Motivation In Sports Flashcards
Motivation Myth 1
Athletes are either motivated or not, like motivation is a personality trait or a fixed internal characteristic. They disagree that motivation can be developed.
Motivation Myth 2
Coaches give athletes motivation
Coaches should pump motivation into their athletes on demand with pep talks, using slogans, flyers, and bulletin board quotation from opponents
Motivation can not be just given to the players
Motivation Myth 3
Motivation means rewards and punishments
Rewards and punishments encourage athletes to do things they would not do independently
Inefficient and takes away the fun
Coaches should highly consider their players to create a team culture that naturally puts motivation in them.
3 Types of Motivation
Extrinsic- Linked to external incentives
Rewards such as recognition, fame, and trophies, has peaks and valleys, need for more significant incentives to stay motivated, need a variety of external successes of inspiration to maintain motivation
Can be motivational, many coaches and parents use external incentives as a focusing strategy and incentive system for young athletes, this is fine without overuse
Intrinsic-needed for long term athletic performance
Characterized by sport enjoyment, enjoyment of practicing and prepping for a sport, desire to master technical aspects, and the ability to sustain motivation in the face of adversity
Need to be intrinsically motivated or the sport is not worth the time, energy, commitment, and resources
Amotivation- lack of motivation to engage in sports, linked to burnout and exhaustion
Comparing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Both have advantages
Maximum motivation-use both
Begin playing sports because you love them, find a sport you like and are good at, Then, if needed use additional incentives to supplement efforts
Internal motivation is more critical for long-term success. External can be helpful in the short term and can be a part of long-term growth, as long as you already have intrinsic motivation
Key Factors in Motivation Management
Keep a performance diary
Simply add a number between 1 and 5 next to each exercise
If motivation declines, it is a part of life, however, learn to pause and assess why the motivation is fading and resolve the root cause.
Ask coaches and teammates if your motivation is declining in practice and competition. Take their advice and remember they want what is best for you.
Factors that need to be considered when an intrinsically motivated person is unmotivated
Physical fatigue
Lack of sleep
Diet
How to Make Sense of Your Motivation Level
If your motivation is low investigate your why. Are you enthusiastic still? How much do you enjoy your sport?
You are intrinsically motivated, you love your sport, enjoy working hard to improve, and want to compete at a high level.
If you play a sport to be a part of a team, to impress parents or mentors, it is best to either pick a different sport or find another non-sport related
Key Factors In Motivation Management
Overall Health-
Illness causes low motivation (A cough, the flu, iron deficiency, or another ailment) Schedule a check-up with your doctor
Confidence-
Doubt your ability to handle some sport aspects. Accept the state of mind and return to the fundamentals to continue building confidence in yourself.
Burnout
- With sports being year-round and athletes specializing in one sport early in their career, it is common for them to become bored and disenchanted occasionally. May be time to take a break, even if it is just a few days
Guidelines to Improve Motivation
- Be completely honest with yourself about your current motivation level, why you play the sport, your sports aspirations, how competitive you are, what qualities need to be improved, your mental toughness, places where you are not good, and so on.
Motivation rises as excuses are removed. Don’t limit honesty to chat with yourself. Consult people you know, encouraging them to give you trustful output. Their guidance will better assist you with understanding your present athletic aspirations and will motivate you to progress.
Think about why you play the game, and rethink your reasons for playing the sport with a long season, it is normal to ask yourself why you are putting mental and physical challenges on yourself.
Win a championship?
Break a record?
After determining your why, remain committed to that goal, even when it is tough
- Remind yourself of that goal daily
Focus on tasks, not ego-people with strong internal motivation are more likely to be task-oriented. The ego is more about the external benefit of competing.
Trouble staying motivated? Consider why you focused on ego fulfillment and not enough on challenges to improve and expand the skill set of your sport.
- Surround yourself with motivated people
You will pick up their passion which will build confidence and motivation
Being disciplined
This leads to freedom, but you must discipline yourself to form effective behaviors. Even when you don’t feel like it, discipline takes over and motivates you.
Aim is to develop solid, powerful sports routines that become subconcious and automatic- more you do, less mental work
- Think positive
Great way to boost confidence
Check and see how you are teaching your brain to react favorably in the face of adversity or loss
What is Achievement Motivation?
A person’s ability to master a task, achieve success, overcome challenges, do better than others, and take pride in existing talent
Why are coaches, leaders, and teachers interested in achievement motivation?
Achievement motivation has particular features that enable athletes to achieve success, exercisers to reach high fitness, and students to improve learning.
In sports achievement is referred to as
Competition
Why does motivation vary?
Choice of activity (equal or varying ability among opponents)
Effort to achieve (how often practice)
Intensity of effort in pursuit of goals (consistency in a hard workout)
Persistence in the face of hardship or loss (work harder or make it easier)
What is competitiveness?
A disposition to seek gratification while comparing oneself to some level of excellence in the presence of evaluative others
Most athletes compete with themselves
