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Studying perceived autonomy support, a basic tenet of self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), provides some understanding as to how coaches can more positively influence youth athletes to enjoy and persist in youth sport. Borrowing insights from success in physical education and coaching-oriented interventions, the purpose of this paper was to highlight positive aspects and challenges of an innovative youth sport autonomy supportive training program for coaches. Positives included the initial training session and the use of an online training component. Challenges were the structure of the season, other coaches, and possibly the age of the athletes. Future training programs in youth sport coaching should increase in duration, provide specific examples of how to implement autonomy supportive coaching behaviors, as well as address solutions to the time constraints of the youth sport setting.
Jody Langdon is currently an assistant professor at Georgia Southern University. She has conducted extensive research on the application on Self-Determination Theory in sport coaching, physical education, and collegiate physical activity programs. She is currently the senior associate editor of the Chronicle of Kinesiology in Higher Education. She is a member of the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education and the Society for Health and Physical Educators.