Relationship of Motivational Climate to Performance Among NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Players

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between Division I men’s basketball players’ perceptions of the motivational climate on their team to various basketball outcomes, perceived support from coaches, teammates, and motivational responses. Participants were 19 Division I men’s basketball players’ who were predominantly African-American (89.47%, Mage = 20.74). Three canonical correlations examined the relationships between climate variables (i.e., caring, task, and ego) and motivational climate via (a) performance outcomes; (b) motivational variables; and (c) support variables. Analysis indicated that athletes that perceived a greater caring/task-involving climate were positively associated with (1) performance; (2) motivational variables; and (3) support variables. Additionally, perceptions of an ego climate resulted in lower performance outcomes as well as negative associations with motivational and support variables.