Motivational Climate in Youth Football Players

Why do students drop out of regular sport in late adolescent? The experience of a systematic review

Introduction

The positive impact of youth sport on physical, mental and social health has been highlighted in several research which reinforces further investigations concerning the reasons for dropout of athletes. As one of the most emergent difficulties in youth sports is to prevent athletes from dropping out, it is important to explore what factors play important part in this process. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and challenges related to sport persistence and dropout.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review using the EBSCO Discovery Service Search Engine. Our method followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results

Out of the initially examined 512 publications, 11 papers were included in our final sample. Original empirical research published in a peer-reviewed journal, papers focusing on participants age below 25 years and exploring factors influencing dropout determined by any levels of Bronfenbrenner's model were analyzed. Results showed that gender differences were extensively examined and did, in fact, contribute to dropout ratios, while socio-cultural and ethnic backgrounds were largely disregarded in most studies. From presented individual psychological factors perception of ability and success, enjoyment, sports satisfaction and life satisfaction all protected against dropout.

Discussion

Achievement, goal, social and win orientation emerged as positive predictors of sport persistence in many studies, along with motivation and commitment. Many non-psychological factors were also mentioned. Sports requiring more training may lead to increased dropout rates, just as well as the lack of knowledge acquisition and competitiveness. Lastly, social environment and status also often play a significant role in dropout. Individuals with more resourceful socio-economical background find it easier to keep up the pace and have the opportunity to participate in more wealth-consuming sports. Social support received from the family and peers is a very strong preventive factor against dropout and both the personality and leadership of the coach were mentioned in multiple studies. A lack of methodological diversity, paired with the presence of only cross-sectional studies fulfilling the inclusivity criteria raises attention to the importance of examining underrepresented factors and the need for longitudinal research on the topic.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-11-0015/, INPLASY2024110015.

Motivation among Teenage Football Players: A Longitudinal Investigation throughout a Competitive Season

The present study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in behavioral regulations among teenage football players throughout a competitive season, with three measurement points (T1, T2, and T3). The total sample size for the study comprised 108 participants (78 male; 30 female). The participants' mean age was 14.31 (SD = 1.48). A MANOVA repeated measures analysis was performed within the group for all six behavioral regulations based on self-determination theory. The results of the study revealed noteworthy patterns in the behavioral regulations and intrinsic motivation scores over the competitive season. Identified regulation demonstrated a significant increase from T1 to T3 (p < 0.01, η2p = 0.13). Intrinsic motivation displayed a significant decrease over the same period from T1 to T3 (p < 0.01, η2p = 0.12). On the other hand, amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, and integrated regulation did not show significant changes between the three time points. The findings have practical implications for coaches and sports practitioners, as they highlight the need to create a supportive and autonomy-promoting environment to sustain athletes' intrinsic motivation throughout a competitive season. Also, recognizing the increase in identified regulation can inform strategies that align team goals and training sessions with players' individual values, thereby enhancing their commitment and dedication to the team's success.

Leadership and Motivational Climate: The Relationship with Objectives, Commitment, and Satisfaction in Base Soccer Players

The objective of the present study is to analyze non-professional soccer players’ preferences regarding coach leadership style and motivational climate and to determine the relationship of these variables with players’ satisfaction, sport commitment, and sport objectives. The participants were 151 players, aged between 10 and 24 years, divided into five categories: Alevín, Infantil, Cadet, Feminine, and Juvenile, all belonging to the Aragonese Soccer Federation. The participants completed questionnaires assessing their perception of their coach’s leadership style, the team’s motivational climate, their individual satisfaction, degree of sport commitment, and sport objectives. The results show that the leadership styles of training and instruction (M = 3.98, SD = 0.43) and positive feedback (M = 4.02, SD = 0.53) are the most valued by the players in all categories. The training and instruction leadership style had the highest correlations with task-oriented motivational climate (r = 0.40). The findings of the regression analysis show that a training and instruction leadership style and a task-oriented motivational climate significantly predict players’ satisfaction (13.3%) and sport commitment (14.5%).