Abstract
Some of the more protective and favorable factors for the development and health in children and teenagers are family and sport, so family involvement in the children’s sports activities is vital in their sports process. The purpose of this study was to analyze the verbal behavior (positive, negative, and neutral comments) of family spectators of school-age athletes regarding sociodemographic and sporting variables. The sample consisted of 190 family spectators of 215 male and female (Mage = 11.66; SD = 1.60) football, basketball, and volleyball players. The Parents’ Observation Instrument at Sport Events (POISE) was used for the observation and LINCE was used to codify the verbal comments made. After registering 38,829 comments, the results showed statistically significant differences in relation to the comments made and the gender of athletes, geographical area, kind of sport, and the sporting category. The findings highlight that in a competitive environment, the comments made by spectators related to athletes do not seem to be initiators of potentially violent situations but rather are dependent on the atmosphere in question. Further research is required in this area to foster positive conduct relating to grassroots sports.
Highlights
In recent years, family participation in grassroots sport has increased significantly [1,2], so that the verbal behavior of parents is the main method of family participation in children’s sporting events [3].In this sense, one of the consequences is the increase of inappropriate comments by family members and spectators [4]
Prevalence of the Comments Made by Family Spectators
The highest number of registered comments made by family spectators at matches or games corresponded to football (n = 18,024), which had a higher play-observation time (720 min), followed by volleyball (n = 12527; 420 min) and, lastly, basketball games, with the lowest rate (n = 8278; 192 min)
Summary
Family participation in grassroots sport has increased significantly [1,2], so that the verbal behavior of parents is the main method of family participation in children’s sporting events [3]. In this sense, one of the consequences is the increase of inappropriate comments by family members and spectators [4]. The media has recorded an increase in aggressive behavior and/or violence in sport [6,7]. It has not been possible to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between inappropriate comments and violent behavior in sport, there is no doubt that such inappropriate comments generate an aggressive atmosphere that, on occasions, can lead to violent
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
