Parental sport achievement and the development of athlete expertise

Abstract

This study sought to examine how parental sport involvement and attainment were related to the eventual level of competitive sport attained by their children. Athletes (n = 229) were divided into three skill level groups (elite: n = 139; pre-elite: n = 33; non-elite: n = 57), based on the peak competition level achieved in their career, which were compared using chi-squares tests of independence and analyses of variance according to parents sport characteristics provided through the Developmental History of Athletes Questionnaire. Parental recreational and competitive sport participation was overrepresented among elite athletes, as were parents who reached an elite level of sport themselves. Results were found to differ according to parent sex, with athlete skill level significantly related to the sport participation and skill level of fathers, but not mothers. Results suggest parental sport experiences at different levels of competition influence the development of athletes, although these relationships are subject to many factors.

“I support you in everything”: a qualitative study on maternal perception about their skating daughters

“…In this study, the sports practice presented itself as a potent element in the process of socialization, of establishing new affective bonds, capable of promoting feelings of belonging and pleasure provided by the sports activity itself, as corroborated by the literature 1,5,13,14 . Studies highlight that emotional and affective support, focusing on play and enjoyment and interest in the child's sport have an important role in guaranteeing their healthy psychological development 1,14,15 .…”

“…A similar result was found in a study with former athletes of rhythmic gymnastics and their parents, which revealed the tendency of mothers to provide daily and constant support through praising, direct care, frequent contact with the coaches, and making costumes for competitions, while fathers' assistance happened through financial and material support 21 . The effects of parental gender in relation to children's sport participation were also observed by Wilson et al 13 who found that the competitive sport history of fathers, but not of mothers, was associated with athletes' skill level. Such findings reinforce the importance of amplifying the understanding of the parental role in the development of their children's sport participation.…”

“…Competitive sports history in the family was reported by three participants. For these families, the history of the parental sport (participation and expertise) may have influenced the perception of their children's participation in sport 13 . However, other factors such as level of education, social class, and other social markers can also play a role.…”

“…The involvement of fathers in partnership with mothers may contribute to the greater interest of children in sports development and enjoyment. The participation of parents providing support, encouragement, and guidance is very important especially in the early years of sports practice and during specialized years 13,14 .…”

Understanding High Achievement: The Case for Eminence

“…For instance, the need for an extensive period of deliberate practice (Ericsson et al, 1993) is now established as a basic requirement for the development of expertise, but the concept of deliberate practice is relatively new to the science of human skill acquisition and expertise. Similarly, the current focus on psychological qualities such as grit (Duckworth et al, 2007) and self-regulation (McCardle et al, 2019), perceptual cognitive issues such as the quiet eye (Vickers, 2016) and representative learning designs (Pinder et al, 2011), and environmental factors such as quality of the early developmental environment (Baker et al, 2009) and the role of athletic parents (Wilson et al, 2019) each reflect relatively new developments in this field of research.…”