The Role of Parental Involvement in Youth Sport Experience: Perceived and Desired Behavior by Male Soccer Players

Valerio Bonavolontà, Stefania Cataldi, Francesca Latino, Roberto Carvutto, Michele De Candia, Gioacchino Mastrorilli, Giulia Messina, Antonino Patti and Francesco Fischetti
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Valerio Bonavolontà: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Stefania Cataldi: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Francesca Latino: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Roberto Carvutto: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Michele De Candia: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Gioacchino Mastrorilli: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giulia Messina: Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Antonino Patti: Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Francesco Fischetti: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-9

Abstract: Parents play a key role in the youth sports educational experience. They are responsible for the introduction of their children to physical or sporting education and their involvement has been associated with sport participation in early stages. The aims of this cross-sectional study were, first, to assess the perceived and desired parental involvement by children and, secondly, to examine their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with any specific behavior. 80 male soccer players filled the Parental Involvement in Sport Questionnaire (PISQ) before or after a training session in presence of a coach. PISQ results revealed excessive active involvement and pressure, insufficient praise and understanding and satisfactory directive behavior from children’s parents. Our findings suggest that excessive parental involvement can cause pressure on children who would prefer parental participation characterized by praise and understanding. A balance between a supporting involvement without putting too much pressure is needed by the parents. To prevent burnout and dropout and to facilitate future practice, parents should be counseled (possibly by a sport educator) on how to positively support their children concerning their sport experience.

Keywords: parental involvement; youth sport experience; directive behavior; parenting educational style; pressure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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