The family unit is a primary determinant of a child’s involvement in sports and physical activity. Research consistently shows that parental support, modeling, and commitment are pivotal in shaping a youth’s engagement and long-term participation. Beyond just organized sports, studies recognize the influence of family culture and informal settings.
Parental support is a significant predictor of a child’s physical activity levels. Hennessy et al. (2010) averred that supportive parents are associated with higher physical activity levels in children, finding that children of accommodating parents had more time for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than children whose parents were uninvolved. This finding is consistent with Kim & Saelens (2021) conclusions that both emotional support (praise, encouragement) and instrumental support (paying fees, driving to practices) are crucial. This dual-faceted support structure helps children overcome barriers to participation and fosters a positive attitude toward physical activity.
In the Caribbean, parents, regardless of whether they were in single-parent or nuclear family structures, generally served as positive role models and provided both material and non-material support for their daughters’ participation in soccer from childhood (McCree, 2016). McCree’s (2016) findings suggest the need for further research into the widely held perspective that families favour sons in sport.
The family’s influence extends far beyond the sidelines of organized games. Kremer-Sadlik and Kim (2007) stated that parents’ influence extends beyond organized sports, claiming that informal settings and passive participation (e.g., conversations during televised games) are essential for a child’s socialization into sports. They argued that family culture is critical to a child’s predisposition toward participation, a concept highly pertinent to understanding gendered participation in the Caribbean.
For example, are girls encouraged to play sports viewed as traditionally “masculine,” such as football or cricket, or are they steered toward more “feminine” activities? This question highlights how family norms shape the types of sports girls are socialized into from a young age.
Parents’ own behaviors also serve as powerful models. Jago et al (2022) showed an association between the sedentary time of girls and their mothers. Additionally, higher parental TV viewing was associated with higher child TV viewing among both boys and girls. It is essential to gain an understanding of parents’ and guardians’ perspectives not only on competitive sports but also on physical activity, given the increased availability of leisure activities.
The early establishment of a physically active family culture has a lasting impact. Kremer-Sadlik and Kim (2007) concluded that if participation is not encouraged in childhood, any attempt to increase involvement in adulthood would be challenging.
This conclusion raises a critical question for the Caribbean: Does a lack of early family encouragement and support for female sports contribute to lower rates of female physical activity in adulthood? The long-term public health implication of this question is the rising rates childhood obesity, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges among adolescents (CARPHA 2025). https://www.carpha.org/More/Media/Articles/ArticleID/1004/CARPHA-Advocates-for-Systemic-Changes-to-Reduce-Childhood-Obesity.
Parental involvement, however, is not without its complexities. Dukes and Coakley (2002) concluded that parental commitment plays a critical role in organized youth sports, but cautioned against over-commitment toward competitiveness, which may result in overtraining and burnout.
While international research provides a robust framework, there is a regional need to build on the research of McCree (2016). For instance, do parents view sports for girls as a recreational activity and a potential career path for boys? Answering this question, among others, will provide governments and national governing bodies (NGBs) with the knowledge needed to design effective intervention programs.
Collaborative efforts between universities such as the University of the West Indies, sports organizations, and government agencies, through robust research and data, can foster an ecosystem where family involvement in sports is not just encouraged but actively supported, leading to healthier, more active youth and adults.
