Role of the Coach in Encouraging Parent–Adolescent Interaction in Sports: The Experiences of Youth Sport Parent

Abstract

Phenomenological analysis revealed the importance of the coaches’ – as a sport educators – sport psychologists – sport professional specialist’s role in encouraging parent–child interaction in youth sport. In order to create a positive motivational environment for young athletes there is a need of a positive training and education strategy used by the coach, the coach’s ability to create parental interest in the child’s sport, to build and maintain positive relationships between sport participants, solve ethical and social problems arising in the sporting environment. The effectiveness of the coach’s influence on parent–child interaction in the sporting environment largely depends on the coach’s basic professional skills and intrapersonal competencies acquired in higher sport education institutions, through growing work experience and various professional development programmes.