Volleyball development in East Africa is constrained by limited infrastructure, inadequate financial support, and scarce professional opportunities, which collectively undermine athletes’ intrinsic motivation. From the perspective of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), these challenges hinder the satisfaction of basic psychological needs competence, autonomy, and relatedness thereby affecting both motivation and perceived performance. Insufficient training facilities, limited access to quality coaching, and reduced competitive exposure further weaken athletes’ self-efficacy and confidence, contributing to a cycle of underdevelopment in the sport. This study aimed to validate two key psychological instruments the Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSSS) and the Sport Motivation Scale II (SMS-II) and to examine the relationships among basic psychological needs satisfaction, sport motivation, and perceived performance among elite Ethiopian volleyball players. The validation process involved 321 athletes (174 males, 147 females) from various sports disciplines, resulting in reliable and culturally appropriate versions of both instruments. Subsequently, data were collected from 148 volleyball players (85 males, 63 females) competing in different volleyball clubs in Ethiopia. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity of the measurement models, while correlation and regression analyses revealed significant relationships among variables. Findings indicated that satisfaction of competence, autonomy, and relatedness was positively associated with higher levels of intrinsic motivation, which in turn significantly enhanced athletes’ perceived sport performance. These results highlight the critical role of psychologically supportive environments in fostering quality motivation and improving performance outcomes. The study provides both theoretical and practical contributions, offering valuable insights for coaches, sport psychologists, and administrators seeking to strengthen athlete development and volleyball performance in Ethiopia.