Scheduled for “More Than a Game:” Impact of The First Tee Life Skills Programs on Positive Youth Development, Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM, Convention Center: 327


Corroborating Transfer of Life Skills to Other Domains: Parents' Perspective

Jennifer A. Bhalla, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Parents, like coaches, contribute significantly to youths' psychosocial development. Parents are immersed in the everyday lives of their children. They talk to them about situations at school and other activities and observe them in multiple social situations, thus putting them in a prime position for providing examples of using life skills in multiple domains. Twenty-four parents or guardians were interviewed (5 focus groups and 1 individual interview) about their children's experiences in The First Tee (e.g., “How has your child learned to meet and get to know new people in The First Tee?”). Probe questions were used to gain richer information and clarify answers. Questions asked of parents paralleled those asked of youth regarding what and how youth learned life skills through The First Tee curriculum and program delivery. Parents were optimistic about what and how their children were learning skills in The First Tee. Though parents were largely unfamiliar with the exact content of The First Tee curriculum, they were able to provide examples of how skills learned in The First Tee transferred to different domains. For example, parents provided information that demonstrated youth are able to meet new peers, as well as adults, in several social situations (e.g., new child in school, friends of a parent). Parents also provided support for their children's ability to show respect, control their emotions, set goals, and deal with challenges as a result of what they are learning in The First Tee. Representative quotations are also shared to demonstrate the effectiveness of the life skills curriculum. Parents were not always able to articulate exact words and acronyms used by The First Tee (i.e., STAR, CARE) to teach the curriculum; however, parents perceived The First Tee was reinforcing skills learned at home. Parents are an important part of the triangulation process, and provided essential information regarding how and when youth use life skills in domains outside of sport. Thus, parents corroborated evidence of The First Tee's effectiveness that paralleled results obtained from youth participants and coaches.
Keyword(s): youth sports

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