Most sports parents say there's more good than harm in youth sports
Sports parents overwhelmingly say the benefits of organized competition outweigh the drawbacks for them and their children, a new survey has found.
A new Associated Press/Ipsos survey reveals that nine out of ten sports parents believe the advantages of organized competition surpass the downsides for their children. The poll, which surveyed 1,737 parents with school-age children, found that the majority of sports parents (89%) thought the benefits of youth sports, such as learning about hard work, teamwork, fitness, and reduced screen time, outweighed the drawbacks.
These drawbacks included the risk of chronic and brain injuries, burnout, pressure, costs, travel, and scheduling. Despite these concerns, over half (54%) of the parents surveyed reported that at least one of their children participates in organized sports. The most common sports involved were soccer, basketball, and school or recreational teams.
Around 97% of parents said their child's interest was the primary motivation for their participation, while 93% attributed encouragement from a parent as a significant factor. Approximately 37% of parents said their child had quit an organized sport, most often due to losing interest, feeling they were not good enough, high costs, too much pressure, or negative behavior.
When asked what should be prioritized in youth sports, the majority of sports parents emphasized having fun and learning to compete and succeed equally (65%), while 27% wanted more focus on fun.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
