Lessons from the Field. Development of a group intervention to promote need-supportive sport parenting

Objective: This Lesson from the Field describes the development of a need-supportive parenting intervention aimed at enhancing motivation and preventing burnout in youth athletes. Background: Self-determination theory posits that basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are essential for optimal motivation and performance in any context. However, research has shown that parents, a critical social agent, may thwart rather than support their children's psychological needs in competitive contexts such as sport. The development and implementation of need-supportive sport parenting interventions are warranted. Method: We reviewed and analyzed the components, including the content, frequency, and duration, of need-supportive sport coaching interventions and parenting interventions in other domains (e.g., education). Based on the analysis, we constructed our intervention with a workbook to educate parents on (a) reducing athlete pressure, (b) providing choices within limits, (c) focusing on individual improvement, and (d) enhancing parent-child communication. We used gymnastics examples to illustrate these strategies. Conclusion: This article provides parent educators with a theoretically and empirically informed intervention to work with sport parents. The proposed benefits of the program may extend beyond athlete motivation and burnout prevention to better parent-child relationships and psychological need satisfaction of both the parent and the child.