{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,2]],"date-time":"2026-04-02T16:40:22Z","timestamp":1775148022587,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,4]],"date-time":"2023-09-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1693785600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/04748\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04748\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UID\/04045\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/04045\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["EJIHPE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The present study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in behavioral regulations among teenage football players throughout a competitive season, with three measurement points (T1, T2, and T3). The total sample size for the study comprised 108 participants (78 male; 30 female). The participants\u2019 mean age was 14.31 (SD = 1.48). A MANOVA repeated measures analysis was performed within the group for all six behavioral regulations based on self-determination theory. The results of the study revealed noteworthy patterns in the behavioral regulations and intrinsic motivation scores over the competitive season. Identified regulation demonstrated a significant increase from T1 to T3 (p &lt; 0.01, \u03b72p = 0.13). Intrinsic motivation displayed a significant decrease over the same period from T1 to T3 (p &lt; 0.01, \u03b72p = 0.12). On the other hand, amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, and integrated regulation did not show significant changes between the three time points. The findings have practical implications for coaches and sports practitioners, as they highlight the need to create a supportive and autonomy-promoting environment to sustain athletes\u2019 intrinsic motivation throughout a competitive season. Also, recognizing the increase in identified regulation can inform strategies that align team goals and training sessions with players\u2019 individual values, thereby enhancing their commitment and dedication to the team\u2019s success.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ejihpe13090124","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,4]],"date-time":"2023-09-04T10:24:30Z","timestamp":1693823070000},"page":"1717-1727","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Motivation among Teenage Football Players: A Longitudinal Investigation throughout a Competitive Season"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1327-8872","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Filipe","family":"Rodrigues","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ESECS\u2014Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7179-6814","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diogo","family":"Monteiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ESECS\u2014Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Center in Sport, Health, and Human Development (CIDESD), 5000-558 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2034-0585","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rui","family":"Matos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ESECS\u2014Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1727-3537","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miguel","family":"Jacinto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ESECS\u2014Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5485-9430","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ra\u00fal","family":"Antunes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ESECS\u2014Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), 2415-396 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8160-8007","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno","family":"Amaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ESECS\u2014Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal"},{"name":"Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1177\/0363546503262283","article-title":"Editorial","volume":"32","author":"Dvorak","year":"2004","journal-title":"Am. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0838.2003.00320.x","article-title":"Effect of Motivational Climate on Sportspersonship among Competitive Youth Male and Female Football Players","volume":"14","author":"Miller","year":"2004","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rodrigues, F., Monteiro, D., Ferraz, R., Branquinho, L., and Forte, P. (2023). The Association between Training Frequency, Symptoms of Overtraining and Injuries in Young Men Soccer Players. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20085466"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"e2911","article-title":"Compara\u00e7\u00e3o do n\u00edvel de motiva\u00e7\u00e3o de atletas de futebol com alto e baixo tempo jogado nas partidas oficiais da categoria sub-20","volume":"29","author":"Filho","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Phys. Educ."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1111\/jtsb.12199","article-title":"Ideal Football Culture: A Cultural Take on Self-Determination Theory","volume":"49","author":"Cresswell","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Theory Soc. Behav."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2081","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2017.02081","article-title":"Importance of the Motivational Climate in Goal, Enjoyment, and the Causes of Success in Handball Players","volume":"8","author":"Abraldes","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ryan, R.M., and Deci, E.L. (2017). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness, Guilford Publications.","DOI":"10.1521\/978.14625\/28806"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1346","DOI":"10.1037\/bul0000125","article-title":"Testing a Continuum Structure of Self-Determined Motivation: A Meta-Analysis","volume":"143","author":"Howard","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychol. Bull."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ryan, R.M. (2023). The Oxford Handbook of Self-Determination Theory, Oxford University Press.","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordhb\/9780197600047.001.0001"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"348","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2017.00348","article-title":"Motivation Measures in Sport: A Critical Review and Bibliometric Analysis","volume":"8","author":"Clancy","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1002\/ejsp.98","article-title":"Motivation and Dropout in Female Handballers: A 21-Month Prospective Study","volume":"32","author":"Sarrazin","year":"2002","journal-title":"Eur. J. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1123\/jsep.2015-0016","article-title":"A Three-Wave Longitudinal Test of Self-Determination Theory\u2019s Mediation Model of Engagement and Disaffection in Youth Sport","volume":"38","author":"Curran","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Sport Exerc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2018.03.002","article-title":"Exploring Longitudinal Measurement Invariance and the Continuum Hypothesis in the Swedish Version of the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ): An Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Approach","volume":"36","author":"Stenling","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychol. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1123\/jsep.2017-0194","article-title":"Longitudinal Sport Motivation Among Young Athletes in Intensive Training Settings: Using Methodological Advances to Explore Temporal Structure of Youth Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire Scores","volume":"41","author":"Cece","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Sport Exerc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1014805132406","article-title":"Associations Among Perceived Autonomy Support, Forms of Self-Regulation, and Persistence: A Prospective Study","volume":"25","author":"Pelletier","year":"2001","journal-title":"Motiv. Emot."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.00304","article-title":"Tracking and Comparing Self-Determined Motivation in Elite Youth Soccer: Influence of Developmental Activities, Age, and Skill","volume":"10","author":"Hendry","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1177\/1747954118755443","article-title":"Sport Commitment in Young Soccer Players: A Self-Determination Perspective","volume":"13","author":"Pulido","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coach."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2014.08.012","article-title":"Intrinsic Motivation and Individual Deliberate Practice Are Reciprocally Related: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Team Sport Athletes","volume":"16","author":"Vink","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychol. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"596","DOI":"10.1177\/0031512518765833","article-title":"Perfectionistic Strivings, Motivation and Engagement in Sport-Specific Activities Among Adolescent Team Athletes","volume":"125","author":"Vink","year":"2018","journal-title":"Percept. Mot. Ski."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2018.07.005","article-title":"A Longitudinal Examination of Elite Youth Soccer Players: The Role of Passion and Basic Need Satisfaction in Athletes\u2019 Optimal Functioning","volume":"39","author":"Vallerand","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychol. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Castro-S\u00e1nchez, M., Zurita-Ortega, F., Ubago-Jim\u00e9nez, J.L., Ram\u00edrez-Granizo, I.A., and Chac\u00f3n-Cuberos, R. (2018). Motivational Climate in Youth Football Players. Behav. Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/bs8090083"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2357","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.02357","article-title":"Motivational Patterns as an Instrument for Predicting Performance Not Only in Football? A Replication Study With Young Talented Ice Hockey Players","volume":"10","author":"Zuber","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.3758\/BF03193146","article-title":"G*Power 3: A Flexible Statistical Power Analysis Program for the Social, Behavioral, and Biomedical Sciences","volume":"39","author":"Faul","year":"2007","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Methods"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1177\/0031512519825700","article-title":"Behavioral Regulation Sport Questionnaire: Gender and Sport Invariance in Portuguese Athletes","volume":"126","author":"Monteiro","year":"2019","journal-title":"Percept. Mot. Ski."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02310555","article-title":"Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Tests","volume":"16","author":"Cronbach","year":"1951","journal-title":"Psychometrika"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"527","DOI":"10.2466\/pms.2001.92.2.527","article-title":"Motivation in Sport: An Achievement Goal Perspective in Young Spanish Recreational Athletes","volume":"92","year":"2001","journal-title":"Percept. Mot. Ski."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1123\/jsep.2014-0203","article-title":"Relationships between the Coach-Created Motivational Climate and Athlete Engagement in Youth Sport","volume":"37","author":"Curran","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Sport Exerc. Psychol."}],"container-title":["European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2254-9625\/13\/9\/124\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T20:46:05Z","timestamp":1760129165000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2254-9625\/13\/9\/124"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,4]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9]]}},"alternative-id":["ejihpe13090124"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ejihpe13090124","relation":{},"ISSN":["2254-9625"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2254-9625","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,4]]}}}