Highlights • We used a developmental lens to compare age groups and competitive levels. • Adolescents perceived greater autonomy and punishment for mistakes than children. • Select team players perceived greater mastery climate than recreational players. • Cooperative learning emerged as the most salient coaching behavior for all groups. Abstract Objectives: We used a developmental lens to examine age group and competitive level differences on motivational climate dimensions, psychological needs satisfaction, and personal and social responsibility as well as relationships among variables, in line with basic psychological needs theory. Design: We used a cross-sectional, correlational design. Method: Girls and boys age 8-13 on recreational and select soccer teams completed a survey. Results: A 2 × 2 MANOVA showed main effects for age group and competitive level: early adolescents reported greater punishment for mistakes and autonomy compared to children; select players reported greater mastery climate dimensions and personal responsibility compared to recreational players. For all groups, path analyses revealed perceptions of cooperative learning were indirectly associated with personal and social responsibility, through coach and/or teammate relatedness. Conclusions: Patterns of relationships by age group and competitive level are discussed in reference to developmental literature. Results highlight the value of using a developmental approach to understand how coaches can promote youth soccer players` psychological and social well-being.
© Copyright 2020 Psychology of Sport and Exercise. Elsevier. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.