How Parents Shape a Child’s Athletic Development

Parents play a powerful role in shaping a child’s journey in sport. Beyond simply signing children up for activities or driving them to training sessions, parents strongly influence motivation, confidence, enjoyment, and emotional experiences in sport. Research consistently shows that the way parents support their children can be just as important as the opportunities they provide.

Two key frameworks help explain how parental involvement affects young athletes: the Developmental Model of Sport Participation (DMSP) and the Expectancy–Value Model (EVM). Together, these models highlight how parents can support long-term enjoyment, motivation, and performance when their involvement aligns with a child’s developmental needs.

Understanding the Developmental Model of Sport Participation (DMSP)

The DMSP outlines how children typically progress through sport across three stages: sampling, specialising, and investment. Each stage requires a different type of parental support to encourage healthy development.

The Sampling Stage (Ages 6–12): Building Fun and Foundations

The sampling stage focuses on exposure to a wide variety of sports. At this age, enjoyment, play, and broad skill development should take priority over competition or early specialisation. Parents act as gatekeepers by deciding which activities their child can access and how those activities are framed.

Encouraging children to try multiple sports helps develop physical literacy and positive attitudes toward physical activity. Research shows that early diversification reduces burnout and dropout while supporting long-term athletic development. In contrast, early specialisation is associated with higher injury risk, emotional exhaustion, and reduced motivation.

A well-known example is Sky Brown, whose parents encouraged creativity and unstructured play in skateboarding rather than rigid, performance-driven training. This approach reflects the core principle of the sampling stage: sport should be fun.

Key takeaway for parents:Prioritise enjoyment, variety, and exploration. Success at this stage is measured in smiles, not medals.

The Specialising Stage (Ages 13–15): Supporting Choice and Autonomy

As children grow older, they naturally begin to narrow their sporting focus based on interest and ability. During the specialising stage, parental roles shift from introducing opportunities to supporting autonomy.

Parents often provide increased logistical and financial support—such as transport, coaching, and competition fees—but it is crucial to avoid excessive pressure. Over-involvement or unrealistic expectations can increase stress, reduce enjoyment, and lead to dropout.

Andy Murray’s development highlights effective parental support at this stage. His mother, Judy Murray, provided structured training opportunities while maintaining a long-term perspective and supporting academic balance. Research suggests that when parents strike this balance well, young athletes experience greater confidence and commitment.

Key takeaway for parents:Support your child’s choices, listen to their preferences, and encourage independence while staying emotionally available.

The Investment Stage (Age 16+): Balancing Commitment and Well-Being

The investment stage involves a serious commitment to one sport, often with the aim of high performance or elite competition. Parental involvement here typically includes significant time, financial, and emotional investment.

At this stage, effective communication becomes essential. Parents must help young athletes manage pressure, setbacks, and expectations while remaining mindful of burnout and mental health. Encouraging intrinsic motivation—doing sport because it is meaningful and enjoyable—remains critical.

Coco Gauff’s journey offers a strong example of balanced parental involvement. Her parents combined high expectations with emotional warmth and psychological support, helping her develop resilience alongside performance.

Key takeaway for parents:Provide structured support, but remember that long-term success depends on well-being as much as performance.

How Parents Influence Motivation: The Expectancy–Value Model (EVM)

The Expectancy–Value Model explains why children choose to participate in sport and remain motivated over time. According to the model, motivation is shaped by two key factors:

• Expectancy for success – how confident a child feels in their ability

• Task value – how important, enjoyable, or useful the activity feels

Parents strongly influence both.

Building Confidence and Positive Beliefs

Children are more likely to stay involved in sport when parents express belief in their abilities, emphasise effort over winning, and provide constructive feedback. This is especially important in early years, as parents largely control which sports are accessible based on time, cost, and logistics.

Shaping What Sport Means to a Child

The EVM highlights four types of value:

• Intrinsic value – enjoyment and fun

• Attainment value – personal importance of success

• Utility value – relevance to future goals

• Perceived cost – time, stress, fatigue, or injury risk

Parents influence these values through the emotional climate they create. For example, Sky Brown’s parents nurtured intrinsic value by keeping sport playful, while Coco Gauff’s parents highlighted utility value by framing sport as a pathway for growth and opportunity.

Negative parental behaviours—such as criticism, excessive control, or unrealistic expectations—are linked to anxiety, reduced motivation, and dropout. Autonomy-supportive parenting, on the other hand, fosters confidence and long-term engagement.

Bringing It All Together

Both the DMSP and EVM highlight the powerful and multifaceted role parents play in their child’s athletic development. When parental involvement aligns with a child’s developmental stage—encouraging fun and variety early on, supporting autonomy during adolescence, and providing balanced support in later years—young athletes are more likely to enjoy sport, stay motivated, and reach their potential.

Ultimately, effective parental involvement is not about pushing harder or expecting more. It is about balance, empathy, and long-term thinking, ensuring that sport remains a positive and enriching part of a child’s overall development and well-being.

By Oluwaseun Sadiq