Physical Activity Behavior and Motivation

Motivation w Process Maintain lifetime fitness and physical activity w Product Short-term fitness

Motivation Extrinsic: Factors outside the individual/unrelated to task Stickers, t-shirts, prize bag Motivating, but Ss may focus on reward, not activity SUGGESTIONS: Reward performance, not outcome Reward effort, not actual success Reward little steps on way to larger goals Use meaningful rewards that are age appropriate

Motivation Intrinsic: Internal desire to perform a task FUN Means different things to each person –Cooperation, competition, social interaction, etc.

Characteristics of Intrinsically Motivating Activities: w Challenge w Curiosity w Control w Creativity The 4 “C’s” ---

Factors Influencing Participation w Biological / Physical Gender, age, weight w Psychological Knowledge, self-efficacy w Social Family, peers, teachers, PHAT

Motivating Students w Reward the process w Set goals w Use visual aids w Emphasize self-assessment w Do not grade fitness results w Involve parents

Goal Setting: WHAT? A mechanism that helps students understand their limits and feel satisfied with their accomplishments WHAT TO KNOW: Own fitness level HFZ H-R fitness components Fitness principles/application How preferred activities relate to fitness

Goal Setting: WHY? Establishes ownership and fosters pride in the fitness process MOTIVATION!

Goal Setting: WHEN? After assessing initial fitness levels Periodic “updates”

10 Goal Setting Strategies 1. Involve students 2. Start small 3. Relative to past behavior 4. Specific and measurable 5. Challenging and realistic 6. Write goals 7. Provide strategies 8. Give feedback on progress 9. Create goal stations 10. Periodic evaluation

PHAT Exercise w Make PA interventions Pretty Hot And Tempting w Vision: helps people begin to feel like exercising w Mastery: helps people feel successful w Flow: provides enjoyment in the moment w Inergy: fuels fire to keep going