The impact of environmental and cultural factors within a Scottish football club on the motivational attributes of professional footballers and coaches

This project aimed to explore the motivational characteristics of individuals working within a Scottish Championship football club, and how they are influenced by the club environment and culture. Methods: A multi-phase design was used. Phase 1 used a literature review to identify key characteristics of elite Talent Development Environments (TDEs) and the psychological attributes of its athletes and coaches. Phase 2 used semi-structured interviews to assess the socioenvironmental influences at the club and the Psychological Characteristics for Developing Excellence (PCDEs) of the participants (Players, n=6; Coaches, n=3). Phase 3 utilised a modified version of the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire–2 (PMCSQ-2) to discover the players’ and coaches’ (Players, n=15; Coaches, n=3) perceptions of their motivational climate and the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) data. Results: Phase 1. The literature review revealed that a multitude of psychological skills were necessary to achieve performance goals, and how socioenvironmental factors influence these skills. Phase 2. Interview data revealed differences between participants’ level of PCDEs, motivation, needs satisfaction and multiple socioenvironmental factors that impacted their motivation. Phase 3. The survey showed that overall the environment was viewed as task oriented. There were significant differences between the coaches’ and players’ perception of their environment. There were also significant differences between the responses to the modified GPS items and unmodified items. Conclusions: Interview data revealed that the players lacked some PCDEs that Phase 1 identified as being key to reach the elite level. The interviews suggested that the environment tended to be oriented towards ego-orientation. The survey suggested that GPS data dissemination is not used in an ego-involving manner, and revealed differences in perceptions of the TDE between coaches and players. Recommendations were provided to cause positive performance outcomes.