Rachael Newport, Steffan Berrow and Maita Furusa from Swansea University all research into parenting within youth sport, led and supervised by Dr Camilla Knight. Rachael is a PhD student researching into the development of parent support programmes within youth football. Steffan is a third year PhD student exploring parenting involvement, specifically the impact that it has on youth athletes. Maita is an MSc student with an interest in understanding children’s experiences in sport and the effect of parental involvement on their experience.
Parents play a hugely valuable role in sport. As volunteers they give up countless evenings and weekends to provide children with the opportunity to take part and grow their passion for sport. Without an army of enthusiastic and passionate parents volunteering to help, many grass roots sports clubs would struggle to operate and continue to give children sporting opportunities. However, parents do so much more than provide children with opportunities. The involvement, behaviour, and support that they give to children can have an overwhelmingly positive influence on children’s sporting experience and encourage them to develop a love for sport that will last a lifetime.
Parents’ influence on children’s sporting involvement
Through their involvement, parents can positively influence children’s motivation, wellbeing, and development in sport. For example, when parents encourage children to make their own choices within boundaries, children are more likely to continue in sport rather than drop out, as well as report increased motivation and self-esteem. Children feel more motivated and supported when parents display that they value and understand the importance of youth sport. Even when parents are simply ‘there for them’ at competitions children feel supported, particularly when parents manage and control their emotions.
Further, when parents show their disapproval of unsporting behaviour and praise effort, it means that the child is more likely to make mature tabiat decisions and reflect parents’ tabiat values. Children deal with setbacks better when parents offer children tangible, emotional, and informational support. This support also facilitates children’s ability to cope with injury and deselection. Although there are behaviours that parents can display to enhance the sporting experience for their children, what transcends is the requirement for parents to be flexible and adaptive in their approach. By being responsive to their child’s needs, requirements, and desires, parents can enhance the youth sport experience for their children.
How can parents behave effectively for their children?
One way in which parents can respond effectively to their children’s needs is to understand how they want parents to behave. Studies have shown that children have identified preferences for parental involvement at home, during training, and at competitions¹. Prior to competitions children want their parents to help them to physically and psychologically prepare, which gives the child the best opportunity to thrive at the competition. Children said that it was important to them that their parents attended their competitions and showed interest by clapping and providing encouragement.
Then again, children have highlighted the value of parents limiting overly positive or negative emotions that may arise while watching them compete. Children prefer their parents to be supportive without placing too much pressure upon them. After competitions children said that they wanted positively phrased constructive feedback from their parents. However, it is important for feedback to be given at the best time, and the children should guide the timing of the feedback.
Parents are important – let’s look after them!
Given the importance of parents volunteering time, money and emotional energy to their children’s sport, consideration should be taken for the role and experiences of parents. The role of being a youth sport parent is certainly not an easy one and this becomes even more challenging when combining it with being a parent-volunteer. There is a wealth of evidence highlighting the challenges or stressors that parents may experience within sport2,3. For instance, parents can face demands from the environment and supporting their child to progress and develop within sport4,5. The financial and time commitment that parents give to youth sport can be tough, as it results in restricted time spent with other children or family members, a limited social life and even sacrificing potential career progression opportunities. Parents can experience emotional challenges when watching their child participate in youth sport. Parents naturally say that they want to protect their child from the negative experiences of competition like struggling against an opponent, disappointment, losses or foul play. This is made doubly worse for the parent with the knowledge that they will need to comfort and support them after a disappointing performance.
Parents need support too!
Ultimately parents want what is best for their child. They want to support them to develop and progress as much as possible within their chosen sport. Parents can benefit from open and honest conversations with coaches, being provided with a safe space to offload, as well as highlighting the expectations of parents can reduce the impact of the challenges faced. Encouraging parents to understand the needs of their child and what their child wants them to say and do before, during, and after a competition can reassure them and help them support their child. Finally, recognising the vital role that parents and parent-volunteers play in youth sport is critical to ensuring they are valued.
Parents are hugely important within youth sport and without them many children would not be able to take part in sport. The involvement and behaviours of parents within sport can have a positive effect on children’s experiences. Supporting parents to recognise the needs of children and focusing on enhancing their enjoyment creates a sport environment where children can flourish. However, understanding of the demands and experiences parents have is also important. Parents should be offered the opportunity to discuss the demands they are facing, speak openly with coaches, and understand how best to support their child. Parents should be recognised for the value they add to youth sport and the time they commit to support their children through volunteering.
Top Tips for Parents Supporting their Children in Sport
- Create a shared goal that you and your child would like to achieve from sport.
- Focus on your child’s enjoyment and effort, rather than the outcome.
- Offer your child support before, during and after a competition based upon their preferences.
- With the right support your child will gain much more from sport, than learning how to play better.
- Recognise the value and importance of the role that you have as a parent, plus how these roles may change over time based upon your child’s needs.
References
1. Knight, C.J., Neely, K.C., & Holt, N.L. (2011). Parental behaviors in team sports: How do female athletes want parents to behave? Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23, 76-92.
2. Harwood, C.G., & Knight, C.J. (2009a). Stress in youth sport: A developmental investigation of tennis parents. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 447-456.
3. Harwood, C.G., & Knight, C.J. (2009b). Understanding parental stressors: An investigation of British tennis-parents. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27, 339-351.
4. Clarke, N.J., & Harwood, C.G. (2014). Parenting experiences in elite youth football: A phenomenological study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 15, 528-537.
5. Harwood, C.G., Drew, A., & Knight, C.J. (2010). Parental stressors in professional youth football academies: A qualitative investigation of specialising stage parents. Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, 2, 39-55.
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar