The inspiration for this research stemmed from a growing concern about the dual-edged nature of parental involvement in youth sports. While supportive parents can bolster confidence and motivation, overly critical or pressuring behaviors might lead to stress and maladaptive perfectionism, that ultimately impact performance. This complex interplay intrigued us: how do young athletes perceive their parents’ behaviors, and how do these perceptions influence their striving for excellence, or their reactions to failure, and their perceived performance?

Conducting this study illuminated the nuanced roles parents play in youth sports. It was particularly striking to see how perceptions of involvement—rather than objective behaviors alone—can shape athletes’ attitudes and outcomes. This underscores the importance of understanding the athlete’s subjective experience.

We recruited 299 elite male football players competing in Portugal’s national U15, U17, and U19 championships. These athletes, aged 12 to 19, represented a high-stakes environment where parental expectations often run high. Data collection included both subjective measures, such as athletes’ perceptions of parental involvement and personal performance, and objective metrics, like team performance points in the league.

Athletes who perceived their parents as supportive were more likely to exhibit higher levels of striving for perfection. These athletes reported better subjective individual and collective performance and achieved higher objective team performance metrics. Encouragement, constructive feedback, and presence at games appeared to foster confidence and motivation.

Negative reactions to imperfection—such as feelings of irritation or self-doubt when mistakes occur—negatively impacted objective performance. Interestingly, while striving for perfection mediated positive outcomes, these maladaptive perfectionist tendencies did not show the same beneficial mediation.

Youth sports are as much about the journey as they are about the results. Parents have the opportunity to be the foundation of their child’s growth, providing a safe and nurturing environment that prioritizes development over perfection. Through this study, we hope to inspire a more thoughtful approach to parental involvement, one that cultivates resilience, confidence, and a lifelong love for sports.