The relations between the goal orientations of adolescents and those of their coaches and parents were examined in this study. Ninety swimmers, 12 through 15 years of age, coaches (N = 10), and parents (N = 71) completed the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) with regard to the adolescents’ participation in swimming. Adolescents completed the TEOSQ two additional times: once as they thought their coaches would respond and again as they thought their parents would respond. The self-reported goal orientations of adolescents were correlated highly with their perceptions of the goal orientations of their significant adults but not with the self-reports of significant adults. Adolescents believed that the way they thought and felt about their swimming was more affected by their coaches than by their parents. Comparisons of goal orientations across gender and suggestions for further studies are discussed.
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