The influence of engagement on young volleyball players' intentions to withdraw from sport: the mediational effect of coach effectiveness and indifference coaching

Abstract

<p>Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was do determine if athletes perceived coach effectiveness and indifferent coaching mediates the relationship between athletes engagement and intentions to withdraw from sport.</p> Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to collect the data. An online questionnaire surveys were administrated to 317 Lithuanian volleyball players aged 12–19 years (121 male athletes and 196 female athletes). The anonymous questionnaire used in the study consists of five parts: demographic data; athlete engagement in sporting activities; the athlete's perceived effectiveness of the coach's performance; need indifference coaching; intentions to withdraw from sport. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed using the SPSS macro PROCESS (Module 6) software by Hayes (2013) to assess the direct and indirect relationship between variables. Bootstrapping was used to examine the mediational effects.</p> Results: The study revealed, that engagement had a direct negative effect on intentions to withdraw from sport. There was a significant indirect effect of engagement on intentions to withdraw from sport through two serially mediating variables: perceived coaching effectiveness and need indifference coaching.</p> Conclusion: The results demonstrates that higher engagement reduces intentions withdraw from sport, while perceived lower coach effectiveness and higher need indifference coaching encourages young volleyball players to have negative experiences in sport and increase to athletes' intentions to withdraw from sport. The results of the study contribute to a better understand of what young athletes experience and how they interpret the experience of sports education.</p>