Perceived coach effectiveness, need indifference coaching and athlete engagement: evaluating the effect of mediation on young volleyball players' intentions to withdraw from sport

There are many reasons behind the decision of young athletes to retire from sport. In most cases, this decision is influenced by a number of factors, including the quality of the interpersonal relationship between the coach and the athlete and the coach's professional competences. The aim of this study was to determine how athlete’s engagement, perceived coach effectiveness and need indifference coaching explain young athletes' intentions to withdraw from sport. An online questionnaire survey was conducted with 317 Lithuanian volleyball players aged 12-19 years (38.2 % male athletes and 61.8 % female athletes). Descriptive statistical analysis and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 28.0. and hierarchical regression analysis using the SPSS macro PROCESS (Module 6) software. The study revealed that there are relationships between athletes' engagement, perceived coach effectiveness, and intentions to withdraw from sports. Engagement had a direct effect on intentions to withdraw from sport and an indirect effect through two mediating variables: perceived coaching effectiveness and need indifference coaching (p<0.05). There is an indirect effect of coaching effectiveness on intentions to withdraw from sport through the mediators’ engagement and need indifference coaching (p<0.05), however, they mediate not as serially but as separate mediators. This can help coaches in their development of engagement-enhancing strategies that reinforce the athlete's positive sport experience and intentions to continue participating in sport.