1. Sports Psychology
UNIT IV
Motivation

2. Why do you play your sport?
Take two or 3 minutes to reflect and write why you play

3. “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is
“Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play”
Mike Singletary
(Pro Football Hall of Fame coach of 49ers)

4. What is Motivation
Motivation is the reason and effort behind all of your actions.
Motivation is want compels you to act
What Motivation is NOT:
Intensity
Overwhelming Positive thinking
Genetics

5. Answer these questions honestly:
What are the motives behind why you play sports?
Why are you in this class?
Why are you in school?
Why do you do your hobbies?
Do you LIKE what you do in life? Do you feel you are successful?

6. Myths about Motivation
Motivation is not intensity
Motivation is the WHY you play with such intensity
Positive thinking will NOT fix all motivational problems
Some people cannot be motivated
Everyone can be motivated if not you would sit there and do nothing

7. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Becoming motivated from external rewards or incentives.
Money
Praise
To impress
Popularity
Scholarships
Avoid Disappointing family, friends, others
Avoid Punishment
Athletes who are only motivated by extrinsic factors are NOT truly invested in their sport or team. They are more prone to:
Quit
Choke under pressure
Not fully Committing to their team/program
Take plays off
Don’t perform when rewards are taken away

8. Extrinsic Motivation A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment

9. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation:
Becoming motivated for internal (personal) reasons.
Intrinsically motivated athletes participate in their sports for the enjoyment and competition, NOT the potential rewards.
Intrinsic motivation is the highest level of performance because the performance comes within the athlete.
FLOW or THE ZONE

10. Intrinsic Motivation A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake

11. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Which are you?
Money
Popularity
Praise
Avoiding punishment
Rewards (All-State, etc.)
Intrinsic
Joy
Personal Satisfaction
Internal Pride
Need to improve
Pleasure of achieving a difficult goal

12. What Kills Intrinsic Motivation
EXTRINSIC REWARDS (i.e. Trophies, Medals, Scholarships, incentives, Threats, etc.)
These can be good and bad based on how the extrinsic reward is given and perceived.
If the reward is given to control performance/self worth = Bad
If the reward is given in recognition of internal factors = Good
The Key: Do things for your own personal satisfaction:
Go to school for knowledge, NOT grades
Play your sports for the love of it, NOT fame or money

13. Scholarships as External Reward
Ryan Studies
Study #1 (1977) players on scholarship reported
They were enjoying football less
Exhibited less IM every year they held their scholarship
Lowest level of enjoyment occurred during their senior year

14. Scholarships as External Reward
Ryan Studies
Study #2 (1980)
Surveyed male & female athletes in various sports
Scholarship players reported less IM than non-scholarship athletes
Male wrestlers and female athletes from 6 different sports reported higher levels of IM (Why?)

15. Increasing Intrinsic Motivation
Challenge yourself
Find success in every drill, practice and game
Set and fulfill goals
Vary your workouts
Self-Determination

16. Why are some athletes motivated, while others are not?
There are emotional and cognitive roots.
As children, we learn to associate achievement with positive emotions.
Children learn to associate achievement with expectations (intrinsic or extrinsic).
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic expectations are usually set in place by parents, teachers, coaches and society.

17. Misplaced Motivation “Will that be on the test?”
“I need an ‘A’ in this class. What can I do for extra credit?”
“Just tell me the right answer.”
“I NEED to be a starter or my parents will kill me.”
“I need to get at least a ____ Grade in this class or I will be ineligible”
Misplaced Motivation has a negative affect on a persons self-esteem, work ethic and ability to learn/perform at a higher level.