Testing a sequence of relationships from interpersonal coaching styles to rugby performance, guided by the coach–athlete motivation model

Abstract

This study was designed to test a four stage sequence of relationships derived from the coach–athlete motivation model (CAMM; [Mageau, G. A., & Vallerand, R. J. (2003). The coach-athlete relationship: A motivational model. Journal of Sport Sciences, 21, 883–904. doi: 10.1080/0264041031000140374]) from interpersonal coaching styles to athletes' basic psychological needs, to self-determined motives, and finally rugby performance. Participants were 221 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) female rugby players who ranged from 16 to 33 years of age and reported playing rugby for an average of six years. The athletes completed a self-report questionnaire which included demographics, interpersonal coaching styles, basic psychological needs, self-determined motivation, and performance. An analysis of the structural model yielded the following fit index scores; (χ2 (157) = 328.00, p = .000; Comparative Fit Index = .95; Incremental Fit Index = .95; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .07; Standardised Root Mean Square Residual = .09. The interpersonal coaching styles of autonomy support (β = .66), structure (β = .35), and involvement (β = .44) positively predicted the athletes corresponding needs. However, only autonomy significantly (β = .60) predicted self-determined motivation, while competence (β = .01) and relatedness (β = .07) did not. Finally, self-determined motivation moderately predicted rugby performance (β = .35). These findings provide initial support for propositions offered in the CAMM that the structure and involvement provided by coaches are positively associated with optimising the athletic experience. Furthermore, this study contributes to the existing literature by attempting to replicate previous studies that have examined at least one of the relationships examined in the present investigation using a varied population of female rugby players.