Understanding the role parents play in tennis success: a national survey of junior tennis coaches.
OBJECTIVE
To assess coaches' perceptions about the role of parents and their positive and negative behaviours in junior tennis.


METHODS
A national survey of 132 United States junior tennis coaches was completed. The extent and seriousness/impact of parent-child interaction problems and positive behaviours were rated.


RESULTS
Parents were perceived as very important for junior tennis success. Most parents (59%) that these coaches had worked with were seen as having a positive influence on their player's development. However, the respondents also felt that 36% of parents negatively influenced their child's development. Positive parental behaviours included providing logistical, financial, and social-emotional support, as well as tennis opportunities and unconditional love. Negative parent behaviours included overemphasising winning, holding unrealistic expectations, and criticising their child.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings are discussed relative to current sport parenting and athletic talent development research and theorising. The need to educate parents is emphasised.
Gould
D
D
Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1049, USA. drgould@msu.edu
Lauer
L
L
Rolo
C
C
Jannes
C
C
Pennisi
N
N
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013715:Tennis / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States