Explain the Role of Motivation in Enhancing a Sport Performance.

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AS Level Physical Education            Craig Lochhead

Explain the Role of Motivation in Enhancing a Sport Performance.

Motivation is defined as the desire to act due to fulfil an ultimate and challenging goal. Motivation can be categorized into the physical, mental, emotional and psychological, and is responsible for the selection and preference for an activity, the persistence of this activity and the intensity and effort placed in carrying out the performance. Stallings described ‘motivation’ as “An internal factor that arouses ad directs behaviour.”

There are four different sub-categories of motivation that fall under the premises of physical, mental, emotional and psychological. Intrinsic motivation derives from feelings from inside oneself. These emotions basically compel one to perform, whether the emotion is enjoyment, joy, satisfaction, or anger. Contrasting to this, extrinsic motivation derives from feelings coming from gaining external rewards both physically and emotionally. For example, many athletes participate in national and international sporting events to try to achieve the recognition and fame that accompanies success. Other athletes participate not only for the recognition, but also for a monetary reward or a representation of their achievements, which may be in the form of a trophy or medal.

Motivation is also derived from primary and secondary sources. Primary motivation is an aspiration to improve skill and fitness gained from the activity itself. Secondary motivation comes from any other source apart from actually taking part in the pursuit. This may stem from wanting to please or placate a coach, friends or family, but also can result from a want to complete a specific endeavour. Interlinked with these forms of motivation are the basic aspects of competing and competition. All performances have a positive or negative effect on motivation. Results such as winning a competition or gaining first placement in the sporting ranks can be positively motivating. On the other hand, losing can be negatively motivating, as can injuries, extreme competition or the possibility of future setbacks and repercussions. Audiences also play a large part in the effect of motivation; they can fall into two categories, positive and negative motivation.

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Over the years, researchers have tried to develop scales to attempt to measure ‘motivation’ in terms of a numerical degree. Tutko and Richards developed a motivation rating scale in 1972 that is still used in contemporary times. This scale identifies eleven traits which contribute to the motivation of many athletes around the world, such as Aggression, Coachability, Emotional control, Mental toughness, Drive, Self confidence, Determination, Leadership, Responsibility, Trust and Conscientiousness. Other researchers, such as Kenyon, have constructed a physical activity inventory that identifies and attempts to measure why sportspeople take part in physical activity. These include Social, Health and ...

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