Relationships among the coach-athlete-parent triangle and basic needs satisfaction and frustration: A retrospective study

Youth sport athletes experience a wide range of social influences that impact their motivation and overall experiences in athletic endeavors. These relationships are complex and can have an impact on one another. Using self-determination theory as a framework, this study examined the processes of the Coach-Athlete-Parent (C-A-P) Triangle and their associations with relatedness need satisfaction and frustration. A retrospective design was used with former youth sport athletes (N = 260) who were current college students between the ages 18–23. Participants completed a battery of surveys assessing positive and negative perceptions of the C-A-P, relatedness need satisfaction and frustration, and intrinsic motivation. The network of relationships was analyzed using a path analysis. Relatedness needs satisfaction mediated the relationship between positive processes in the C-A-P, characterized by support and cohesion, and interest and value. Negative processes of the C-A-P, characterized by over-involvement and pressure, had a direct negative effect on perceived choice. The results provide insight into how social relationships function to satisfy the relatedness need and foster intrinsic motivation. These findings also explore the importance of supportive, cooperative relationships among coaches, parents, and athletes in order to enhance the feelings of belonging and enjoyment during the youth sport experience. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of youth sport social dynamics by identifying how the C-A-P triangle influences motivation. It provides strategies for sustaining positive sport experiences that encourage lifelong engagement in physical activity.