels, primarily on topics related to social inequality in sport. Topics that I have supervised broadly include:
- Issues, experiences and perceptions relating to gender diverse youth in sport and physical education
- Gender inclusion in coaching
- Sport as a tool for integration and inclusion for refugees and asylum seekers
- Gender inclusion in sport media
- Gender inclusion in sport organisations
- Experiences of the menstrual cycle in sporting contexts
Outreach
WISEAN Podcast: Dr Lucy Piggott on gender equity in UK sport governance
Why sexism is still a problem at the most ‘gender-equal’ Olympics
Kvinner vinner, men leder sjelden
Women win on the field, but rarely lead in governance
Uformelle nettverk holder kvinner unna toppverv i idretten
Informal networking keeps women away from top management positions in sports
#HerStory: Lucy Piggott
2024
-
Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy Victoria. (2024) Gender inclusion in sport organisations: What do we know & what can we learn?. Turkish Sports Sciences Association 22nd International Sports Sciences Congress , Ankara 2024-11-21 - 2024-11-24
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Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy Victoria; Matthews, Jordan J. K.; Adriaanse, Johanna. (2024) The role of gendered networking for career advancement in international sport governance. European Sociology of Sport Association 2024 European Association for the Sociology of Sport Conference , Madrid 2024-06-04 - 2024-06-06
2023
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Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy Victoria. (2023) “It's like this one man's baby”: Gender and power in sport for development and peace organisations. University of Ottawa, Canada 2023 World Congress of Sociology of Sport , University of Ottawa, Canada 2023-08-14 - 2023-08-17
2022
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Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy; Tjønndal, Anne . (2022) Gender inclusion in Norwegian esports organisations . NORA 2022-06-20 - 2022-06-22
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Academic lectureTjønndal, Anne ; Piggott, Lucy; Hovden, Jorid. (2022) Leadership and Gender Inclusion in Esports Organisations. Nord universitet The 14th annual conference of the Transnational Working Group for the Study of Gender and Sport , Bodø 2022-11-16 - 2022-11-18
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Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy; Mehus, Ingar; Adriaanse, Johanna. (2022) Gender distribution across decision making positions of sport for development and peace (SDP) organisations. Nord University 14th Annual Conference of the Transnational Working Group for the Study of Gender and Sport , Bodø 2022-11-16 - 2022-11-18
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Academic lectureMatthews, Jordan; Piggott, Lucy. (2022) Gender representation and policy in international sports governance. International Working Group on Women and Sport 8th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport , Auckland, New Zealand 2022-11-14 - 2022-11-17
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Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy. (2022) "You only go from what you know”: Gendered recruitment and selection processes in English sport governance. EASS 2022-09-07 - 2022-09-10
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Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy; Tjønndal, Anne . (2022) Leadership and gender inclusion in esport organisations. ISSA/EASS 2022-06-06 - 2022-06-10
2021
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Academic lecturePiggott, Lucy; Matthews, Jordan. (2021) Gender representation and policy in international sport governance. ISSA 2021-11-15 - 2022-11-19