A team environment, assessment of one’s own performance, and involvement in challenging practices are key to a child’s positive developmental experience playing team sports, says a Canadian research project.
In her findings, Jean Côté – head of the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University and a youth sport and coaching expert – explained that sports offer more than just the simple concepts of winning and losing: "Under the right conditions, youth sport can help children develop transferrable personal and social skills – citizenship qualities that they’ll retain throughout their lives."
In the study, Dr. Côté found that children between the ages of nine to 19 responded positively when placed within a cohesive team environment where the coach encouraged all members to socialize outside of the sport.
In addition, coaches who refused to compare one team member to the next – and instead focused on helping children improve their own personal bests – helped to foster an environment in which young players could stay engaged and motivated.
"Other research we’ve conducted suggests that kids don’t necessarily need lots of pressure early on to become elite," explains Dr. Côté. "If you create a coaching environment where the kids are happy and passionate they’ll continue to be involved and develop their skills.”
This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).