Keeping It Fun in Youth Sport: What Coaches Should Know and Do

Abstract

Children and adolescents participate in sport for a variety of reasons including to learn new skills, to have fun, for peer affiliation, to experience excitement, to exercise and increase fitness, and for competition; and coincidentally, withdraw when these motives are left unmet. The literature is well established on the influence coaching behaviors have on youth motivation to participate in sport, but researchers have now acknowledged the need to explore social aspects in youth sport experiences (Smith, 2003). Youth athletes cite peer affiliation as a key participation motive, and peer comparison as an important source of physical competence information. A developmental pattern exists in youths' preferences for various forms of evaluative feedback as well (Horn & Weiss, 1992). At age 8, children rely heavily on feedback from parents and coaches, but between the ages of 10 and 14, they rely more heavily on feedback from their teammates and engage in direct comparison of ability. As children age, the meaning and importance of peer friendships increases substantially, affecting motivation and participation patterns in sport. This article focuses on two participation motives (fun and peer affiliation), discusses coaching implications, and provides specific coaching recommendations to meet the needs of their young athletes.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicole J. Martin

Nicole J. Martin ([email protected]) is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA.