Other parents reported they were proud of their children and were even motivated themselves to learn about or begin playing the sports their children participated in, said a P-U release.

Another parent said that when her child decided to play tennis, she took up the sport as well. 'I never would have done that,' the parent said.

'I don't think it's terribly surprising that parents connect with one another, but what was surprising is the intensity of that connection,' said Alan Smith, P-U associate professor of health and kinesiology (branch of physiology that studies the mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement).

In 2006, more than 57 million children under the age of 18 participated in organised sport programmes, according to the National Coaching Report.

Their results are published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.