Proactivity in sport teams: Mastery climate mediates the relation between need support from the coach and proactive behaviors in sport teams

Team sport settings are challenging, dynamic environments in which coaches might profit from proactive players who correct each other, provide suggestions and feedback. Despite the proven benefits of proactivity for organizational team functioning (e.g., Morrison, 2014), research about proactivity in sport-settings remains sparse. This study aimed to test a hypothetical model in which a mastery motivational climate mediates the relation between need support from the coach and proactivity in sport teams. Based on Self Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) and previous empirical work (e.g., Cox & Williams, 2008), it was expected that a need supportive coaching style would be positively linked to a mastery climate. Such a climate defines success in terms of self-referenced progression and stresses the importance of cooperation (Ames, 1992). It was therefore hypothesized that a mastery climate would positively predict proactive behaviors in sport teams. 180 senior volleyball players (Mage = 21.92) completed a questionnaire assessing need support from their coaches, the motivational climate and three types of proactive behaviors (voice, taking charge and upward communication). Results. The results of confirmatory path modelling indicated a good fit of the hypothesized model and standardized regression coefficients were significant. Further examination of direct and indirect effects suggested that mastery climate mediated the relation between need support and proactivity. The results of the present study indicated that coaches can stimulate players’ proactive behavior by adhering a need-supportive coaching style. Furthermore, this study revealed the creation of a mastery climate as an underlying mechanism through which need-supportive coaches can stimulate proactivity in sport teams.status: publishe