The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between goal orientations and perceptions of the motivational climate emphasized by parents, peers, teachers and sporting heroes for children in physical education (PE). Additionally, gender differences in goal orientations and perceptions of the motivational climate were examined. A total of 266 male and female secondary school PE pupils from the United Kingdom completed a survey assessing personal goal orientations for PE and perceptions of the motivational climateemphasized by parents, peers, teachers and sporting heroes. Results indicated that goal orientations were related to these perceptions.
Specifically,task orientation was related to perceptions of a learning-oriented climate from parents, peers and teachers and to perceptions of a mastery orientationinsporting heroes. In contrast, an ego orientation was related to perceptions of a comparison climate from parents, peers and teachers, and to perceptions of an ego orientation in sporting heroes. Results are discussed in terms of the implications that the influence of significant others might have for intervention efforts designed to enhance the quality of youngsters’ motivational development in PE.
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