True-Sport-Report

particular league (i.e., leadership, organization)
can influence parent and spectator found that positive spectator (and coach)
Research by Arthur-Banning et al. 170
behavior during youth sport. Research behavior predicts positive player behaviors.
by Arthur-Banning et al. 170 examined the Conversely, negative spectator behavior
relationship between the sportsmanship predicts negative player behaviors. In
behaviors of adults and athletes during other words, negativity is contagious, but
youth basketball games. Data were collected so is good behavior. What happens on
on positive and negative sportsmanship the sidelines permeates the experience for
behaviors for 142 basketball games, illustrating
that “positive spectator and coach ruins it. Developmental studies show that
the athletes and either enhances it—or
behaviors were significant predictors of
so-called background anger can be emotionally
distressing for children across the
positive player behaviors. Similarly, negative
spectator behaviors were predictive of
developmental trajectory. 167 It is especially
disturbing when the anger is expressed
negative player behaviors, while negative
coach behaviors were not” (p.3). 170
between adults or when it involves
In 2007, Holt et al. 171 men.
explored what
172,173 Seefeldt et al. 72 postulate that
the cumulative effect of this background
rules parents and children would like
anger could partially explain why some
to enforce for parents. Participants were
children drop out of sport at around age 13.
asked, “If you could bring in one rule that
In response to this apparently growing
youth sport parents had to obey, what
problem, several youth sport organizations
would it be?” Parents responded that they
have instituted parental codes of conduct.
should be “positive, encouraging, and
For example, the U.S. National Youth
noncritical” (reported by half of parents),
Sports Safety Foundation sometimes
and one in three said they should not
imposes “Silent Saturdays,” during which
“coach from the sidelines.” Players
parents agree to stay silent throughout a
(slightly more than half) also agreed that
game—although research showing the
parents should be “positive, encouraging,
importance of positive feedback in fostering
and noncritical” and that they should
sportsmanship suggests that being positive
not “yell at the referee” (one in three). is more important than being silent. Programs
such as “Great Fans. Great Sports”
Players responded that when parents yell
at referees it actually disadvantages them aim to change behavior at sporting events
during games, and parents did not seem through creating a positive competitive
to understand this consequence of their environment for athletes, parents, spectators,
coaches, and the community. 174 Some
behavior. Research in Australia also suggests
that parents are often unaware of the programs award fair play points for good
impact of their behavior (“clueless,” their sport behavior, which are included in
teens might say). 165 league standings. 167
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