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The study investigated how social environmental factors (i.e., supportive behaviors of coaches and parents) are associated with thriving in sport amongst a youth population, influencing important outcomes of sport participation (i.e., intention to continue sport and subjective well-being in sport). Two-wave data was collected within a three-month time span to help determine the relationship of social environmental factors with intention to continue and subjective well-being. One hundred fifty-nine Japanese youth sport participants (Mage = 15.81) completed the questionnaires twice. Autonomy supportiveness of coaches and parents was positively related to thriving three months later. In contrast, only the relationship between autonomy support from coaches and thriving was mediated by the change in basic psychological need satisfaction. Moreover, autonomy support from coaches was related to intention to continue sport and subjective well-being in sport through the changes in basic psychological needs satisfaction and thriving individually and in sequence. The results indicate the importance of both the parent and coach in the role of nurturing the young athletes, while the influence was more robust for coaches. The findings indicate a need for stakeholders to focus on educating and promoting their role in creating supportive environments aimed at increasing retention and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated social outcomes of interest regarding the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) from the perspective of the young athletes competing at the Buenos Aires 2018 YOG. In particular, the process of how the YOG's planned service environment contributes to young athletes' learning is examined using a transformative service research lens and control value theory. An online post-Games survey measured the athletes' perspective on (1) the service environment; (2) enjoyment; (3) learning; and (4) social outcomes of interest. A total of 330 anonymized responses were collected (boys = 130, girls = 200). All service environment-related factors (i.e. service environment outside of sport, service environment in sport venue, and the Learn and Share program) significantly predicted the social outcomes of interest of the YOG through learning (Mediator1) and enjoyment (Mediator2) both individually and in-sequence. For the IOC to create greater social outcomes of interest, athletes' sense of enjoyment and learning must be fostered. Evidence demonstrates that, through athlete enjoyment and learning, the acquisition of social outcomes of interest increases, consequently bolstering the notions advanced in control value theory where positive emotions enhance one's learning. Hence, for the IOC, creating an environment that focuses on the sport competitions as well as on the education and cultural opportunities for athlete exchange is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Thriving, "a psychological state composed of the joint experience of vitality and learning (Spreitzer, Sutcliffe, Dutton, Sonenshein, & Grant [2005]. A socially embedded model of thriving at work. Organization Science, 16(5), 537–549.)" might offer further insight into the problem of youth sport development research. The purpose of the study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying thriving within a youth sport context. More specifically, the present study considered the perspective of Self-Determination Theory and in particular, how hedonic and eudaimonic motives, as antecedents of thriving, influenced youth athletes' outcomes (i.e., intention to continue sport, subjective well-being in sport, and goal progress), consequences of thriving. 196 youth sport participants answered an online survey. Path analysis was conducted to test our hypotheses. We used the bias-corrected bootstrap procedure to examine the hypothesised indirect effects. Our results showed that both hedonic and eudaimonic motives were positively related to all outcome variables (intention to continue sport, subjective well-being in sport, and goal progress) through both the basic psychological need satisfaction and thriving. Thriving is an important psychological concept that can facilitate youth athletes to acquire important outcomes for youth sport participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine how the combination of "what" (e.g., mastery- and performance-avoidance goals) and "why" (e.g., external regulation) are related to sport participant's goal attainment. To examine this phenomenon, we used achievement goal theory (AGT) and self-determination theory (SDT). Past research has shown that avoidance goals generally are associated with negative outcomes. In this study, we hypothesized that avoidance goals would positively generate goal attainment through the pathway of effort. Moreover, the indirect association would be moderated by the level of external regulation. Method: Based on a sample of sport participants (N = 390), mediation and moderated mediation analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Result: Both mastery- and performance-avoidance goals were positively related to goal attainment through effort. These relationships were moderated at the value of high and moderate levels of external regulation. Conclusions: The results suggest that, in contrast to the general assumption, avoidance goals are not always detrimental. Rather, the research showed that the combination of avoidance goals and external regulation would be positively associated with goal attainment. This may be the reason that coaches' controlling behaviors (e.g., punishment or reward) are commonly utilized, and some people believe that external regulation is effective in sport. However, the relationships should be carefully interpreted because the associations should not last long and may be an unhealthy way to improve athletes' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research question:This paper examined the impact of participation in YOG on Norwegian team members with a particular emphasis on differences between those who continued in elite sport and those that dropped out. Research methods:We used a retrospective survey design to collect quantitative and qualitative data from former Norwegian YOG participants (from 2010, 2012, and 2014), with 58 of the 64 athletes responding to the survey in December 2015. Results and findings:Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch-Roemer’s [(1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance.Psychological Review,100(3), 363–406] typology of constraints and their concept of deliberative practice provided the framework for the data analysis. Key findings include: (a) the dropout rate was lower than that reported for similar groups; (b) the main reasons for dropout were school pressures and poor relations with the coach; (c) there was little difference in the perceived level of support from schools, parents and coaches between those who dropped out and those who did not; (d) participation in the YOG was a significant motivating factor for staying in elite-level sport for some athletes; (e) medal winners were as likely to dropout as non-medal winners; and (f) the national context for elite youth development may play a larger role in deeper engagement in sport than YOG participation. We derive hypotheses/propositions based on our results, which should be tested in future studies. Implications: Our findings suggest the entourage’s support is critical for continued engagement in sport, but is not sufficient for preventing dropout. The national context, in terms of the sport and education systems, must align to ensure young athletes do not need to choose between elite-level sport and school. The national context may play a larger role in deeper engagement in sport than YOG participation/success. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Youth sport events have become rather recent line extensions within some of the world’s largest sport event properties such as the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). This paper draws on feedback from 184 young athletes regarding their experiences during the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) in the Isle of Man. The athlete perspective is considered in lieu of some of the stated brand promises of the CGF. Athlete feedback demonstrated that the CYG acts as a conduit to protect important aspects of the brand while adding further potential to enhance other brand assets. Consequently, for the property rights holders to raise the level of quality for youth athletes in particular, management must recognize the value in their feedback and opinion and consider them important co-creators of the brand. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Research question:Sport-for-development programs often rely on a community and external-agency partnership. This study explored how the community–external-agency partnership attempted to use a high cost sport of ice-hockey to create sustainable community development outcomes. Research methods: The evolution of the partnership between the external-agency Right To Play and the community of Moose Cree First Nation in the Province of Ontario, Canada is examined. Data included 35 semi-structured interviews from community (n = 26) and external-agency (n = 9) partnership stakeholders, combined with non-participant observations of ice-hockey clinics and organizational document reviews. Results and findings:Findings provide several insights regarding resource acquisition and flow. The study found that the choice of sport is critical to initiate desired community change. Findings also indicated several challenges in program funding, human resource management, and communication highlighting the importance of sustainable resource planning. Implications:The sport of ice-hockey acted as an initial hook to mobilize community members’ interest and gain outside organizations’ resources. The findings denote differences in partner objectives which can complicate the delivery of programming. Sustaining the sport of ice-hockey within the community took on a more traditional sport development outcome. Ultimately, resource availability and acquisition (tangible and intangible) within a sport-for-development partnership must be considered before embarking on a program. Articulating a sustainable strategy where the external agency has a planned withdraw date and the community can independently continue programming if deemed desirable is important. Partnerships mutually benefit when there are clearly stated and communicated objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined reasons why people join, maintain, and cancel a fitness membership by following 26 new members to a Canadian fitness centre over a one-year period. Participants were interviewed at three different time points (i.e. new membership purchase, six-month follow-up, and one-year renewal decision). Notable reasons to join included being a role model for children, improving health, and organisation reputation. Reasons to maintain membership included health-related goals, service quality, and organisational culture values. The study found that only 50% renewed their membership after the year. Notable reasons to cancel the membership included the cost, lack of time, interest in other physical activity classes like yoga, outdoor exercise and, most prominently, changes to the family dynamic. The paper discusses the controllable and uncontrollable factors associated with membership maintenance, including service quality, organisational culture, and psychological aspects of the theory of planned behaviour to better understand a person's decision to join, maintain, or cancel membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain resorts that offer winter sporting opportunities are facing sustainability issues ranging from public criticisms to the deterioration of the natural environment. To gain perspective on the issue of environmental responsibility (ER) in this particular context, a mixed-method study regarding a single mountain resort was undertaken. The first research phase utilized qualitative methods to examine message framing and motivations for communicating ER to consumers. Findings demonstrate that framing ER was strategically motivated albeit marginally performed. The second research phase employed a scale development approach to investigate the revealed ER effects on consumer attitudes and expectations. Results demonstrated that consumers held moderate levels of environmental awareness and that their behavioral intentions were mildly impacted by the organizations ER initiatives. Overall, the study demonstrated that for organizational employees, framing environmental messages caused dissonance but consumers were influenced by the ER activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how to be competitive within the fitness industry requires a fundamental awareness of the service environment at the club level. To date, research on the fitness industry has placed considerable focus on the notion of service quality, particularly such elements as equipment, programmes, facilities and ancillary services, and its role in client satisfaction and retention. Recent research suggests that an organization's culture - the values, beliefs and assumptions that reflect how things are done within an organization - may be perceived outside the organization as well. The objective of the study was to examine the relationships between what have thus far been identified as key service elements for fitness organizations, organizational culture values, and the attitudes and intentions of client members from one private fitness company operating in Canada. Findings showed that both the service elements and the corporate values were significantly associated with members' satisfaction and intentions to stay. The findings suggest that what has typically been conceptualized as the service environment of fitness clubs should be revised to include organizational culture elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding “how things are done around here” is an integral part of managing any organization. Organizational culture may impact the attitudes and behaviour of members, and the performance of the organization as a whole. Thus, the indoctrination of positive values, that become widely understood, is the likely intention of the organization's leaders. This study examined leader intentions and employee perceptions of organizational culture, as well as the existence of distinct subcultures, and the further influence of subculture on staff behaviour (intent to leave) and organizational performance (profit margin, client retention). Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to describe the specific culture of the focal organization. The study revealed a significant culture gap between the leaders’ intentions and employee perceptions, and the existence of subcultures by organizational level (head office versus club). The strength of the respective subcultures was inversely associated with employee intentions to leave the organization, however club subculture had little association with performance in terms of profit margin or client retention rates. The findings suggest that culture has a more direct influence on employees and a less direct influence, if any, on organizational performance. The results extend our understanding of the nature and influence of organizational culture and subcultures, and have implications for their management within the focal organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]