Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this case study was to explore the significant characteristics of shared leadership between coaches and parents in the development of sportsmanship in Southern California youth club soccer players. Methodology. A qualitative case study was used to capture the data necessary for this study. Utilizing snowball sampling, interviews were conducted on 5 coaches and 5 parents (mother and father or single parent). The sample for this study was coaches and parents in one Southern California soccer club based in western Riverside County. All participants were at least 18 years old, had at least two years of experience participating in club soccer, and had either coached in club soccer or been a parent of a youth who played club soccer. The participants provided valuable, natural responses in their interviews that addressed the essence of the research study. Findings. Clearly defining expectations and having open lines of communication ensured coaches and parents were working toward the same goal—the development of the youth—with a balanced, established relationship. One underlining factor was parental support for their youth player. The primary role almost all parent participants identified with was to provide support to their youth. Conclusions. In a shared leadership between coaches and parents, communication provides a sense of empowerment for coaches, parents, and youth players to have an impact on the process. Having clear communication creates mutual understanding on achieving the ultimate goal in developing youth soccer players. Recommendations. Coaches have to articulate to parents what is necessary for them to develop the players off the field. Once parents begin to understand the process of development undertaken by coaches on the field, the challenges are minimized for coaches.