The Role of Parents in the Successes and Difficulties of a Young Athlete

In youth sports, a coach inevitably works not only with children but also with their parents. It is the adults who create the emotional environment in which a young athlete grows, and their behavior strongly influences how a child performs. Even when a child shows good results in training, they may noticeably struggle in competitions, and most often this is connected not to technique but to psychological pressure.

There are many studies on this topic because such situations occur very often. A child feels confident in training but freezes at the start. The reasons may vary, from a lack of competitive experience to poor load management. However, one factor consistently makes the situation worse. This is excessive parental involvement. When a mother or father begins to prepare the child for competition with their own advice, imposes expectations, demands victory, or compares the child to other athletes, strong internal tension arises. This is especially difficult for children who strive to be perfect and are afraid of disappointing adults.

Another challenge is connected to a sense of responsibility. Before a competition, a child evaluates not only their physical condition and opponents, but also how important the event seems to those around them. If parents constantly emphasize the importance of the result, the child begins to perceive failure as a personal catastrophe. In many cases, psychological support is needed more for the parents than for the young athlete. It is important for them to learn not to interfere in training and competitions and not to project their own ambitions onto the child.

Sometimes difficulties arise already at the stage of choosing a sports club. Young children rarely choose a sport independently, and parents often try to realize their own unfulfilled dreams through the child. A good coach should recognize such situations and gently help the family understand whether the chosen sport truly suits the child. If it does not, it is important not to hold the young athlete at any cost, but to help them find an activity that genuinely resonates with them.

Ultimately, successful work in youth sports is built on cooperation between the coach, the parent, and the child. The coach must take family expectations into account, while also guiding parents so that their involvement does not cause harm. When adults support the child without pressure, allow room for mistakes, and respect the child’s interests, conditions are created in which sport becomes not a source of stress, but a place of growth, enjoyment, and real victories.