LANSING, Mich., May 15 (UPI) -- A U.S. survey of junior tennis coaches found some parents of junior athletes have a negative impact on their child's development.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, surveyed 132 professional U.S. junior tennis coaches and the role parents play in the successes of their sporting offspring. The coaches had all spent an average of 17 years in the business.
The survey found the coaches felt that more than half of parents had a positive influence on their children in respect of financial and practical support and instilling good behaviors, such as hard work and a positive approach, but more than one-third of parents were considered harmful to their child's development.
The most common problems cited were excessive focus on winning, unrealistic expectations, coaching their own child, criticizing their child and excessive pampering.
"Although many parents do an excellent job ... and contribute positively to their child's development, the experienced coaches felt that a significant number unknowingly interfere with their child's development," said the study authors at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State.
