Basic Psychological-Need Satisfaction and Thwarting: A Study with Brazilian Professional Players of League of Legends

Recently, the skill to play games has led professionalization of activity in form “eSports” (electronic sports). Despite popularity eSports, little is known about its professional players from a psychological perspective. Given importance coach-created environment athletes’ motivational processes, this study aimed investigate key dimensions climate 75 Brazilian League Legends (LoL) considering Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Achievement Goal (AGT). Fourteen hypotheses were tested, which seven confirmed. The empowering was predictor basic psychological-needs satisfaction indirectly influenced autonomous motivation. need had significant impact on both motivation lack motivation, which, turn, explained 56% variance well-being intention keep playing eSports. disempowering thwarting but no or results obtained support SDT AGT context eSports similar those conducted with athletes traditional sports, indicating that empowering-and-disempowering-coaching-climates conceptualization applies not only sports also players.