Types of Motivation in Sports
Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation comes from within - it's when athletes participate in sports purely for the enjoyment and satisfaction they get from the activity itself. Think of it as doing something because you genuinely love it!
Key characteristics of intrinsic motivation:
- Personal enjoyment
- Self-improvement drive
- Natural curiosity and interest
- Sense of accomplishment
- Challenge-seeking behavior
A runner who goes for early morning runs simply because they love the feeling of running, regardless of whether they win races or receive recognition, is intrinsically motivated.
Extrinsic Motivation
Extrinsic motivation comes from external factors - rewards, recognition, or avoiding punishment. It's when athletes are driven by outcomes rather than the activity itself.
Types of extrinsic motivators:
- Tangible rewards
- Medals
- Prize money
- Trophies
- Social rewards
- Recognition
- Fame
- Status
- Environmental factors
- Parental pressure
- Coach expectations
- Team requirements
While extrinsic motivation can be powerful, it's generally considered less sustainable than intrinsic motivation in the long term.
Achievement Motivation
Achievement motivation combines both intrinsic and extrinsic elements, focusing on the desire to:
- Master skills
- Demonstrate competence
- Outperform others
Two key orientations:
- Task orientation
- Focus on personal improvement
- Mastery of skills
- Self-referenced goals
- Ego orientation
- Focus on beating others
- Comparison with competitors
- Outcome-based goals
Athletes often have a mix of both task and ego orientations, but one typically dominates their motivational profile.
Motivation Continuum
Motivation exists on a spectrum rather than in distinct categories:
Amotivation → External Regulation → Introjected Regulation → Identified Regulation → Integrated Regulation → Intrinsic Motivation
Many people think motivation is simply either intrinsic or extrinsic, but it's actually more complex and can shift along the continuum based on various factors.
Practical Applications
Understanding different types of motivation helps:
- Coaches design effective training programs
- Athletes develop sustainable motivation strategies
- Teams create supportive environments
The best approach is often to foster intrinsic motivation while strategically using extrinsic motivators as supplementary tools.
A youth soccer coach might use extrinsic rewards (like stickers) initially to encourage participation, but gradually shift focus to helping players develop a love for the game itself (intrinsic motivation).
