Date of Award
8-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Barcelona, Robert J
Committee Member
Anderson , Denise M
Committee Member
Schmalz , Dorothy L
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Youth sports are a means for children to develop physically, mentally, and socially. Recent studies show that 75% of children drop out of sports by age 13. One of the main reasons that children discontinue sport participation is pressure from parents and coaches. Researchers have shown that certain coach-created motivational climates lead to youth outcomes such as initiative and identity reflection. This study measured perceived motivational climate, basic psychological needs satisfaction, perceived competence, self-esteem, and how those constructs impact sport commitment. Two hundred and twenty children (ages 8-12) playing youth sports in a southeastern recreation department were surveyed at practices and games. Results indicate four findings: 1) perceptions of autonomy-supportive coaching behaviors predict mastery climate; 2) perceptions of mastery climates predict psychological need satisfaction; 3) basic psychological need satisfaction predicts competence and self-esteem; 4) basic psychological need satisfaction and self-esteem predict sport commitment. Results from this study support the literature of motivational climate and sport commitment.
Recommended Citation
Felak, Michael, "The effects of motivational climate and coaching behaviors on sport commitment in recreational youth sports" (2011). All Theses. 1185.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/1185