Resumen de Kids Speak: Preferred Parental Behavior at Youth Sport Events

Jens Omli, Diane M. Wiese Bjornstal

• News reports (e.g., Abrams, 2008) and scholarly research (e.g., Wiersma & Fifer, 2005) have indicated increasing concern that parent-spectator behavior at youth sport events may be problematic. Multiple strategies have been used to influence spectator behavior in youth sport contexts (e.g., �Silent Sundays�). However, it is unlikely that interventions aimed at changing parent-spectator behaviors have adequately considered young athletes� perspectives, because little is known about how children want parents to behave during youth sport events. Therefore, children (ages 7�14 years) were asked to describe how parents actually behaved at youth sport events and how they wanted parents to behave. Through grounded theory analysis (Charmaz, 2000), three parent �roles� emerged from the data�supportive parent, demanding coach, and crazed fan