Effects of an Interpersonal Style Intervention for Coaches on Young Soccer Players’ Motivational Processes

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to assess the effects of an intervention programme developed with soccer coaches, based on promoting strategies to optimise the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of athletes. Eight soccer coaches, aged between 19 and 50 years (M = 32.5; SD = 14.34), participated in the study. They were selected intentionally (without academic or federative training) and divided equally into a control and an experimental group by random peer selection. Also, 109 soccer players, aged between 11 and 15 years (M = 13.78; SD = 1.38), divided into a control group (CG; n = 56) and an experimental group (EG; n = 53), participated in the experiment. The training programme (12 hours) was aimed to develop methodological and motivational strategies to promote autonomy, competence and relatedness need satisfaction among the players. The results showed that the participants in the EG decreased competence and relatedness control, while significantly increased (post-intervention) competence and relatedness needs satisfaction. Moreover, values for the EG did not decrease for autonomy, competence frustration and amotivation, while they increased for the sport commitment. Also, intrinsic motivation decreased in both groups (greater decrease in the CG). In conclusion, we can affirm the effectiveness of the training programme to create an environment of “bright side” motivation, and reduce thwarting styles, needs frustration and low self-determination levels.

Motivational factors for sport: the case of soccer athletes aged between 12 and 17 years

“…According to the theory of self-determination [9], the reasons that lead to sport practice can be extrinsic or intrinsic, and on this basis it is possible to determine the motivation for the sports practice. in this con-text, motivation is considered as the reasons that direct the behaviour of individuals when they participate in some experience, be it in sport, leisure, or work [10]. From that point, intrinsic motivation relates to internal personal factors, which refer to the individual's autonomy in making their choices according to the interest, pleasure, and satisfaction inherent to a particular sport activity or practice [9].…”

“…The literature of the area shows that sports practice is motivated by the autonomy, competence, performance, pleasure, and psychosocial skills of young athletes [1,4,7,8,11,12,15,16]. When analysing soccer, the reasons related to pleasure, motivational environment, and self-determined motivation [10,17] are of greatest importance for practice, and Brazilian soccer athletes present the pleasure of playing this sport as their main reason for practising [14].…”

Methodological intervention with soccer coaches to improve athlete-perceived coaching competency, satisfaction with the coach, enjoyment and intention to persist

“…This variable may be a key aspect for a player to decide to devote time to performing an activity, developing more self-determined motivation and greater adherence to its practice. 11 However, according to the changes produced in the intention to persist, the key may not always be to try to increase the variables, but to provide means for these values recorded at the initial measure to be maintained during the season and also in the following ones. This is also related to the work of Pulido et al.…”

“…This intervention was conducted by two university professors, experts in the field of sport psychology research, who were also soccer coaches (i.e., UEFA PRO license) and it is based on previous programs developed in sport and educational settings. 11 , 38 , 39 Various audio-visual media were used, such as videos, pictures, and dynamic presentations, as well as practical workshops.…”

“…10 Likewise, Pulido et al. 11 developed an SDT-based intervention program to improve sport commitment in young soccer players through the development of strategies to promote autonomy, competency, and relatedness need satisfaction. The results showed a decrease in competence and perceived relatedness thwarting behavior in the participants belonging to the experimental group (EG), whereas need competence and need relatedness and sport commitment increased significantly.…”