Abstract
Motivational climate (MC) is a key factor in athlete development, shaped by coaches, peers, and the broader sport environment. While MC reflects athletes' perceptions of their environment, it is commonly conceptualised as task-involving or ego-involving, aligning with achievement goal theory and self-determination theory. This study validated the Empowering - Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire - American Collegiate Sample (EDMCQ-ACS) and examined its relationship with psychological constructs. A total of 723 U.S. collegiate athletes completed self-report measures assessing MC, mindsets, perfectionism, and goal-setting styles. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor structure (task-involving, ego-involving, controlling coaching). Cluster analysis identified four MC profiles, and MANOVA revealed significant group differences on psychological correlates. Canonical correlation analysis confirmed associations between empowering climates and growth mindsets, personal standards perfectionism, and development-focused goals. Disempowering climates were linked to fixed mindsets and failure-avoidant goal-setting styles. Findings highlight the importance of fostering autonomy-supportive environments in sport through theoretically grounded, validated assessment tools.