Role of Family Members in Sport Motivation, Involvement and Expertise of Track and Field Athletes in France

Abstract

Familial influence towards sport in general is well documented in the scientific literature. But what about the influence of family when the same sporting activity is practiced by parents, children, cousins or grandparents? Does it have an impact on sporting motivations, involvement and expertise of participants? he authors interviewed 1132 track and field athletes (1.03% of the total population of track and field athletes aged 13 to 60 in France) by measuring their motivation towards athletics with the Vallerand Sports Motivation Scale SMS 28. Age, gender, social status and familial networks were used as independent variables. The results show that having other family members affiliated to the same club and/or participating in the same sporting activity, not only affects sport motivations and involvement, but also the athletes’ level of expertise. Family members are prone to inculcate habits and values, but also to support, help and encourage relatives in sporting activities.