Dr. Jon Coles is the Associate Athletic Director at Ferris State University, a former Division 1 tennis player and father of two young sons playing five sports. He recently interviewed student athletes, playing different sports and from different socioeconomic backgrounds. He wanted to find out the effect their parents had on their sports lives.

 ILTWYP: How did this study come about?

Dr. Coles: I am concerned about the direction of youth sports in this country. Our participation rates are declining and because parents play such a major role in their child’s experience, I wanted to seek some answers from the true participants. I thought college athletes would be the perfect subjects as they are removed from their parents and are able to reflect, and they’re old enough to have seen a large spectrum of parenting styles.