Sport psychology research links athlete motivation and continued participation to environments that support autonomy, competence, and relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2000). These factors are commonly associated with athlete engagement and perceived quality of experience, especially in youth and adolescent sport settings.
Research on athlete burnout and dropout emphasizes that chronic stress, perceived pressure, and reduced sense of control are associated with a higher risk of burnout. In contrast, supportive environments and balanced performance climates are associated with lower burnout indicators (Gustafsson et al., 2017). These findings are widely used in applied sport settings when designing athlete-supportive programs.
Motivation research in sport also highlights that athletes’ perceptions of coaching behavior—communication style, feedback approach, and consistency—meaningfully influence motivation and persistence (Pelletier et al., 2001). Team culture, from this perspective, is not just stated values; it is how athletes experience daily interactions, expectations, and responses to performance outcomes.