Frontiers in Sports and Active Living | 2026
Authors: Skard S.; Joensen M.; Gundersen H.; Eriksen H.R.
DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1769158
Journal: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Year: 2026
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Cited by: 0
Introduction: While the gender gap in ambitions and motives in sports has been widely studied, less attention has been paid to the potential discrepancies between the perspectives of youth athletes, their coaches, and their parents. This study examines the extent to which youth football players' ambitions and motives for participation are accurately perceived by two key socializers: coaches and parents. Furthermore, it investigates whether systematic gender differences exist in these perceptions. Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional survey, we collected data from youth football players, age 13–16 yrs (N = 593, 44.8% female), their coaches (N = 99, 11.1% female), and their parents (N = 528, 59.8% female). Results: Our findings reveal significant misalignments between the views of players, coaches, and parents regarding the players' level of ambition and main motives to participate in organized football. Females' motives and ambitions are in particular underestimated by their parents and coaches. These misalignments could reinforce gendered narratives in sports, potentially leading to unequal resource allocation. Discussion: Our study highlights the need for better alignment between the perceptions of coaches and parents and the actual ambitions and motives among youth players to promote equal support and development opportunities for all. 2026 Skard, Joensen, Gundersen and Eriksen.
ambition; football; gender; motives; parents; sport; youth