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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent

INSANE: Pushy parents are biggest problem in sports performance say psychologists | Rare Historical Photos

Angry soccer moms yelling at referee during kids' game
Many of the world’s biggest sports stars have talked of the pressure from parents that helped push them towards success or, in some cases, pushed them too far. Photograph: SDI Productions/Getty/iStockphoto

Pushy and shouty parents are the “biggest problem in sports performance”, sports psychologists have said, amid growing concern that pressure and abuse is hampering competitive sport in the UK.

This week parents were banned from attending sports events at a number of south London primary schools due to “concerning behaviours”, including abuse towards officials and children and creating “too much pressure around performance and winning at all costs”.

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