Changes in perceptions of coach- and peer-created motivational climates during the children-to-youth sport transition

A mastery-oriented motivational climate focused on personal improvement, teamwork, and effort is linked to positive outcomes among young athletes, whereas a performance-oriented climate centered on social comparison and displaying superiority is associated with adverse outcomes. However, little is known about how these climates change during key developmental transitions in sport. This study examined changes in athletes’ perceptions of coach- and peer-created motivational climates during the children-to-youth sport transition (CYT) in Norway, a period characterized by policy changes, increased competitiveness, and greater specialization. We followed athletes through this transition by collecting data on three separate occasions, each approximately six months apart. In total, 425 soccer and handball players aged 11-14 (Mage at time one = 12.16; 47.1% girls) participated in the study, and latent growth curve modeling was used to study changes over time. The results showed a small decline in coach-created mastery climate, along with large increases in coach-created performance climate and moderate increases in peer-created performance climate during the CYT. Notably, decreases in coach-created mastery climate corresponded with rises in coach-created performance climate. Gender differences emerged, with girls showing sharper increases in coach-created performance climate. These findings highlight the value of monitoring climate changes and suggest that targeted initiatives, such as coach training and the promotion of positive peer norms, may support the maintenance of mastery cues as athletes transition to youth sports.