Abstract

This study describes the motivational climate (generated by coaches and teammates) in a basketball club and examines the relationship between this motivational climate and the psychological variables of the players such as self-esteem and anxiety. The study involved 40 players in two age groups: children (12-13 years) and teenagers (14-18 years). The results show that the players in the two age groups perceive a high motivational climate of involvement in the task created by their coaches and teammates and a low motivational climate of involvement in the ego created by them. Furthermore, both groups showed a low level of somatic anxiety and lack of concentration and a higher level of concern. The level of self-esteem is high in both groups. This preliminary study was carried out to guide future research in which the primary focus will be on conducting individualised psychological interventions with coaches to improve the satisfaction with doing sport of their players.