“The Schedule Has Been Tough But We Think It's Worth It”: The Joys, Challenges, and Recommendations of Youth Sport Parents

Abstract

Substantial research has been conducted on children's experiences in youth sports, and on parental influences on children's' affective responses to participation, yet little is known about how parents themselves are impacted by organized programs for their children. The purpose of this study was to understand the positive and negative aspects of parental involvement in youth sports from a sample of 10 focus groups with 55 parents. Parents identified four global themes including: (a) parent joys, (b) parent challenges, (c) factors explaining parental behavior, and (d) adult responsibility. The implications of this study are to provide youth sport leaders, practitioners, and researchers with an understanding of the concerns youth sport parents have in regards to parental conduct at youth sport events.