Need-supportive communication: Implications for motivation in sport, exercise, and physical activity

Effective communication is a crucial element to support people’s successful engagement in sport and physical activity settings. For example, in terms of the athlete–coach relationship, effective communication facilitates the development
of the coach’s and the athlete’s shared knowledge and understanding about goals and beliefs (1). In relation to physical activity promotion, various forms of face-to-face and print/electronic communications are used to encourage diverse community groups to engage in physical activity (2). In developing practical guidelines for implementing communication interventions in different sport and physical activity contexts, researchers can draw from a variety of disciplines, including several fields within psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, developmental, educational).

In this chapter, we limit our discussion to communication interventions that have been based on a theory of motivation, namely self-determination theory (SDT [3]), to create satisfying experiences that motivate optimal engagement and facilitate health and performance in physical activity/exercise and sport settings. We first outline the major concepts and propositions of the theory. We subsequently offer illustrative examples of interventions guided by this theory in which motivationally-supportive communication styles in sport, exercise and
physical education (PE) were applied. We then reflect on challenges in implementing such interventions, and identify potential solutions, applications, and directions for future research.

© 2018 selection and editorial matter, Ben Jackson, James A. Dimmock, and Josh Compton; individual chapters, the contributors

The right of Ben Jackson, James A. Dimmock, and Josh Compton to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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