Investigating Discrepancies in Program Quality Related to Youth Volleyball Athletes’ Needs Support

Title: Investigating Discrepancies in Program Quality Related to Youth Volleyball Athletes’ Needs Support Authors: Bean, Corliss; Forneris, Tanya; Brunet, Jennifer Abstract: Program quality has been outlined as an important predictor of positive outcomes in youth development programs; however, little evidence exists to support this, particularly within sport. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between researcher- and coach-assessed program quality scores as they relate to youth volleyball athletes’ basic needs support. Design: Observational data and self-report data were gathered from coaches and youth. Researchers completed 84 observations using a measure of program quality across 14 teams. Coaches completed the same measure at the end of the season and 138 athletes (Mage = 14.50) from the 14 teams completed a self-report questionnaire pertaining to needs support. Data were analyzed using polynomial regressions with response surface methodology. Results: Athletes’ needs support was significantly (p