Motivation
How supportive coaches affect young athletes' well-being
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
When youth soccer coaches support their players' independence and choices, it boosts the players' psychological needs and enjoyment, which keeps their energy levels high even into the following season with a different coach.
Key findings
The study found that when players perceived their coaches as supportive of their autonomy at the start of the season, they reported higher satisfaction of their basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) by the end of the season. This needs satisfaction predicted higher intrinsic motivation, which in turn predicted greater subjective vitality, or feelings of energy and aliveness. Notably, these positive psychological benefits carried over to the start of the next season, even when players switched to a different coach.
Methodology
The researchers surveyed 360 male footballers from Spain, ranging in age from 11 to 13 years. The athletes completed questionnaires at three different time points across consecutive competitive seasons. These surveys measured how much the players felt their coaches supported their autonomy, their level of basic psychological needs satisfaction, their intrinsic motivation, and their subjective vitality.
Limitations
The study only included young male football players, meaning the findings may not apply to female athletes, older age groups, or players in other sports. Because the researchers relied entirely on self-reported questionnaires, the study measures the players' perceptions of autonomy support rather than the coaches' actual objective behaviors. Additionally, the study did not measure other negative social environmental factors, such as controlling coaching styles, which could also influence a player's long-term well-being.
How this study connects
Role on claims
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Supporting autonomy and satisfying basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) fosters intrinsic motivation, which in turn enhances subjective vitality and feelings of energy.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
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