Let’s Hear It From the Kids! Examining the Experiences, Views, and Needs of Highly Committed Children Involved in Youth Sport

in The Sport Psychologist

Click name to view affiliation

Jennifer J. Harris Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Jennifer J. Harris in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4232-4735 *
,
Dave Collins Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Dave Collins in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7601-0454
, and
Christine Nash Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Christine Nash in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0161-1546
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2022-0114
Keywords:
parents; well-being; support; passion
First Published Online:
28 Feb 2023
In Print:
Volume 37: Issue 2
Page Range:
81–91
Restricted access

Sport specialization and intensive training programs are becoming increasingly popular, but there is an ongoing debate as to their value. This study explored how children experience arduous, specialized training and whether they find it enjoyable and meaningful. We also examined their perspective of what parental involvement they needed. One hundred three participants filled out an online questionnaire. Results demonstrated that the participants were almost without exception highly committed to their training. They acknowledged the documented downsides, such as long hours, pain, and repetition, but expressed resounding commitment, giving little indication that they looked for change. They admitted that they preferred their parents not to be involved with their coaching and disclosed that showing pride for them was their main wish. This study demonstrates that passion can engender powerful commitment and satisfaction from training that may be sometimes considered by others as too challenging for a young person to undertake.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

The Sport Psychologist

Cover The Sport Psychologist

  • The Aspen Institute Project Play. (n.d.). Youth sports facts: Participation rates. Accessed January 5, 2023. https://www.aspenprojectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/participation-rates

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bell, D.R., Post, E.G., Biese, K., Bay, C., & McLeod, T.V. (2018). Sport specialization and risk of overuse injuries: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 142(3), Article 20180657. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-0657

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bonneville-Roussy, A., Lavigne, G.L., & Vallerand, R.J. (2011). When passion leads to excellence: The case of musicians. Psychology of Music, 39(1), 123–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735609352441

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Coakley, J. (2006). The good father: Parental expectations and youth sports. Leisure Studies, 25(2), 153–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614360500467735

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Côté, J., Baker, J., & Abernethy, B. (2007). Practice and play in the development of sport expertise. In G. Tenebaum & R.C. Eklund (Eds.), Handbook of sport psychology (pp. 184–202). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118270011.ch8

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Côté, J., & Hay, J. (2002). Children’s involvement in sport: A developmental perspective. In J.M. Silva & D.E. Stevens (Eds.), Psychological foundations of sport (pp. 484–502). Allyn & Bacon.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Crane, J., & Temple, V. (2015). A systematic review of dropout from organized sport among children and youth. European Physical Education Review, 21(1), 114–131. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X14555294

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Creswell, J.W., Klassen, A.C., Plano Clark, V.L., & Smith, K.C. (2011). Best practices for mixed methods research in the health sciences. National Institutes of Health.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dewey, J. (1922). Human nature in conduct. Henry Holt.

  • DiFiori, J.P., Benjamin, H.J., Brenner, J.S., Gregory, A., Jayanthi, N., Landry, G.L., & Luke, A. (2014). Overuse injuries and burnout in youth sports: A position statement from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(4), 287–288. PubMed ID: 24463910 https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-093299

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • DiSanti, J.S., & Erickson, K. (2019). Youth sport specialization: A multidisciplinary scoping systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(18), 2094–2105. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1621476

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dixon-Woods, M., Young, B., & Ross, E. (2006). Researching chronic childhood illness: The example of childhood cancer. Chronic Illness, 2(3), 165–177. https://doi.org/10.1179/174592006X129455

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dorsch, T.E., King, M.Q., Dunn, C.R., Osai, K.V., & Tulane, S. (2017). The impact of evidence-based parent education in organized youth sport: A pilot study. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 29(2), 199–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2016.1194909

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ericsson, K.A., Krampe, R.T., & Tesch-Romer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance (Anders Ericsson, Krampe & Tesch-Romer, 1993). Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fass, P.S., & Grossberg, M. (Eds.). (2011). Reinventing childhood after World War II. University of Pennsylvania Press.

  • Furusa, M.G., Knight, C.J., & Hill, D.M. (2020). Parental involvement and children’s enjoyment in sport. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(6), 936–954. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2020.1803393

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gallagher M. (2009). Ethics. In K. Tisdall, J.M. Davis, & M. Gallagher (Eds.), Researching with children and young people: Research design, method and analysis (pp. 11–28). Sage.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Goodway, J., & Robinson, L.E. (2015). Developmental trajectories in early sport specialization: A case for early sampling from a physical growth and motor development perspective the influence of aligned developmental feedback on throwing performance of third-grade students view project. Kinesiology Review, 4(3), 267–278. https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2015-0028

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Graham, A., Powell, M.A., & Taylor, N. (2015). Ethical research involving children: Encouraging reflexive engagement in research with children and young people. Children and Society, 29(5), 331–343. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12089

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Güllich, A., Faß, L., Gies, C., & Wald, V. (2020). On the empirical substantiation of the definition of “Deliberate Practice” (Ericsson et al., 1993) and “Deliberate Play” (Côté et al., 2007) in youth athletes. Journal of Expertise, 3(1), 1–19. https://www.journalofexpertise.org

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Güllich, A., Macnamara, B.N., & Hambrick, D.Z. (2022). What makes a champion? Early multidisciplinary practice, not early specialization, predicts world-class performance. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(1), 6–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620974772

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hill, G.M. (1993). Youth sport participation of professional baseball players. Sociology of Sport Journal, 10(1), 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.10.1.107

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Holt, N.L., Deal, C.J., & Pankow, K. (2020). Positive youth development through sport. In G. Tenenbaum & R.C. Eklund, Handbook of sport psychology (pp. 429–446). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119568124.ch20

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Horn, T.S., & Horn, J.L. (2007). Family influences on children’s sport and physical activity participation, behavior, and psychosocial responses.  In G. Tenenbaum & R.C. Eklund (Eds.), Handbook of sport psychology (3rd ed., pp. 685–711). John Wiley & Sons.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jayanthi, N., Pinkham, C., Dugas, L., Patrick, B., & LaBella, C. (2013). Sports specialization in young athletes: Evidence-based recommendations. Sports Health, 5(3), 251–257. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738112464626

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jayanthi, N.A., Labella, C.R., Fischer, D., Pasulka, J., & Dugas, L.R. (2015). Sports-specialized intensive training and the risk of injury in young athletes: A clinical case-control study. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(4), 794–801. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546514567298

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Knight, C.J., & Holt, N.L. (2014). Parenting in youth tennis: Understanding and enhancing children’s experiences. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 15(2), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2013.10.010

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Knight, C.J., Little, G.C.D., Harwood, C.G., & Goodger, K. (2016). Parental involvement in elite junior slalom canoeing. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 28(2), 234–256. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2015.1111273

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • LaPrade, R.F., Agel, J., Baker, J., Brenner, J.S., Cordasco, F.A., Côté, J., … Provencher, M.T. (2016). AOSSM early sport specialization consensus statement. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 4(4), Article 2325967116644241. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967116644241

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lienhart, N., Nicaise, V., Knight, C.J., & Guillet-Descas, E. (2019). Understanding parent stressors and coping experiences in elite sports contexts. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9(3), 390–404. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000186

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Marsh, H.W., Vallerand, R.J., Lafreniére, M.A.K., Parker, P., Morin, A.J.S., Carbonneau, N., … Paquet, Y. (2013). Passion: Does one scale fit all? Construct validity of two-factor passion scale and psychometric invariance over different activities and languages. Psychological Assessment, 25(3), 796–809. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032573

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McCarthy, P.J., & Jones, M.V. (2007). A qualitative study of sport enjoyment in the sampling years. Sport Psychologist, 21(4), 400–416. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.21.4.400

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McCarthy, P.J., Jones, M.V., & Clark-Carter, D. (2008). Understanding enjoyment in youth sport: A developmental perspective. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9(2), 142–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.01.005

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McKay, C.D., Cumming, S.P., & Blake, T. (2019). Youth sport: Friend or Foe? Best Practice and Research: Clinical Rheumatology, 33, 141–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2019.01.017

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mossman, G.J., Cronin, L.D., Harwood, C.G., Knight, C.J., Thrower, S.N., Berrow, S.R., … Rothlisberger, K.J. (2019). Life skills development and enjoyment in youth soccer: The importance of parental behaviours. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 31(2), 850–856. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2018.1433250

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Palinkas, L.A., Horwitz, S.M., Green, C.A., Wisdom, J.P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Powell, M.A., Fitzgerald, R.M., Taylor, N., & Graham, A. (2012). International literature review: Ethical issues in undertaking research with children and young people. Childwatch International Research Network.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rip, B., Fortin, S., & Vallerand, R.J. (2006). The relationship between passion and injury in dance students. Journal of Dance, Medicine & Science, 10(18), 14–20.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sparkes, A.C., & Smith, B. (2013). Qualitative research methods in sport, exercise and health: From process to product. Routledge.

  • Strachan, L., Côté, J., & Deakin, J. (2009). “Specializes” versus “samplers” in youth sport: Comparing experiences and outcomes. Sport Psychologist, 23(1), 77–92. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.23.1.77

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tamminen, K.A., Poucher, Z.A., & Povilaitis, V. (2017). The car ride home: An interpretive examination of parent-athlete sport conversations. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 6(4), 325–339. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000093

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Thrower, S.N., Harwood, C.G., & Spray, C.M. (2017). Educating and supporting tennis parents: An action research study. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 9(5), 600–618. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2017.1341947

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J. (2008). On the psychology of passion: In search of what makes people’s lives most worth living. Canadian Psychology, 49(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/0708-5591.49.1.1

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J. (2010). Chapter three: On passion for life activities: The dualistic model of passion. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 42(10), 97–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(10)42003-1

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J., Mageau, G.A., Elliot, A.J., Dumais, A., Demers, M.A., & Rousseau, F. (2008). Passion and performance attainment in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9(3), 373–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.05.003

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J., Mageau, G.A., Ratelle, C., Léonard, M., Blanchard, C., Koestner, R., … Marsolais, J. (2003). Les Passions de 1’Âme: On obsessive and harmonious passion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(4), 756–767. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.4.756

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J., Salvy, S.J., Mageau, G.A., Elliot, A.J., Denis, P.L., Grouzet, F.M.E., & Blanchard, C. (2007). On the role of passion in performance. Journal of Personality, 75(3), 505–534. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2007.00447.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Verner-Filion, J., Vallerand, R.J., Amiot, C.E., & Mocanu, I. (2017). The two roads from passion to sport performance and psychological well-being: The mediating role of need satisfaction, deliberate practice, and achievement goals. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 30, 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.01.009

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Visek, A.J., Achrati, S.M., Mannix, H.M., McDonnell, K., Harris, B.S., & DiPietro, L. (2015). The fun integration theory: Toward sustaining children and adolescents sport participation. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 12(3), 424–433. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2013-0180

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wall, M., & Côté, J. (2007). Developmental activities that lead to dropout and investment in sport. Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy, 12(1), 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408980601060358

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Yanchar, S.C., & Williams, D.D. (2006). Reconsidering the compatibility thesis and eclecticism: Five proposed guidelines for method use. Educational Researcher, 35(9), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X035009003

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 619 619 55
Full Text Views 106 106 6
PDF Downloads 139 139 12