How Far is Too Far? Parenting Behaviors in Youth Sports

Abstract

Literature is reviewed on parent-child relationships related to youth sports, both positive and negative effects are discussed. Family systems theory is presented as a guide to understanding the relationship process occurring between parents and youth athletes. The authors propose family therapists take a more active role in assessing and discussing the parent-child relationship with regards to youth sports and, if deemed appropriate for the clients, help parents develop an encouraging process, implement reframing and boundary setting, and look at the impact of their own actions using circular causality. Implications for clinical practice and directions for future research are discussed.

Keywords:

• Coaching
• family systems theory
• parenting
• youth sports