Hoops

Flinders Uni study on 'ugly parents syndrome'

Yep, that's it. The media always slant stuff like this.

Some good points have been made.

I would agree that 'ugly parent syndrome' is very prevalent in basketball and indeed most sports, but wouldn't go as far as suggesting this to be the cause for a decrease in participation of organized football: other lifestyle factors would likely be a larger contributor.

However, 'ugly parent syndrome' being the primary reason for a child quitting their given sport might be more of the case in individual-oriented sports such as gymnastics, swimming, diving etc where performance is already demanded at such a high level.

"The Flinders University research on the "ugly parent syndrome" may help explain latest figures that show fewer South Australian children aged four to 15 are involved in organised Australian football."

I disagree that this is the cause for lower participation levels in football. Football is a contact sport and there has been a significant shift in parent's attitudes regarding contact over the years. NRL has reported massive drops in participation in lieu of AFL in NSW. Less contact being cited as the major reason. Parents are very protective of their children.

Let's not forget that 40% of marriages end in divorce these days and so there are a significant number of children in mixed living arrangements. With that in mind, a child's time on the weekend is precious and so parents probably want to spend more personal time with children. There's also the fact of who pays for organised sport. Is it the mother or the father? The CSA expect a joint responsibility, but it may not work out that way.

To suggest it as an explanation for lower participation only suggests a lack of depth in the study.

Well if you look around stadiums there are a Parents Cod of Conduct, most people don't read it, and the Court Supervisors are to gutless to do anything about it.


Most district clubs send out these code of conducts and kids cannot step on court until these are agreed to........ Where does the problem start? The parents? Or the lack of policing of the rules?