TY - JOUR
T1 - A review of controlling motivational strategies from a self-determination theory perspective
T2 - Implications for sports coaches
AU - Bartholomew, Kimberley J.
AU - Ntoumanis, Nikos
AU - Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
PY - 2009/9
Y1 - 2009/9
N2 - The aim of this paper is to present a preliminary taxonomy of six controlling strategies, primarily based on the parental and educational literatures, which we believe are employed by coaches in sport contexts. Research in the sport and physical education literature has primarily focused on coaches' autonomysupportive behaviours. Surprisingly, there has been very little research on the use of controlling strategies. A brief overview of the research which delineates each proposed strategy is presented, as are examples of the potential manifestation of the behaviours associated with each strategy in the context of sports coaching. In line with self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2002), we propose that coach behaviours employed to pressure or control athletes have the potential to thwart athletes' feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which, in turn, undermine athletes' self-determined motivation and contribute to the development of controlled motives. When athletes feel pressured to behave in a certain way, a variety of negative consequences are expected to ensue which are to the detriment of the athletes' well-being. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness and interest in the darker side of sport participation and to offer suggestions for future research in this area.
AB - The aim of this paper is to present a preliminary taxonomy of six controlling strategies, primarily based on the parental and educational literatures, which we believe are employed by coaches in sport contexts. Research in the sport and physical education literature has primarily focused on coaches' autonomysupportive behaviours. Surprisingly, there has been very little research on the use of controlling strategies. A brief overview of the research which delineates each proposed strategy is presented, as are examples of the potential manifestation of the behaviours associated with each strategy in the context of sports coaching. In line with self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2002), we propose that coach behaviours employed to pressure or control athletes have the potential to thwart athletes' feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which, in turn, undermine athletes' self-determined motivation and contribute to the development of controlled motives. When athletes feel pressured to behave in a certain way, a variety of negative consequences are expected to ensue which are to the detriment of the athletes' well-being. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness and interest in the darker side of sport participation and to offer suggestions for future research in this area.
KW - Coach behaviours
KW - Controlling interpersonal style
KW - Extrinsic motivation
KW - Intrinsic motivation
KW - Well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77649212322&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17509840903235330
DO - 10.1080/17509840903235330
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77649212322
VL - 2
SP - 215
EP - 233
JO - International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
JF - International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
SN - 1750-984X
IS - 2
ER -