Beyond the Courts: A Qualitative Exploration of the Evolving Role of Parents in Supporting High-Potential Tennis Players

This study explores how parents perceive and experience their roles in supporting top-ranked Irish tennis players and how these roles evolve over time. Through semistructured interviews conducted across a competitive season, the research provides a longitudinal perspective on the dynamic and evolving nature of parental involvement. Parents are identified as providers, interpreters, and role models, adapting their roles as their children progress in their tennis development. The study highlights how factors such as developmental stages, competition demands, seasonal challenges, and family dynamics influence parental involvement. A key contribution is the use of a longitudinal sliding population sample, capturing parents’ experiences across various seasonal and developmental stages within the talent-development pathway. These findings emphasize the need for tailored parent education programs incorporating context-specific scientific information aligned with the developmental stage. Ultimately, this research provides new insights into the adaptive strategies parents employ to support their children’s athletic development.