Abstract

The purpose of this research is to assess parental involvement in childrens high school athletics
and its impact on athletic directors, coaches and student-athletes. This thesis will answer three
questions; (1) do Wisconsin high school coaches and athletic directors think that parents are too
involved, or not involved enough in their childrens high school athletic ventures; (2) what type
of problems do they think both helicopter and absentee parents pose for their child, coaches
and administrators; and (3) do they feel the existence of helicopter parents is escalating.
A survey was conducted through the Strategic Research Institute at St. Norbert College in De
Pere, Wis. to find out how coaches and administrators in Wisconsin view helicopter and
absentee parents. The research shows that coaches and athletic directors think helicopter
parenting is on the rise and is considered more of a problem for athletic directors than coaches.
However, the research also shows that if athletic directors and coaches had to choose between
helicopter or absentee parents, theyd prefer to have parents who are overly involved in their
program(s) rather than being absent.