The Child Athlete: Psychological Implications of Participation in Sport

• Author: Bruce Ogilvie
• DOI: 10.1177/000271627944500107
• Published date: 01 September 1979
• Date: 01 September 1979
• Subject Matter: Articles

The Child Athlete: Psychological Implications
of Participation in Sport
By BRUCE OGILVIE
ABSTRACT: This article is directed at those parents and
other adults who are responsible for the design and philos-
ophy of the competitive sports program for the 30 million of
our children who are now actively competing. It is hoped
that by pointing out a number of the important dangers
present in competitive sports, certain psychological and
social traumas may be reduced. A review of the structure
and social aims of most children’s sports programs forces us
to pose the question, "Is the sports experience really
child centered or are we imposing a model for participation
derived from our observation of professional sports?" If
the sports activity is to be child centered, we must remind
parents, coaches, and fans that the rewards for the child
must be determined on the basis of their intrinsic needs.
An attempt is made to prepare parents and coaches to be
more objective in their determination of the child’s readi-
ness to compete in highly demanding athletic programs.
Psychological, social, and physical readiness are reviewed.
Particular attention is directed to the psychological threats
imposed upon the child who does not receive this level of
our concern. Recommendations are offered as to how the
sports experience can enhance the child’s image and form the
basis for sound mental hygiene and increased joy.
Dr. Ogilvie received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Psychiatry at the University
of London. He is currently a Professor of Psychology at San Jose State University
where he was also director of the Institute for the Study of Sports Motivation.
He is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a member of the
North American Association of Sports Psychologists. He has been a psychological
consultant to the United States Olympic Teams of 1964, 1968, 1972, and 1974.
Twelve teams of the National Football League have used his services as have
several teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and major league base-
ball. At present, Dr. Ogilvie is working with the Pediatrics Department of the
Los Angeles Childrens’ Hospital studying psychological stress among children.
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48
AMERICAN College of Sports
nature of her conflict. First, she was
Medicine has as its stated
the youngest of three children; both
goal the education of the public
of her
as
siblings had quit tennis after
to the wholesome values of recrea-
having attained a high level of tourna-
tional sport for children as well
ment
as
success. She described the
adults. The most recent estimate is
oldest sister as being the most gifted
that 20 million children between the
athlete and felt she would surely
ages of 9 and 16 are now participat-
have become a professional. For her-
ing in sports
self she
programs.
expressed a deep love for
What should be the priorities and
her sport though in a number of
goals for parents, educators, or scien-
ways she felt trapped by it. The
tists when speaking of the potential
more we delved into these trapped
value of youth sport? Certainly
feelings the more the role of her
health maintenance would be im-
father’s participation in her life be-
portant as would the reinforcement
came apparent. As she became free
of health habits to reduce the in-
to talk about him, he began to fit into
cidence of the leading health prob-
the classical mold of the &dquo;intrusive
lems that plague our nation. But
parent.&dquo; The degree to which he has
what about the potential value that
crowded into her life and intruded
follows from giving every child the
upon her private world as a com-
opportunity to develop good feel-
petitor was literally pushing her out
ings about his worth
of
as a person.
an activity she loved.
The question then becomes, &dquo;how
A few of the most obvious ex-
do we provide an athletic environ-
amples of his inability to main-
ment that will contribute to each
tain an emotional distance from his
child’s physical and emotional health.
child competitor were:
Priority number one for me is the
He was continually finding fault
goal that every child should even-
with her coach. The coach had
tually feel more self-loving as the
been hired by the father based
result of a sport experience. Why
upon his national reputation for
then have so many youngsters been
developing young talent.
driven away from the activity which
He constantly humiliated her
was originally both positive and self
when she did not win by the
enhancing?&dquo;
score for which she was capable
based upon his judgement.
THE INTRUSIVE PARENT
Should she lose to any com-
petitor years or months her junior
One of the most prevalent prob-
she would be subjected to days
lems is the intrusive parent. Re-
of questioning.
cently a prominent tennis coach re-
He
took every occasion to match
ferred a 14 year old girl to me who
her performances with those of a
was described as the next Billy Jean
particularly successful young lady
King. Though she had been un-
who was exactly her age.
usually successful as she moved
The most painful and discourag-
through the various age group levels
ing experience for her was to ob-
of competition, her tournament play
serve the neglect of her siblings
had seriously deteriorated. In the
and her mother during every meal
few hours we were able to spend
while he took every opportunity
alone together she presented a clas-
to verbally beat her into becoming
sic history that illuminated the true
a champion.

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49
How
then does one play a whole-
sight will be dependent upon our
some supportive role in the life of
capacity to distinguish between the
the aspiring child? The ideal would
internal and external motivation of
be that the parent should be a guest
each child.
in the life of the child. This would
Should we make a studied, con-
permit the child to remain in con-
scious effort to gain such insight,
trol and to invite the parent to share
we will then have the capacity to
whatever he might be experiencing
direct the sports experience toward
depending on the child’s need.
emotional growth and . self-accept-
The child competitor should be in
ance. This warning has particular
control of his own life and have
significance in relation to the child’s
total responsibility for valuing the
desire to master the wide range of
experience in personal terms. Cer-
motor skills essential for sports par-
tainly the caring parent will identify
ticipation. As the child advances
with his child and, one hopes,
from the unstructured, low pres-
derive vicarious satisfaction through
sured level of recreational games to
this process of identification. In
the highly structured, high pres-
order not to intrude upon the life of
sured level of competitive sport,
the child this satisfaction must be
the emotional and physical dangers
attained at a distance. This distance
multiply significantly. It will be
should be based upon the child’s
during this transitional period that
need to be master of his/her own
the most fundamental needs of the
experience.
child may be sacrificed in favor of
Thus the talented tennis player
values that have the lowest poten-
described above was beginning to
tial for contributing to emotional
sense that her father had lost all
growth.
awareness of the natural limits that
Participation in loosely organized
should exist between parent and
neighborhood sports is motivated by
child. She knew his persistent
fundamental childrens’ needs which
criticism was not motivated by love
are almost exclusively intrinsic in
but rather by a desire to fill a gap
nature. Freedom of expression, joy,
that existed in his own life. This
and emotional release are combined
unconscious quest for...