BUILDING MOTIVATION!

5 guidelines for building motivation in sport:

Guideline 1: Both situations and traits motivate people

Personal factors do cause people to lack motivation, but so do the environments in which people participate. And often it may be easier for an instructor to change the situation than to change the needs and personalities of the participants. However, it is not to focus attention only on the personal attributes of the participants or only on the situation at hand but to consider the interaction of these factors.

Guideline 2: People have multiple motives for involvement

• ·         Understand why people participate in physical activity

Gould and Petlichkoff (1988), the major motives that the youths cited for sport participation were improving their skills, having fun, being with friends, experiencing thrills and excitement, achieving success, and developing fitness.

So, what motivates you to participate in sport and physical activity? ;)

• ·         People participate for more than one reason

• ·         People have competing motives for involvement

• ·         People have both shared and unique motives

Guideline 3: Change the environment to enhance motivation

• ·         Provide both competition and recreation

• ·         Provide multiple opportunities

To enhance motivation, structure teaching and coaching environments to meet the needs of all participants

• ·         Adjust to individuals within groups

That is, each exerciser, athlete, and student has his or her unique motives for participation, and effective instructors must provide an environment to meet these diverse needs.

Guideline 4: Leaders influence motivation

A physical educator who is energetic gives positive reinforcement to his students in class.

Guideline 5: Use behavior modification to change undesirable participant motives

A young football player may be involved in his sport primarily to inflict injury on others. This player’s coach will certainly want to use behavior modification techniques to change this undesirable motivation. That is, the coach will reinforce good clean play, punish aggressive play caused to injury and simultaneously discuss appropriate behavior with the player. 

The best way to understand motivation is to consider both the person and the situation and how they interact. (^_^)