Examining Young Recreational Male Soccer Players' Experience in Adult- and Peer-Led Structures

Abstract

Purpose: Youth sport has the potential to be one of the healthiest and most beneficial structures that children can partake in. Participation in a combination of adult-led and peer-led sport structures appears to lead to favorable outcomes such as enhanced physical fitness as well as social and emotional development (Fraser-Thomas, Côté, & Deakin, 2005). The purpose of the present study was to examine the subjective and objective experiences of 27 recreational male soccer players between the ages of 10 and 12 (M = 10.11, SD = 0.32) across adult-led and peer-led sport structures. Method: Direct video observation and experience rating scales were utilized in an effort to shed light on the impact of adult-led and peer-led sport structures on the same athletes. Results: In the adult-led structures, youth experienced high levels of effort and concentration, and spent more time being physically or mentally engaged. Meanwhile, youth experienced high rates of prosocial behaviors, sport-related communication, as well as general communication during the peer-led structures. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that rather than one approach being superior to the other, both adult- and peer-led sport structures have the potential to yield unique benefits towards children’s positive experiences in sport.