Variations in the Perceptions of Peer and Coach Motivational Climate

Abstract

This study examined (a) variations in the perceptions of peer- and coach-generated motivational climate within and between teams and (b) individual- and group-level factors that can account for these variations. Participants were 483 athletes between 12 and 16 years old. The results showed that perceptions of both peer- and coach-generated climate varied as a function of group-level variables, namely team success, coach's gender (except for peer ego-involving climate), and team type (only for coach ego-involving climate). Perceptions of peer- and coach-generated climate also varied as a function of individual-level variables, namely athletes' task and ego orientations, gender, and age (only for coach task-involving and peer ego-involving climate). Moreover, within-team variations in perceptions of peer- and coach-generated climate as a function of task and ego orientation levels were identified. Identifying and controlling the factors that influence perceptions of peer- and coach-generated climate may be important in strengthening task-involving motivational cues.