Pushy parents are 'biggest problem' for children in sport

Pushy and shouty parents are the “biggest problem in sports performance”, sports psychologists have said, amid growing concern that pressure and abuse is hampering development.

- Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent

This week parents were banned from attending sports events at a number of south London primary schools due to “concerning behaviours” including abuse towards officials and children, and creating “too much pressure around performance and winning at all costs”.

In recent years, a number of schools have banned parents from attending sports days over bad behaviour, while growing levels of abuse from parents on the sidelines of grassroots football is discouraging people from refereeing.

“It’s the biggest problem in sports performance. And it has been going on for years,” said Stephen Smith, chair of the British Psychological Society’s sport and exercise psychology division.

“The level of abuse has only got worse. But it has been ignored and now we’re trying to put the genie back in the bottle, both in terms of the way that parents are putting pressure on their children, and the impact of poor behaviour and abuse that’s coming from the sidelines.”

Smith said intrusion from parents can make children “freeze up because of the pressure”, and watching their parents shout abuse can have a hugely negative impact on a child.