Results for a survey conducted by responsiblesports.com showed that parents and coaches sometimes have different priorities about competitiveness, parent behavior, concussions, and parent involvement.
What are parents looking for in a coach?
- 77% of parents place high importance on their child’s coach being a caring person.
- 59% of parents place high importance on their child’s coach being skilled in that sport.
How important is the scoreboard?
- Three of four parents say a primary reason they placed their in youth sports was fun.
- About 36% of coaches say they have dealt with parents who had unreasonable expectations about winning.
How much emphasis should be placed on competitiveness? 
Elementary school kids
- 58% parents
- 76% coaches
Middle school kids
- 78% parents
- 86% coaches
High school kids
- 88% parents
- 91% coaches
Coaches place a slightly greater emphasis on competitiveness.
How do parents behave in the stands?
- 40% of coaches say they have experienced parents yelling negatively at other kids.
- 44% of coaches say they have experienced parents yelling negatively at officials.
- 55% of coaches say they have experienced parents yelling negatively at their own kids.
- 39% of coaches say they have experienced parents yelling at them.
How do parents and youth athletes feel about concussions?
- 82% of parents say they are concerned about the risk of concussions as a result of sports.
- 47% of parents say concussions factored into the decision over which sport their child would play.
- 35% of youth athletes are likely to raise a concern about concussions with their coach.
- 12% of youth athletes are likely to raise a concern about concussions with their parents.
How involved are parents?
- Nine of 10 parents claim to be involved by attending practices and games.
- 46% of coaches say they experience problems with parents’ lack of involvement.
The responsiblesports.com website is sponsored by Liberty Mutual and it educates parents and coaches about key concepts for instructing young athletes. This information will help parents and coaches better manage their expectations and ensure that the athletes have a more productive learning experience.
Note: the information from the responsiblesports.com website remains relevant, but the website is no longer active (2015).