The role of parents toward the group dynamics of youth sport teams

The purpose of the present study was to use qualitative methods to explore parent and coach perspectives on the influence of parents on the group dynamics within youth interdependent sport teams. Specifically, two research questions were addressed: (a) What are the group dynamics constructs perceived as vulnerable to parent influence? and (b) Through what processes might parents be perceived to influence the group dynamics of a sport team? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 parents, 13 coaches, and 7 parent-coaches from across Canada with experiences in seven interdependent sports (e.g., basketball, ringette). Codebook thematic analysis was used to engage with participant responses (King, 2012). Results were divided into three topic summaries: (1) parent influence on youth group dynamics, (2) pathways of parent influence, and (3) strategies to manage parental influence. Findings suggest that a team's environment, structure, emergent states, and processes are all vulnerable to parent influence in both positive and negative ways. Additionally, 19 parent behaviors were identified by participants as influencing group dynamics and were split into four broad pathways (i.e., public behaviors, through athletes, through coaches, through parents). The third category related to strategies (e.g., coach communication, organization policies) for working with sport parents to promote positive parent involvement, and deter negative parent interference, with youth sport teams. By merging group dynamics and sport parenting research, the present study offers a new perspective to the sport parenting literature and demonstrates the need to examine parent influence in youth sport beyond individual and dyadic concerns.