The Relationship of Empowering and Disempowering Coaching Climate with Enjoyment and Quality of Life Variables in Greek Youth Soccer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of Empowering and Disempowering Coaching Climate with enjoyment and quality of life variables, such as self-reported MVPA, self-reported health, life satisfaction and subjective vitality in youth soccer. The sample consisted of 1507 youth players (M age: 11.70 ± 1.48 years) from 35 soccer clubs, who participated voluntarily in the baseline measurement of the European PAPA project (www.papaproject.org) in Greece. At the start of a soccer training session, participants completed a number of valid and reliable questionnaires measuring motivational climate, enjoyment and
quality of life variables (self-report MVPA, self-report health, life satisfaction and subjective vitality). Regression analysis revealed that Empowering Coaching Climate positively predicted variables of self-reported MVPA, self-reported health, life satisfaction, subjective vitality and enjoyment. On the other hand, Disempowering Coaching Climate predicted negatively life satisfaction and enjoyment, while it did not significantly predict the variables of self-reported MVPA, self-reported health and subjective vitality. Finally, 72.4% of the overall sample reported that they participate in MVPA more than four days per week. Based on the
above results, it seems that motivational climate created by soccer coaches plays an important role in terms of improving the quality of life of their youth athletes.