Family and its Influence on Kenyan Athletes' Performance : The Role of Social Environment

International audienceThe purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of family on Kenyan runners' performance. These family attributes included: the influence of significant others such as parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, grandparents and others; reasons for specializing in distance running; motives for participation; and the type of family support in promoting athletes' talent development. Questionnaires were administered to 246 runners drawn from Iten in Elkeyo Marakwet County, Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County and Nandi Hills in Nandi County between April and May 2015. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, i.e. frequencies and percentages. Results indicated that the family play an important role in the development of athletic talent as well as influencing their performance. The study recommends that sports personnel involved in the nurturing of local talent rethink, design and implement talent identification and nurturing programmes with the involvement of family for the successful development of sports population