A decade of coach-athlete-parent (C-A-P) research: insights, impact, and future directions

Abstract

<p>The quality of interpersonal relationships between coaches, athletes, and parents (C-A-P) plays a fundamental role in shaping athletes‘ behavior and developmental outcomes, including biopsychosocial development, personality growth through sports, and long-term participation in sports. C-A-P relationships are particularly significant as they are fundamental, complex, and dynamic. Each individual is different, and different norms and behaviors shape each generation, so this topic remains relevant and highly research-focused. To date, such C-A-P as a whole phenomenon and system has been extensively researched in the past decade; qualitative and quantitative, as well as mixed methods research and intervention programs, positive as well as negative processes in the development of C-A-P relationship measurement were developed by Lisinskiene (2015–2025) and other well-renowned scholars. In my keynote speech, I will briefly present C-A-P research throughout the decade and the process, progress, and evolution of C-A-P. In addition, I will focus in detail on delivering my latest longitudinal quantitative research study that examines C-A-P over time in a youth sports setting. A most recent qualitative phenomenology research study, in-depth interviews with Olympic and Paralympic athletes on their past C-A-P relationships, will be presented. The future research perspectives on international interdisciplinary research will be discussed, and the practical implications of C-A-P will be outlined.</p>