Game, Set, Teamwork: What I've Learned About Parent-Athlete-Coach Relationships

In the world of youth sport, we often focus on the athlete-coach relationship. But what happens when you zoom out and look at the entire support system around a young player? In our recently published study in The Sport Psychologist, we explored exactly that—by diving deep into the dynamics of parent–athlete–coach (PAC) triads in British youth tennis.

Using a collective case study approach, we spoke with 10 young players, their parents, and coaches across three key developmental stages (sampling, specializing, and investment). Through interviews and even real-life communication threads (like WhatsApp chats), we uncovered what makes these triads tick.

What stood out? Strong triads aren’t just about good vibes—they thrive on mutual trust, shared goals, and a willingness to adjust roles as athletes mature. The most successful ones acted like cohesive mini-teams, built not just on contracts, but on genuine care, respect, and communication.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or sport psych practitioner, our findings suggest it's time to move from “relationship-focused” to “relationship-centered” approaches—supporting not just individuals, but the triad as a unit.

Curious to know more? Let's chat!