ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Sport Psychology
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Motivational Climate in Sports and Physical EducationView all 7 articles
Effects of a Theory-Based Coaching Programme on Objectively Assessed Motivational Climate in Grassroots Football Across Four European Countries: The PAPA Project
Provisionally accepted
Yannis Tzioumakis1*
Damien Tessier2
Nathan Smith3Priscila Fabra Lopez4
Charalampos Krommidas1
Nikos Comoutos1Panagiotis Keramidas1
Paul Appleton5
Philippe Sarrazin2
Isabel Balaguer6Nikos Digelidis1
Eleanor Quested7Athanasios Papaioannou1
Joan Duda8- 1Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, School of Science of Physical Education, Sports and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
- 2Université Grenoble Alpes, Saint Martin d'Hères, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
- 3Coventry University, Coventry, West Midlands, United Kingdom
- 4Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain
- 5Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, North West England, United Kingdom
- 6Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- 7Curtin School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
- 8School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
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Introduction: This study examined the longitudinal effects of the Empowering Coaching™ program, designed to enhance youth coaches' behaviors to foster positive motivational climates in grassroots football. Methods: Sixty-eight coaches from England, France, Spain, and Greece (Mage: 35.6 years, Mcoaching experience: 6.9 years) were randomly assigned to intervention (n=36) and control (n=32) groups. Coaches' behaviors were assessed at three time points during the season using a validated observational system based on motivational theories. Results: A series of linear and quadratic multilevel models revealed that compared to the control group, intervention coaches demonstrated a significant reduction in disempowering behaviors (i.e., ego-involving climate), and a temporary increase in empowering dimensions (i.e., autonomy and relatedness support). Conclusion: Findings highlight the program's short-and long-term impacts and emphasize the need for continued support to sustain positive coaching practices.
Keywords: empowering coaching, Youth Football, self-determination theory, achievement goal theory, Coach training, motivational climate observation
Received: 20 Jan 2025; Accepted: 21 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Tzioumakis, Tessier, Smith, Fabra Lopez, Krommidas, Comoutos, Keramidas, Appleton, Sarrazin, Balaguer, Digelidis, Quested, Papaioannou and Duda. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Yannis Tzioumakis, j_jioumak@pe.uth.gr
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