A grounded theory of the influences affecting youth sport experiences and withdrawal patterns

Abstract

Despite a vast body of research on youth sport withdrawal, our understanding of youth athletes’ withdrawal experiences is limited by an overemphasis on descriptive-quantitative methodological approaches and models of withdrawal that are not grounded in sport stakeholders’ experiences . The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore sport stakeholders’ perspectives on the influences that affect youths’ sport experiences and withdrawal patterns. Constructivist grounded theory methodology was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 participants; 15 athletes (eight males and seven females, 11–19 years of age), 10 parents (five fathers and five mothers, 40–55 years of age), and seven youth sport coaches (four males and three females, 28–58 years of age). Open and focused coding procedures, memo writing, and diagraming were used during the data analysis. The participants’ responses revealed that youth sport experiences and withdrawal patterns were informed by their subjective interpretations of personal (e.g., competence), social (e.g., coach-athlete relationships), and organizational (e.g., costs) influences. Youth withdrawal patterns included within-sport transfer, sport-specific termination, and organized sport termination. Age and gender were also interpreted as having an impact on personal, social, and organizational influences as well as reported withdrawal patterns. This study advances current youth sport literature by offering a theory of the influences affecting youth athletes’ sport experiences and withdrawal patterns grounded in stakeholders’ perspectives. Recommendations for future research and practice are suggested. Lay Summary: A theoretical model grounded in sport stakeholders’ perspectives was developed to demonstrate how youth sport experiences and withdrawal patterns are informed by their interpretations of personal, social, and organizational influences. Withdrawal patterns included: within-sport transfer, sport-specific termination, and organized sport termination. The theoretical model may be used to help stakeholders design and deliver more developmentally appropriate youth sport.