Dawn E. Trussell - University of Waterloo, Doctoral Stipend 2007
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Project Summary
This study sought to understand how family relationships, interactions, and values are shaped by children’s sport involvement, and the social and cultural context in which their sport participation occurs. The themes that emerged from this study reflect the contradictory nature of organized youth sport, including the strengthening of familial relationships, as well as the tensions and disagreements arising out of divergent perspectives. Emphasis is put on the public nature of parenting in the youth sport context and its relationship to social constructions of being a “good parent”. In terms of broader implications, the study emphasizes the close connection between organized youth sport, and changing cultural ideals and practices associated with gender and parenting.
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While the importance and scope of children’s sport participation has been a topic of research, little attention has been directed to the impact organized youth sport may have on family life. As Coakley and Donnelly (2004) point out: “organized sports is often a family affair; however, few sociologists have carried out research on how youth sport participation affects family relationships” (p. 130). Informed speculation suggests that organized youth sport can bring a family together, but it may also cause a great deal of stress between family members. Indeed, to help alleviate their stress, some families may make the decision to discontinue their children’s sport participation.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the dynamics of family life in connection with organized youth sport programs. Specifically, an interpretive approach was used to discover behavioural, relational, and emotional aspects of youth sport and family life. The setting for the study was also a rural community (both farm and non-farm residences) where facilitating youth sport participation may have unique experiences and meanings, as rural communities tend to have fewer services (e.g., leisure facilities, public transportation, health care) and have higher rates of poverty and unemployment. Semi-structured interviews and an on-line participant journal (10 days duration) were used to discover divergent experiences of mothers, fathers, and children. For data analysis a constructivist grounded theory approach was used to examine the participants’ individual perceptions and meanings.
The nature of youth’s sport participation deeply affected the lives of youth and their family members. Preliminary data analysis of the family members’ experiences revealed five major themes: (i) Understanding children’s experiences, (ii) Parenting in public and private spaces, (iii) Ideological gender equality versus cultural reality, (iv) Uniquely rural, and (v) The nexus of family experiences. Further analysis of the data will be completed to examine the implications of these findings and their connection to broader issues of parenthood ideology, gender ideology and the construction of rural life.
While the political and ideological importance and scope of children’s sport participation has
been a topic of research, little attention has been directed to the impact organized youth sport
may have on family life. As Coakley and Donnelly (2004) point out: “organized sports is often a
family affair; however, few sociologists have carried out research on how youth sport
participation affects family relationships” (p. 130). Informed speculation suggests that organized
youth sport can bring a family together, but it may also cause a great deal of stress between
family members. Indeed, to help alleviate their stress, some families may make the decision to
discontinue their children’s sport participation.
Further, a culture of “involved fathering” and “intensive mothering” has emerged with an
important connection to youth sport and the judgment of parents’ “moral worth” (Coakley, 2006).
Moreover, changing parenthood ideologies may have important applications for gender
research and sport participation. On the surface the expectations and practices of these
parenthood ideologies seem to evoke notions of gender equity, however, they may also reflect
and contribute to underlying inequalities in sport.
This study seeks to address another gap in the literature and the lack of research that has
investigated sport in the rural context. There are several compelling reasons to explore sport in
rural communities as they tend to be have fewer services (e.g., leisure facilities, public
transportation, health care) and have higher rates of poverty and unemployment (Warner-Smith
& Brown, 2002). Thus, research that examines youth sport in the rural context may discover
unique experiences, benefits and/or challenges.
An interpretive approach will be used to discover the connection of youth sport to rural family life
and the ideologies of parenthood and gender. Semi-structured interviews and an on-line
participant journal (10 days duration) will be used to discover divergent experiences of mothers,
fathers, and children.
References:
Coakley, J. (2006). The good father: Parental expectations and youth sports. Leisure Studies,
25, 153-163.
Coakley, J., & Donnelly, P. (2004). Sports in society: Issues and controversies. Toronto, ON:
McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Warner-Smith, P., & Brown, P. (2002). ‘The town dictates what I do’: The leisure, health and
well-being of women in a small Australian country town. Leisure Studies, 21, 39-56.
SCRI 2007 Presentation Slides
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