Abstract
The coach plays an important role in the type and quality of motivation exhibited by soccer players. However, limited research exists investigating if a coach is aware of the motivations held by their players. As such this study investigated the motivations of semi-elite soccer players taking part in club coaching sessions and identified if coaches were aware of these motivations. Using a qualitative approach with 21 adult soccer players and two soccer coaches, findings from this study highlight a dissonance is apparent between the coaches understanding of their player’s motivational climate and the soccer player’s motivation. Although the players express their motivation focused on the development of a collective social identity and the consequence experienced from playing soccer, coaches were unaware of these motivations.