A bio-psychosocial investigation of self-determined motivation in recreational and travel youth soccer programs

The purpose of this study was to conduct a biopsychosocial investigation of self-determined motivation in recreational and travel youth soccer. The investigation consisted of three distinct phases. A total of 128 youth soccer players (54 males and 74 females) aged between nine and seventeen years participated in the current investigation.;The first phase of the investigation used structural equation modeling to empirically test a motivational model of adult influence in youth soccer. The initial analysis failed to support the hypothesized model, chi 2(458) = 818.11, p < .05. Modifications to the model based upon respecification criteria developed by Byrne (2001) produced an alternative model that demonstrated a moderate to good fit to the data. Perceptions of autonomy support from the mother positively and significantly predicted self-determined motivation in youth soccer players. Perceptions of autonomy support from the coach positively and significantly predicted perceptions of competence in soccer. Finally, perception of competence in soccer positively and significantly predicted self-determined motivation in youth soccer players.;The second phase of the study investigated gender and program related differences in self-determined motivation, perceptions of autonomy in soccer, perceptions of adult autonomy support, and perceptions of physical and soccer competence. Males reported significantly higher levels of identified regulation, F(1,127) = 4.12, p < .05, and perceived autonomy in soccer, F(1,123) = 6.21, p < .05. Participants in travel programs reported significantly higher perceptions of physical competence, F(1,126) = 6.30, p < .05.;The final phase of the study investigated gender and program differences in the biological maturational status of youth soccer players, and examined the relationships between biological maturity, body mass index and perceptions of physical and soccer competence. A significant interaction between gender and program was observed for biological maturity, F(1,114) = 3.03, p < .10. A closer inspection of the interaction revealed that, males participating in travel programs were maturationally advanced for their age than males participating in recreational programs.;Biological maturity was not significantly correlated to perceptions of physical or soccer competence in males or females. However, a significant and positive correlation was observed between biological maturity and perceptions of physical competence in males aged above the mean age of peak height velocity, r(5) = .83, p < .05. A closer inspection of the results relative to mean age of peak height velocity suggest that the direction and magnitude of the relationships between biological maturity and perceptions of physical and soccer competence vary with gender and the age relative to the mean age of peak height velocity. Body mass index was not significantly correlated with perceptions of physical or soccer competence in males or females.