Perceived coach-autonomy support, basic need satisfaction and the well- and ill-being of elite youth soccer players: A longitudinal investigation

Drawing from the basic needs theory [BNT; Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2002). An overview of self-determination theory. In E. L. Deci, & R. M. Ryan (Eds.), Handbook of self-determination research (pp. 3–33). Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press], the major purpose of the present study was to test a hypothesized sequence of temporal relationships between perceptions of coach-autonomy support, basic need satisfaction and indices of well- and ill-being. A subsidiary aim was to ascertain the assumed mediational role of basic need satisfaction in explicating the perceived autonomy support and well-/ill-being relationships over time. A field-based longitudinal design was employed. Participants ( N = 54 males) from an elite youth soccer academy in the UK completed a multi-section questionnaire tapping the targeted variables on six occasions across two competitive seasons. Multi-level regression analyses revealed that perceptions of coach-autonomy support positively predicted within-person changes and between-person mean differences in basic need satisfaction and well-being over time. Satisfaction scores for the needs for competence and relatedness were found to predict within-person changes in subjective vitality. These same needs partially mediated the coach-autonomy support–subjective vitality link over the two seasons. The findings partially support the tenets of BNT, and are discussed in terms of their practical application to participants involved in an elite youth sport setting. ► Basic needs theory ( Ryan & Deci, 2000) was tested longitudinally in youth soccer. ► Perceived autonomy support predicted need satisfaction and subjective vitality. ► Competence and relatedness need satisfaction predicted subjective vitality. ► Partial mediation was observed for the perceived autonomy support-vitality link. ► The findings partially support the basic needs theory ( Ryan & Deci, 2000).