Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of manager competency on the intrinsic motivation of players in kokoyakyu (high school baseball in Japan). Self-determination theory was used as a framework. We distributed questionnaires to 365 kokoyakyu players to assess their intrinsic motivation, and also their perception of manager competency, in terms of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. We employed a competency scale designed to measure 6 factors consisting of 24 items (Takamatsu and Yamaguchi, 2015). The 6 factors included trust relationship, educational guidance, powers of observation, autonomy support, relationships with supporters, skill and tactics instruction. Structural equation modeling revealed that powers of observation, autonomy support, and skill and tactics instruction had significant indirect effects on perceptions of psychological needs. However, trust relationship, educational guidance, and relationship with supporters were not significant predictors of perception of the 3 psychological needs. Furthermore, perceptions of autonomy and relatedness had significant indirect effects on intrinsic motivation. The indices of the model data fit were χ2/df=2.07, GFI=.98, AGFI=.94, NFI=.95, CFI=.97, and RMSEA=.054. These results showed that the kokoyakyu players' perceptions of powers of observation, autonomy support, and skill and tactics instruction from managers were indirectly associated with their intrinsic motivation through their perceptions of autonomy and relatedness.
