Abstract
Research consistently highlights the support parents provide to children in sport. However, we know little about what parents do that enables them to provide such support. Understanding how parents are able to support their children is necessary to ensure coaches, organizations, and practitioners can help parents support their child's sporting endeavours. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify how parents are able to support their children in sport. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 42 parents of regional and national adolescent tennis players. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to inductive content analysis. Data analysis revealed four ways parents were able to support their children. Participants worked with their spouse to discuss decisions regarding player progression and share tennis-related tasks. Participants turned to other parents for information regarding coaching and tournaments, and to share the tennis experience. Coaches were expected to do more than just coach the players. Coaches were required to provide information to parents regarding all aspects of tennis and to be a source of emotional support. Finally, parents sought out information regarding tennis development from external sources. These findings indicate that parents seek out information and emotional support from a variety of sources. Sports organizations, coaches, and practitioners can help parents by facilitating opportunities to meet other parents, ensuring extensive and detailed resources are developed for parents, and ensuring coaches are educated in all aspects of youth sport. By enhancing the support for parents, parents will be better able to support their children.Acknowledgments: This research was funded in part by a research grant from the International Tennis Federation