This study was based on achievement goal theory and stress theory. Its purpose was to describe elite junior football players` motivation and stress level and to examine how these factors were related to club level, comparing players from level-1 and level-2 clubs. The sample comprised 120 male Norwegian junior football players (mean age = 17.8 yrs, SD = .78 yrs) representing six professional football clubs (three top-level clubs; three league-two clubs). Players` ratings of their task orientation and mastery climate were higher than their ratings of ego orientation and performance climate. They reported medium levels of all four facets of stress. Level-1 players gave higher ratings to mastery climate than level-2 players (p < .01) whereas the level-2 players reported higher levels of evaluation, performance and development stress (p < .05) compared to the level-1 players. These results suggest that there is more emphasis on creating a mastery environment at level-1 clubs, since level-1 players reported a higher mastery climate. This interpretation is corroborated by the fact that the level-2 players reported higher levels of evaluation, performance and development stress. We recommend that coaches focus on creating a mastery climate. Furthermore, level-2 clubs should be aware that their players feel more stress than those in level-1 clubs and this may be related to concerns about their performance and development as footballers.
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