Perceptions of coach-created motivational climate: An exploration of the influence on retired Major League Baseball players' goal orientations
Perceptions of coach-created motivational climate: An exploration of the influence on retired Major League Baseball players' goal orientations
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Issue Date
2009
Authors
Leahy, Lauren Elizabeth
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Abstract
This study looked at the experience, goals, and motivations for playing Major League Baseball (MLB) from the perspective of retired players. It also looked at the perceived roles and influence that coaches and managers have at this level. The researcher interviewed six retired MLB players who had played at least half of one season in the major leagues. A Grounded Theory approach was used to analyze the data, which allowed for individual experiences to come through in the data and be analyzed in comparison to other experiences. What emerged was a strong drive for success in each participant regardless of the perceived coach-created climate. The specific goals and strategies participants used to achieve success depended on their goal orientation, which ranged from low to high in a unique combination of task/mastery, ego, and performance orientations. The influence of coaches and managers depended on the participants' orientation, but regardless of orientation those who provided a high task/mastery environment were seen as being most effective to players. The research gives implications for the importance of an individualized approach to coaching in supporting MLB players' drive for success.