Coach-created motivational climate ratings differentiate between dropout and continuation in Australian youth swimming

Objectives: Applying Bronfenbrenner's Bio-Ecological Systems Theory and PPCT model recommendations, this study examined whether specific or multiple factors were associated with participation status in Australian youth swimming; a context known for high dropout rates. Methods: Participants were continuing (N = 99) and former (N = 104) swimmers, aged 8–18 years, who competed at club-national level in New South Wales, Australia. Participants completed an online survey, examining socio-demographic, participation history, and coach-created motivational climate characteristics (using the EDMCQ-C). To identify influential factors, a combination of T-tests, Odds Ratios, and MANOVA analyses were used. To confirm the presence of coach-motivational climate types and their association with participant status, cluster analyses with follow-up Odds Ratios were used. Results: Except athlete age and sex, other socio-demographic, participation history, and family sport history participation were not associated with dropout. Meanwhile, EDMCQ-C analyses identified three cluster types of coach-created climate (empowering, disempowering, and neutral), with disempowering and empowering types, respectively, associated with dropout and continuation. The neutral climate was associated with low-moderate EDMCQ-C sub-scale scoring and was neither associated with dropout nor continuation. Conclusion: Findings identify the influence of coach-created motivational climates and not athlete-related factors on continued Australian youth swimming participation, highlighting coaching implications.