THE COACH-ATHLETE RELATIONSHIP AND THE PERCEIVED MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE IN FOOTBALL ACADEMIES

SPATIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RURAL AREAS AND BUDAPEST

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to examine the perceived motivational climate and the quality of the coach–athlete relationship among male youth football players at Hungarian football academies, with particular attention to differences between rural areas and Budapest. The research involved U15–U19 age group players (N=326) from six state-recognized academies, three located in rural regions and three in the capital. Data collection employed the Sport Motivation Scale, the PMCSQ, and the CART-Q; results were analyzed using analysis of variance and independent samples t-tests. Our findings reveal significant differences in both the motivational climate and the coach–athlete relationship across regions and age groups. Older players at rural academies reported higher levels of trust, loyalty, and support towards their coaches, whereas professional competence and performance orientation were more pronounced among players in the capital. In the U19 age group, athletes’ trust in and perceived support from their coaches declined. The results highlight that coaches’ pedagogical and professional competence, as well as the motivational climate they create, play a decisive role in athletes’ motivation and the quality of their relationship. The study underscores the importance of regional and age-related differences and offers recommendations for the development of sport pedagogical practice.