Influence of the family environment on the development of athletic  talent in youth tennis: a documentary review

Richar Jacobo Posso-Pacheco; Pablo Ricardo Olvera Sánchez

doi:10.56200/mentor.v5i4.13318

Authors

Richar Jacobo Posso-Pacheco Director of MENTOR Revista de Investigación, Educativa y deportiva. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1279-9852
Pablo Ricardo Olvera Sánchez Centro Nacional de Tenis. Guayaquil, Ecuador https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7163-9565

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i4.13318

Keywords:

athletic talent, youth tennis, family environment, sport motivation, parental pressure, sport dropout

Abstract

The family environment constitutes a decisive component in the development of athletic talent among youth tennis players. The objective of this study was to analyze the scientific evidence on the influence of the family environment on the development of athletic talent among youth tennis players. A documentary review with a systematized search and thematic synthesis was conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, considering publications available up to January 2026. Of the 312 records identified, 198 were removed as duplicates and 103 were excluded for not meeting the thematic relevance criteria; finally, 11 documents were incorporated into the main corpus of analysis. The results were organized into three axes: functions of parental support, effects of parental pressure, and moderating variables of family involvement. The evidence showed that parental support favors talent development when it promotes autonomy, emotional stability, motivation, and coordination with the coach. In contrast, result-centered pressure, criticism, excessive control, and unrealistic expectations may affect psychological well-being and weaken continued sport participation. It is concluded that the most appropriate parental support is not the most intense, but the one most closely adjusted to the developmental stage, competitive level, and psychological needs of the young tennis player.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Richar Jacobo Posso-Pacheco , Director of MENTOR Revista de Investigación, Educativa y deportiva.

Director of MENTOR Revista de Investigación, Educativa y deportiva.

PhD Education

PhD Projects

Pablo Ricardo Olvera Sánchez , Centro Nacional de Tenis. Guayaquil, Ecuador

Centro Nacional de Tenis. Guayaquil, Ecuador

References

Alarfaj, A. A., Hassan, M. M., Aljohar, R. M., Almuaili, F. A., & Hassan, M. D. (2024). The internal and external factors influencing talent development of athletic talent among Saudi Arabia’s twice exceptional elite athletes: A comprehensive study. PLOS ONE, 19(12), e0304049. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304049

Cahill, G., & MacNamara, A. (2025). Beyond the Courts: A Qualitative Exploration of the Evolving Role of Parents in Supporting High-Potential Tennis Players. The Sport Psychologist, 39(3), 163–175. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2024-0159

Côté, J. (1999). The Influence of the Family in the Development of Talent in Sport. The Sport Psychologist, 13(4), 395–417. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.13.4.395

Gao, Z., Chee, C. S., Norjali Wazir, M. R. W., Wang, J., Zheng, X., & Wang, T. (2024). The role of parents in the motivation of young athletes: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1291711. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1291711

Gould, D., Lauer, L., Rolo, C., Jannes, C., & Pennisi, N. (2006). Understanding the role parents play in tennis success: A national survey of junior tennis coaches. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 40(7), 632–636. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2005.024927

Harwood, C., & Porter, K. (2026). Applying the 5Cs Framework to Elite Youth Tennis: Impact Factors in a Talent Development Environment. Behavioral Sciences, 16(2), 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16020166

Henriksen, K., Stambulova, N., & Roessler, K. K. (2010). Holistic approach to athletic talent development environments: A successful sailing milieu. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(3), 212–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.10.005

Novak, D., Oršolić, M., Barbaros, P., Suzuki, E., & Subramanian, S. V. (2025). Family ties and social capital among grand slam tennis champions. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 60(5), 900–920. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902241298498

Novak, D., Svalina, F., & Delale, E. A. (2020). Connection between Social Capital and Sport Success of Young Tennis Players. Social Sciences, 9(11), 206. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9110206

Ntalachani, K., Dania, A., Karteroliotis, K., & Stavrou, N. (2025). Parental Involvement in Youth Sports: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Coach–Athlete–Parent Relationship. Youth, 5(3), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth5030081

Pill, S., Petersen, J., Agnew, D., Prichard, I., & Ridley, K. (2024). Barriers, supports and constraints on women coaching in tennis. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 19(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231191596

Stambulova, N., Alfermann, D., Statler, T., & Côté, J. (2009). ISSP Position stand: Career development and transitions of athletes. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 7(4), 395–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2009.9671916

Wolfenden, L. E., & Holt, N. L. (2005). Talent Development in Elite Junior Tennis: Perceptions of Players, Parents, and Coaches. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 17(2), 108–126. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200590932416