Optimising physical activity engagement during youth sport: a self-determination theory approach

ABSTRACT

Research suggests participation in youth sport does not guarantee physical activity (PA) guidelines are met. Studies indicate few children achieve recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during their youth sport involvement, and habitual levels of MVPA are below the recommended 60 min per day. Informed by self-determination theory, this study examined whether the coach-created social environment and related player motivation predict variability in objectively measured MVPA within the youth sport setting. Seventy three male youth sport footballers (Mean age = 11.66 ± 1.62) completed a multisection questionnaire assessing their perceptions of the social environment created in youth sport (autonomy supportive and controlling) and motivation towards their football participation (autonomous and controlled). Intensity of PA during youth sport was measured using accelerometers (GT3X, ActiGraph). Results supported a model in which perceptions of autonomy support significantly and positively predicted autonomous motivation towards football, which in turn significantly and positively predicted youth sport MVPA (% time). A significant indirect effect was observed for perceptions of autonomy support on youth sport %MVPA via autonomous motivation. Results have implications for optimising MVPA engagement during youth sport and increasing daily MVPA towards recommended and health-enhancing levels on youth sport days.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth sport
• self-determination theory
• autonomy support
• MVPA
• accelerometer

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the coaches and players who gave their time to participate in the study. The authors would also like to acknowledge colleagues working within the larger PAPA project for their input with study design and analytic decisions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme – Health (project reference 223600) – as part of the Promoting Adolescent Physical Activity (PAPA; www.projectpapa.org) project. In conducting the research described within this manuscript, Sally Fenton was supported by the Centre for Obesity Research (COR) at the University of Birmingham.