Introduction: Two central aspects that shape the coaching environment in sport are `goal structure` and `autonomy support`. However, the extent to which a coaching environment facilitates adaptive motivational patterns in sport may depend on the degree of congruence (vs. incongruence) between coach and athlete perceptions of this environment. In addition, the manner in which coaches and athletes perceive the coaching environment may depend on the distinction between training and competition contexts and the type of sport in which athletes participate (i.e., individual or team sports). The purpose of this study was to examine congruence between coach and athlete perceptions of autonomy support and goal structure across context and sport type. Method: Participants were individual- (n = 145) and team-sport (n = 203) athletes and their coaches (n = 15), who completed questionnaires measuring perceptions of goal structure (i.e., task and ego) and autonomy support (i.e., interest in athlete`s input and praise for autonomous behaviour) in training and competition. We examined our study purpose with Multilevel Modeling. Results: Coach perceptions of autonomy support (i.e., interest and praise) and task goal structure were higher than corresponding athlete perceptions, in both contexts and sport types. In addition, for autonomy interest, incongruence in individual sports was higher in competition than in training, whereas, in team sports, incongruence in autonomy interest did not depend on context. For autonomy praise and task goal structure, incongruence in individual sports was higher in training than in competition, whereas in team sports, incongruence in these aspects of the coaching environment did not depend on context. Coaches and athletes` perceptions of ego goal structure did not differ from each other. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that congruence between coach and athlete perceptions of autonomy support and goal structure may depend on context and/or sport type. Hence, the present findings highlight the importance of making the distinction between training and competition, and individual and team sports, when examining motivational processes in sport.
© Copyright 2014 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam, 2. - 5. July 2014. Published by VU University Amsterdam. All rights reserved.