Exploring the interplay between coaches’ need experiences and motivation with their (de)motivating coaching: a circumplex approach

The recent arrival of the circumplex model to the sport context has provided a more comprehensive conceptualisation of coaches’ (de)motivating styles, by subdividing them into different coaching approaches. However, empirical evidence about the motivational roots that may lead coaches to such coaching approaches is currently lacking. This study examines the associations between coaches’ motivational processes (basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration, and motivation quality) and their (de)motivating coaching approaches. Participants were 387 futsal coaches (Mage = 35.66 years; SD = 10.62; mean coaching experience = 11.07 years), who responded to a set of online questionnaires assessing the target variables. Results from structural equation modelling, adjusted for coaches’ experience and competitive level, showed that coaches’ need satisfaction positively predicted autonomous motivation for coaching, which, in turn, positively predicted participative, attuning, guiding, and clarifying approaches. Both coaches’ need satisfaction and frustration positively predicted controlled motivation, which positively related to demanding and domineering approaches. Controlled motivation was also shown to negatively predict coaches’ reliance on attuning practices. Finally, coaches’ need frustration positively predicted amotivation, which, in turn, positively predicted domineering, abandoning, and awaiting approaches. These findings provide further insight into the motivational antecedents that relate to coaches’ use of specific (de)motivating approaches to guide their players in trainings and competitions. Coaches who are passionate about coaching and see the value of it are more likely to adopt a more motivating style, while coaches with low-quality reasons for coaching or who have no energy for it are more prone to rely on demotivating styles.