Connection between Social Capital and Sport Success of Young Tennis Players

Dario Novak, Filip Svalina and Eva Anđela Delale
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Dario Novak: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Nikole Tesle 6, 21000 Split, Croatia
Filip Svalina: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Horvaćanski zavoj 15, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Eva Anđela Delale: Institute for Anthropological Research, Gajeva ulica 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Social Sciences, 2020, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-9

Abstract: Young athletes are influenced by different physical, psychological, and social factors. Social factors significantly impact a young athlete’s growth. Parents, coaches, and schools are important factors in young athletes’ sports careers. Achieving sport success without their support would be a real challenge. Social capital is a resource that comes from social relationships and social networks. It is a resource that impacts athletes and sports performance. The aim of this study was to determine the connection between social capital and competitive success in young tennis players. This research was conducted with participants of an ITF (International Tennis Federation) junior tournament in tennis. Research included 75 tournament players (N = 36 girls, age: 15.54 ± 1.29 years; N = 39 boys, age: 16.13 ± 0.98 years). Participants filled out a questionnaire which evaluated their social capital. Social capital predictors were significant predictors of sporting success (13.1% variance explained), which indicated that there is a moderate association between social capital indicators and sport success in young tennis players. Sports performance was higher with a higher degree of family and sports team social capital among girls. It was higher with a lower school social capital among boys. Intervention that leverages social capital might serve as an avenue for performance promotion in youth.

Keywords: social capital; youth; adolescence; tennis; sports success (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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