Effects of Unrealistic Expectations on Children in Youth Sports and Early Burnout

¶ … Unrealistic Expectations on Children in Youth Sports and Early Burnout

Research Structure

Youth Sports

Motivators for Participation in Sports

Effect of Unrealistic Expectations and Parental Pressure on the Sports Performance of the Children

Reliability and Validity

EXPECTED CONCLUSION

Recommendation for Further Research

This study aims at identifying the effect of unrealistic expectations of parents on burnout in youth sport. In order to identify these effects appropriately, this study will examine the perceptions of parents as well as their children in relation to the purpose of the involvement of their child in sports. In addition to that, it will also examine the perception of the children about the expectations of their parents in relation to their sport activities.

Apart from that, the expectations of parents will be identified and then the impact of these expectations on the performance of children in the sport activities will be evaluated. This study also will also compare the perceptions of the parents and their children in order to find out further examine discrepancies that exists between them.

A total of 50 adolescents, who belong to the age group ranging from eleven years old to nineteen years old, and 75 of their parents will be surveyed and interviewed in relation to the involvement of their children in the sports activities. Using sport as a medium a number of variables, about the perceptions of the children in relation to their parents, and the perception of the parents about themselves and the relationship that existed between the parents and their children will be reviewed.

This research will also evaluate the differences that exist between the perceptions of the children and the perceptions of the child. It also aims at identifying the manner in which support of parents and parental pressure influenced the success of the child and enhanced his or her enjoyment for sports. It is estimated that parents might have a more positive perception of themselves and their involvement in the sport activities of their children as compared to the negative or a less attractive perception of the children in relation to the involvement of their parents in the sports activities.

Effects of Unrealistic Expectations on Children in Youth Sports and Early Burnout

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

Sports can play an important role in enabling the children and youth to learn some of the most important lessons about life in a fun and engaging manner. A number of studies have indicated that participation in sports can prove out to be very beneficial and favorable for the youth. This is because it fosters responsible social behaviors among them, enables them to achieve greater success in their academic life, and leads towards an enhancement of personal health and fitness. In addition to that, being a member of a team also enables children or youth to have an insight to the important sense of belonging. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

All the children, however, do not experience the above mentioned benefits of being in a sports program. The atmosphere that the organizations, parents, and coaches of the children set plays a very important role in identifying that what would be the potential impact, positive or negative, of a sports program on the youth or the children. It has been suggested by a number of scholars that a "win-at-all-costs" atmosphere set by the parents can prove out be very detrimental in the development of the youth in a sports program. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

It is inevitable to avoid the negative outcomes in a given sport program, if the children perceive that consistent pressure is being exerted on them, in relation to participating and succeeding in a given sport, by their parents. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

Competitive stress, which according to O'Dell and Tietjen (1997), can be defined as "the force or pressure on a youth participant to perform well" (O'Dell and Tietjen, 1997), and burnout, which can be defined as the physical fatigue of a child along with the evident and drastic decrease in the enjoyment for the sport, are the two most common reactions of children in relation parental pressure and unrealistic expectations. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

As a result of the excessive pressure and unrealistic expectations of the parents, The child perceives that his or her talents and abilities cannot meet the expectations that are placed on him or her. In addition to that, the children also feel that they do not have the abilities and skills that are required to succeed in the situation which they are confronting. (Lindner, 1991; O'Dell and Tietjen, 1997).

Parental pressure and unrealistic expectations are one of the most prominent underlying sources of the negative aspects of the youth sports. Requirements for specialization and perfection coerce the children to stop taking part in all the other sports and activities apart from the sport in which they are expected to succeed. There is a great probability of injury and burnout immediately after the introduction of increased specialization in the course of training. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

The beginning of specialization is marked when both the parents and the children start dreaming that the athletic career of the child shall grow to the elite level. In most of the cases, the parents are ready to forsake all of the goals and objectives of the child for the sake of this dream and this results in failure and burnout of child in the sport program. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

It has been indicated by the studies of Cumming & Ewing, (2002) and Hamstra, Cherubini and Swank (2002) that the ratio of the high school athletes, who make it to the elite level, is less than one-half of one percent of all high school athletes. (Cumming & Ewing, 2002; Hamstra, Cherubini and Swank, 2002).

Sport activities constitute only one aspect of the life of a child in which the involvement of parents plays an important role. It is necessary for the parents to get positively involved in all the facets of the child's life. They should also show the child and make him or her see and feel, as suggested by Parker and Boak, (1999) "high levels of emotional warmth and encouragement of independence and low levels of strictness and aggravation" (Parker and Boak, 1999).

It has also been identified by a number of studies that a strong parent child relationship plays an important role in spurring the success of the children in most of the achievement oriented activities. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

This is because a strong parent child relationship has a number of positive impacts on the performance of the children in various aspects of their lives, which also include the sports activities of the children:

The reduction of aggression level

Lowers the disruptive behavior of the children

Increases the respect for authority

Enhances the levels of self-control

Provides the children with an environment, which is free of the harmful and detrimental situations. (DuBois and Eitel, 1994, Fagen and Cowen, 1996).

According to the study conducted by Fagen and Cowen, (1996), teenagers who experience a strong and positive relationship with their parents have higher levels of self-esteem and are more confident as compared to the children who experience weak relationships with their parents. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

It can, therefore, be concluded that a strong relationship between the parents and the children builds up the foundation that provides the children consistency, support, and stability to further themselves in various aspects, including youth sport. (Fagen and Cowen, 1996).

This study aims at identifying the effect of unrealistic expectations of parents on burnout in youth sport. In order to identify these effects appropriately, this study will examine the perceptions of parents as well as their children in relation to the purpose of the involvement of their child in sports. In addition to that, it will also examine the perception of the children about the expectations of their parents in relation to their sport activities.

Apart from that, the expectations of parents will be identified and then the impact of these expectations on the performance of children in the sport activities will be evaluated. This study also will also compare the perceptions of the parents and their children in order to find out further examine discrepancies that exist between them.

A total of 50 adolescents, who belong to the age group ranging from eleven years old to nineteen years old, and 75 of their parents will be surveyed and interviewed in relation to the involvement of their children in the sports activities. Using sport as a medium a number of variables, about the perceptions of the children in relation to their parents, and the perception of the parents about themselves and the relationship that existed between the parents and their children will be reviewed.

This research will also evaluate the differences that exist between the perceptions of the children and the perceptions of the child. It also aims at identifying the manner in which support of parents and parental pressure influenced the success of the child and enhanced his or her enjoyment for sports. It is estimated that parents might have a more positive perception of themselves and their involvement in the sport activities of their children as compared to the negative or a less attractive perception of the children in relation to the involvement of their parents in the sports activities. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000)

The above mentioned fact suggests that a gap exists between the parent-child relationship and this gap can be further examined and deployed to educate parents and coaches so that they may play their part appropriately in enhancing the performance of the children in their sports activities. (Faculty of College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University, 2000) This study also proposes further recommendations for future studies in relation to the issue under consideration.

1.2. Purpose of the Research

As the involvement of parents plays an important role determining the success or failure of the children in youth sports, therefore, this research aims at identifying the impact and contribution of unrealistic expectations of the children towards the burnout of the children in youth sports.

1.3. Objectives of the Research

This research aims at addressing the following objectives:

To analyze the manner in which the unrealistic expectations of parents lead towards the burnout of children in youth sports.

To identify and evaluate the gap that exists between the perceptions of parents and the children in relation to the involvement of parents in the children sports programs.

To highlight the manner in which the parents can be educated so that they may have a positive impact on the sports life of their children.

1.4. Research Questions

The basic questions that will be addressed by this research are listed in the following section:

In what manner do the unrealistic expectations of parents lead towards the burnout of children in youth sports?

What kind of a gap that exists between the perceptions of parents and the children in relation to the involvement of parents in the children sports programs?

How can the parents be educated so that they may have a positive impact on the sports life of their children?

1.5. Research Structure

This research consists of six chapters including the introductory chapter. The first chapter is of introduction which highlights the important variables in relation to this research, it also puts light on the purpose and objectives of the research. In addition to that, this chapter also lists down the research questions and discusses the significance of this study. The second chapter is of literature review. This chapter critically analyzes the previous research that exists in relation to the issue under consideration. It carefully builds up the argument, which then act as the basis for this research.

The third chapter, which is of data analysis, descriptively lists down all the methods that have been deployed for the collection, analysis and representation of the data. The basic tools used for data collection are surveys and interviews. The fourth chapter is of data and analysis this chapter represents all the data that has been collected for the purpose of this research. The fifth chapter, which is of discussion, relates the collected data with the previous research and identifies the differences that exist between the two of them. The last chapter is of conclusion. This chapter ties all the research questions and objectives and lists down the limitations of the research. In addition to that, this chapter also proposes recommendations for further research.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW:

This chapter discusses and critically examines the previous research that exist in relation to the effect of unrealistic parental expectations on the burnout of the children in youth sports:

2.1. Youth Sports

It has been indicated by a number of studies that organized sport has been observed to play an influential role in the development and mentoring of children and youth. It has also been estimated that every year around 35 million children take part in youth sports in the United States of America. (Weiss & Hayashi, 1996) These children have been observed to take part in the sports programs that are held at community, school or private level. (Fraser-Thomas & Cote et al., 2008)

There are a number of physical and psychosocial bene-ts that are associated with the involvement of children in various sports programs. (Fraser-Thomas & Cote e et al., 2005) It shall, however, be kept under consideration that the dropout rates in relation to the youth sport programs in the North America has an average of 35% in any given year. It has also been observed by various studies that these dropout rates generally reach their highest levels during the adolescence period of the individuals. (Petlichkoff, 1996). As a result, it has been identified by the sport psychology that the dropout rate of youth sport shall be considered as an area of concern by the officials. (Gould & Feltz et al., 1982).

A number of researches aimed at identifying the reasons that underlie the participation and withdrawal of youth in the sports, over the past three decades. These researches were primarily framed within the boundaries of the theories of motivation. Most of these researches identified that the most common reasons that underlie the participation of youth in sports were relates to the concepts of physical competence, social acceptance, and enjoyment. On the other hand, the most common reasons that underlie the withdrawal of youth from sports, as indicated by a wide variety of researches, include con-icts of interests, which may exist between children, parents and the coaches, as well as the negative experiences that the children confront such as, conflicts with and among coach, lack of time available for playing and lack of fun (Weiss & Williams, 2004).

Petlichkoff (1993) was one of the first scientists who suggested that the reasons behind the participation and withdrawal of children from youth sports cannot be related. Instead, she stated that withdrawal can be delineated as a slow and gradual process which involves a continuous and consistent cost-bene-t analysis of consequences associated with participation in sports program. (Petlichkoff, 1993) An example of this cost and benefit analysis would be the comparison and contrast of lack of playing time with improvement and enhancement of sports skills. (Fraser-Thomas & Cote et al., 2008)

In addition to that, a number of researchers have placed a growing amount of emphasis on the importance of exploring and understanding the processes through which the children may go before they withdraw from their respective sports programs. More speci-cally, the researchers and scholars have suggested that there is a need for a longitudinal study to explore how a wide variety of physical factors including, patterns of training and level of maturation, and psychosocial factors such as, influences of coach, parents, peers, and siblings, may interact with each other in order to in-uence the decision-making processes of the children, which ultimately result in continued participation or withdrawal from the sports programs and activities. (Weiss & Petlichkoff, 1989; Weiss & Williams, 2004)

2.2. Motivators for Participation in Sports

As it has been identified by a number of studies that around millions of children participate in youth sports each year, therefore, it is vital for the researchers understand and evaluate the motivators, predictors, and detracting factors in relation to involvement in sports activities. As discussed above, children generally participate in youth sports because of a large number of reasons and they also confront multiple factors for non-involvement in sports as well (Gould & Petlichkoff, 1988). For example, the reasons motivating the children to get involved in youth sports, as identified by the largest study of its type today, which surveyed almost 8000 respondents, (Seefeldt, & Others, 1992). are listed in the following section:

In order to have fun and enjoy.

In order to do something that the individual believes he or she is good at.

In order to maintain his or her fitness levels and stay in shape.

In order to learn new sports skills and improve and enhance the existing skills of oneself.

In order to learn the ability to play as a part of the team.

The above motives for participation can be regarded as interesting for a number of reasons. First, irrespective of the gender of the child, the most important reason that underlie the participation in sport activities is the desire to have fun and enjoy. Second, most of the young athletes who participate in youth sports confront multiple motives that backup the involvement in sports; these multiple factors can be defined as a compendium of skill development, physical development, and social interaction. Finally, the passion and dedication "to win" is rated 8th in the lists of the factors that motivate the children to participate in the school-sponsored sports. It shall, however, be kept under consideration that this factor was not even listed by the children who participate in non-school sport programs. (Seefeldt, & Others, 1992).

Even though, the identification and determination of the key that motivate the child to participate in the youth sports play an influential role in assisting the researchers to understand that underlie the participation of children in sports program, but these factors have not been observed to narrate the entire story. This is because it has been identified by a number of studies that there are deeper motives that underlie the participation of children in youth sports. (Gould & Petlichkoff, 1988).

The most influential among these deep motives is the perception of the young athletes in relation to their competence or ability. It has been observed by a number of researches that children who feel competent regarding their physical abilities have a greater probability to participate in sport activities and persist their physical activity as compared to the children who do not have experience high degree of competence in relation to their physical activities. Such children have been observed to not become involved in sports activities and they are more likely to discontinue their participation if they become involved. (Weiss & Ferrer-Caja, 2002).

It can, therefore, be concluded that in order to enhance the participation and involvement of children in sports, it is necessary that the concerned people help them feel competent and trust their abilities. (Fredricks & Eccles, 2004)

2.3. Effect of Unrealistic Expectations and Parental Pressure on the Sports Performance of the Children

A wide variety of researches have indicated that the achievements of children are influentially effected by four different components of parenting. These components include support, performance goals, directiveness, and modeling. The first component, which is parental support, can be defined as indicated by Power and Woogler, (1994) "unconditional acceptance of and warmth toward the child" (Power and Woogler, 1994).

This component of parenting is observed to have a positive impact on the performance of child in sports activities. This is because parental support ensures that the child can have high levels of self-worth. In addition to that, it also enables the child to enhance his or her performance and aid him in appropriately defining who he is. (Fredricks & Eccles, 2004)

Parenting, through the deployment of modeling and goal setting, assist the parents to motivate the child so that he may facilitated to achieve the defined standards that have been communicated to him by the concerned authorities. Directiveness, on the other hand, can be defined as a concept of parenting which defines the degree in which the parents get directly involved in the coaching of the children. (Fredricks & Eccles, 2004)

Under such a case parents spend a large amount of time in identifying and communicating the ways in which the children can change their failures and short-comings into successes and achievements. As suggested by a number of stidies, this approach can have a negative connotation (Power and Woogler, 1994).

According to the literature, parental pressure can be defined as the antithesis of parental support. According to Hellstedt (1990), parental pressure can be defined as "the amount of motivational influence the parent exerts on the child athlete to compete in sports, perform at a certain level, and continue sport participation." (Hellstedt, 1990)

Hoyle and Leff (1999), on the other hand, stated that "parental pressure is associated with discontent with sport participation, stress associated with evaluation of performance outcomes, and negative or uncertain appraisals of self-worth." (Hoyle and Leff, 1999; Leff and Hoyle, 1995).

It has also been indicated by Hoyle and Leff (1999) say that parental pressure is "behavior perceived by their children as indicating expectations of unlikely, even unattainable heights of accomplishment." (Hoyle and Leff, 1999).

It can be concluded on the basis of the above definitions that, parental pressure is seen as the differences that exist between expectations of parents in relation to their child, which are often over-inflated and the expectations of child about himself or herself, which are generally more realistic in nature. (Hoyle and Leff, 1999).

The over inflated and unrealistic expectations of parents are a lot for a child to handle in his sports life. Too much of the pressure and expectations leads toward the development of high levels of anxiety among the children. In addition to that, these factors also have a detrimental impact on the relationship that exists between the parents and their children and create tension in it. (Fredricks & Eccles, 2004)

The levels of parental pressure and expectations are translated into the feeling of fear among the children in relation to failure in sports activities, which, in return, forces that the children to confront unmeasurable amounts of stress and anxiety. It has been expressed by the elite athletes that they confront a higher level of pressures and expectations, as compared to the recreational athletes. (Hellstedt, 1990).

In addition to that, it has been identified by Butcher, Lindner and Johns (2002) that parental pressure and unrealistic expectations of parents were two of the most important reasons that underlie the withdrawal of children from participating in sport activities. The study indicated that the parents of the young athletes are generally not aware of the pressure and the feeling of disappointment from failure that there unrealistic and overinflated expectations instill in the minds of their children. (Butcher & Lindner et al., 2002)

Moreover, it has also been indicated by this study that there is a great probability that these parents might not even be aware of the fact that they are putting intense pressure on their children. The researchers suggested that an in depth study that aims at studying the perceptions of the children and the parents shall be performed to analyze the effect of the impact of parental pressure on sport activities effectively. (Butcher & Lindner et al., 2002).