Work

Do both coaches and parents contribute to youth soccer players’ motivation and engagement? An examination of their unique (de)motivating roles

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Although much is known about the motivating effects of coaching and parenting, the unique contribution of coaches and parents to youth athletes’ motivational functioning received far less attention. While a few studies did look into the simultaneous role of constructive (i.e., need-supportive) coaching and parenting, no study to date simultaneously addressed the undermining role of dysfunctional (i.e., need-thwarting) coaching and parenting practices in athletes’ motivation. Therefore, the present study examined associations between both need-supportive and need-thwarting coaching and parenting behaviours and athletes’ motivation and engagement, using a cross-sectional design among 255 male youth soccer players (Mage = 13.72) from Belgium. Examined separately, coaching and parenting showed a similar pattern of associations, with need-supportive styles being positively associated with autonomous motivation and engagement and with need-thwarting styles relating positively to amotivation and disengagement. When considered in combination, need-supportive coaching, but not parenting, related positively to soccer players’ autonomous motivation and engagement, whereas need-thwarting coaching and parenting related uniquely and positively to amotivation. These findings testify to the importance of distinguishing between need-supportive and need-thwarting styles when examining the unique roles of coaches and parents in athletes’ motivation and engagement.

Source: International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

DOI: 10.1080/1612197x.2020.1739111