Parental involvement in grassroots football: the opinions of parents and their children

Abstract

[eng This research analyses the influence and conduct of the parents of young footballers belonging to the 14-16 years old league in the Balearic Islands (Spain). This study is focused on management behaviours, pressure, support, understanding and parents' active participation. The participants were 102 parents, including 63 fathers and 39 mothers who participated in the study voluntarily during the official competitions of the 2016-2017 season. These parents filled in a questionnaire entitled Análisis del Comportamiento y Actuación de Padres y Madres en el Deporte (ACAPMD). Furthermore, 176 young footballers, with an average age of 14.26 years, (SD= .48) participated voluntarily in this study during the 2016/17 season filling in a questionnaire entitled Parental Involvement in Sports Questionnaire (PISQ). The results show that, firstly, no significant differences between data obtained from fathers and mothers exist. Results also indicate that parents have high implication levels concerning their children's sport. Moreover, parents are interested in maintaining a good parent-child relationship and they value their sons' sports schools positively. On the other hand, parents don't agree with spectators' interventions from the grandstands during their children's matches.