Drawing from the theories of self-determination (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2000) achievement goals (AGT; Nicholls, 1989), and, in particular, Vallerand's four-stage casual sequence embedded in his hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (HMIEM; Vallerand, 1997Vallerand, , 2001, this study tested a motivational model in the sport context via structural equation modeling (SEM). Based on the responses of 370 young male soccer players (M age = 14.77), the path analysis results offered overall support for the proposed model. A perceived task-involving climate emerged as a positive predictor of the satisfaction of the three psychological needs, while a perceived ego-involving climate was a negative predictor of relatedness satisfaction. The results also support positive paths between satisfaction of the three psychological needs and intrinsic motivation, while intrinsic motivation was positively linked to subjective vitality and future intention to participate. The implications of the coach-created motivational climate are discussed in the light of its implications for the quality and potential maintenance of sport involvement among young athletes.

Based on the self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000), this study tested a model of the assumed sequential relationships between perceived autonomy support, psychological need satisfaction, self-determined motivation, and enjoyment/boredom. The hypothesized mediational roles of psychological need satisfaction and self-determined motivation were also studied. In a sample of 370 young male soccer players, path analysis results offered support for the proposed model. Total mediation was supported in the case of the psychological need satisfaction in the relationship between autonomy support and self-determined motivation, and partial mediation for self-determined motivation in the links between psychological need satisfaction and enjoyment (positive) and boredom (negative). Implications of autonomy-supportive behaviors provided by coaches for the quality of sport involvement among young athletes are discussed. Keywords: autonomy support, psychological needs, self-determined motivation, enjoyment / boredom, soccer En el marco de la teoría de la autodeterminación (Ryan & Deci, 2000), en este estudio se puso a prueba un modelo en el que se analizaron de forma secuencial las relaciones entre la percepción de apoyo a la autonomía del entrenador, la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas, la motivación autodeterminada y la diversión y el aburrimiento; así como el papel mediador hipotetizado de la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas y de la motivación autodeterminada. Los resultados del path análisis realizados con una muestra de 370 jóvenes futbolistas varones, ofrecieron apoyo al modelo propuesto. A su vez los análisis de mediación informaron que se producía una mediación total de la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas en las relaciones entre el apoyo a la autonomía y la motivación autodeterminada y una mediación parcial de la motivación autodeterminada con respecto a los enlaces entre la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas y la diversión (positivo) y aburrimiento (negativo). Se discuten las implicaciones que las conductas de apoyo a la autonomía del entrenador pueden tener para la calidad de la implicación deportiva en los jóvenes deportistas. Palabras clave: apoyo a la autonomía, necesidades psicológicas, motivación autodeterminada, diversión/ aburrimiento, fútbol

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