Motivation Differences between Youth Single-Sport, Multi-Sport, and Single-Sport Specialized Athletes in the Western United States

The motivation for youth sport involvement may differ for single-sport (non-specialists), multi-sport, and single-sport specialized athletes. To investigate differences between adolescent single-sport athletes (NSSA), multi-sport athletes (MSA), and single-sport specialized athletes (SSSA) on measures of sport enjoyment and motivation. A secondary aim was to compare these variables between age groups. Adolescent sport participants in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from the Western United States (n=306, age=13.0±1.0 yrs) completing the Sources of Enjoyment in Youth Sport Questionnaire (SEYSQ) that assesses sport enjoyment in the subscales of self-referenced competency (SRC), other-referenced competency and recognition (ORCR), effort expenditure (EE), competitive excitement (CE), affiliation with peers (AP), and positive parental involvement (PPI). The participants also reported their age, gender, grade, years of sport participation and sport status (NSSA, MSA, SSSA). SSSA reported significantly more enjoyment in all subscales except PPI when compared to NSSA (p<0.05; ES 0.4 – 0.99). MSA and SSSA showed significant differences in the subscales of SRC and EE; however, effect size was small (0.37 and 0.33, respectively). Overall scores for intrinsic and extrinsic motivation were significantly lower among NSSA compared to MSA and SSSA (p<0.01) with no differences between MSA and SSSA (p>0.05). Results revealed no significant differences in the SEYSQ’s subscales for age (p>0.05). Within the parameters of this study, adolescents that specialize in a single sport or those who compete in multiple sport both rely on intrinsic and extrinsic sources of enjoyment for motivation in very similar ways; whereas adolescent NSSA are less motivated and experience less enjoyment from sport participation compared to MSA and SSSA. Keywords: adolescent, enjoyment, SEYSQ, motivation, sport psychology

If you build it, will they come? Assessing coaches’ perceptions of a sport psychology website

Sport psychology has become widely applied in coaching practices to assist in athletic success. Despite the increased use, there is a lack of evidence-based sport psychology information available to coaches in the form of informal sources. The aim of this study was to conduct a pilot test to explore coaches’ perceptions and use of an evidence-based sport psychology website. Eight coaches participated in semi-structured interviews. Based on engagement, five of the coaches’ data was analyzed using thematic analysis on their experiences and revealed two main themes, website use and website enhancements. The remaining three coaches’ data was analyzed for their reasons for having limited engagement with the website and used to help identify ways it could be enhanced. In general, coaches perceived the website to be a reliable source that offered practical information (e.g. worksheets) that could be used directly with athletes, and was perceived as easy to navigate and to access information. There were, importantly, various improvements suggested for the website including delivery modality and guides for navigating the order for reading the information. This study offers evidence on the value of online resources in providing coaches with informal and evidence-based sport psychology learning opportunities, and also addresses a number of barriers to engagement as insight for website developers.

EVOLUTION OF THE COMPONENTS OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND AGGRESSION IN TERMS OF WATER POLO PLAYER POSITIONS

Two commonly used constructs in sport psychology researches are aggression and sportsmanship. In the present research, we attempted to assess the correlations between these two phenomena among male water polo players. The main objective was to explore the differences in aggression in the sport-specific positions of water polo in different aspects - physique, age, etc. - considered. Furthermore, the research sought to demonstrate the inverse relationship between aggression and sportsmanship in a water polo sample. To access these constructs in our research besides the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the Sportsmanship Attitude Scale a self-formulated water polo specific questionnaire was used, which intended to measure the aggression in the water during water polo matches. From the results, it can be seen that, according to our sample, both the trait aggression of the players and the role determined by their positions in the game play a decisive role when it comes to the aggression of an athlete. Moreover, the results obtained for water polo players also proved that sportsmanship and aggression are two contradictory constructs.

Helping Youth Athletes Thrive: An Exploratory Study of the Youth Tennis Market in New Zealand

<p>This project investigated the commercial opportunities for innovation in the youth tennis market. A lean startup methodology approach was adopted for business development within the project. The first study consisted of interviewing players, parents and coaches involved in the youth tennis environment in New Zealand. It was found that the key problems identified by athletes were psychological challenges while both coaches and parents struggled with relationship management. The second study surveyed athletes from a wide range of sports to test if the findings from the first study would generalise to other sports as well as investigating reasons why athletes may not have engaged with existing sport psychology products and services. The results showed the findings in the first study did extend to other youth sports and highlighted a lack of knowledge and perceived efficacy as well as financial cost as barriers to use for existing sport psychology products and services. A literature review relating to the problems identified during the research for this project documents motivational, goal-setting and self-regulatory mechanisms which could be incorporated into a product or service to assist youth athletes. A third, and final, study tested potential mediums for a commercial offering as well as reaction to several features. The findings support the use of a mobile phone application and features relating to communication, motivation, goal-setting, and self-regulation were all supported. A business case presents a path to commercialisation for a mobile phone application addressing the problems faced by youth athletes utilising key research identified in the literature review. This project was able to identify a clear market need, uncover solutions and present the next steps in developing a commercially viable product.</p>

Helping Youth Athletes Thrive: An Exploratory Study of the Youth Tennis Market in New Zealand

<p>This project investigated the commercial opportunities for innovation in the youth tennis market. A lean startup methodology approach was adopted for business development within the project. The first study consisted of interviewing players, parents and coaches involved in the youth tennis environment in New Zealand. It was found that the key problems identified by athletes were psychological challenges while both coaches and parents struggled with relationship management. The second study surveyed athletes from a wide range of sports to test if the findings from the first study would generalise to other sports as well as investigating reasons why athletes may not have engaged with existing sport psychology products and services. The results showed the findings in the first study did extend to other youth sports and highlighted a lack of knowledge and perceived efficacy as well as financial cost as barriers to use for existing sport psychology products and services. A literature review relating to the problems identified during the research for this project documents motivational, goal-setting and self-regulatory mechanisms which could be incorporated into a product or service to assist youth athletes. A third, and final, study tested potential mediums for a commercial offering as well as reaction to several features. The findings support the use of a mobile phone application and features relating to communication, motivation, goal-setting, and self-regulation were all supported. A business case presents a path to commercialisation for a mobile phone application addressing the problems faced by youth athletes utilising key research identified in the literature review. This project was able to identify a clear market need, uncover solutions and present the next steps in developing a commercially viable product.</p>

Training in the Gap Between Conditioning and Learning

Biofeedback intervention draws from multiple attitudes toward healing: mind-body medicine, behavioral psychology, sport psychology, experimental psychology, contemplative practices, and so forth. The most prominent approach is behavioral psychology. Following this psychological orientation, we use biofeedback instrumentation as a conditioning methodology. On the other hand, drawing from experimental psychology, the same instrumentation is used to achieve awareness. Awareness does not necessarily precede change. This article aims first to outline the difference between conditioning and learning and then introduce a session format that promotes learning.

An Examination of the Impact of a Training Programme Based on Sport Psychology for a Cohort of Contemporary Singing Students

<p>Sport psychology is well recognised and accepted as an important aspect of sports training, especially for elite athletes. Sport psychology focuses on teaching skills and methods such as goal setting and mental preparation for athletes so that they can develop their psychological abilities to the same high level as their physical abilities. Few researchers have linked sports and singing training, but it appears that many of the techniques used in sport psychology could be of value in developing singers’ practice and performance skills. This study examined the overall impact of introducing sport psychology based training into the curriculum of a cohort of tertiary level contemporary singing students, using a qualitative case study approach. Five categories from sport psychology methods were identified for the purpose of this research: deliberate practice, self-efficacy, motivation, goal setting and peak performance were introduced into the teaching of the singing programme. Analysis of the impact revealed that sport psychology methods were not easily transferable into this vocal curriculum. The outcomes showed that the participants’ level of development in terms of learning skills was at a lower level than the demands of sport psychology</p>

An Examination of the Impact of a Training Programme Based on Sport Psychology for a Cohort of Contemporary Singing Students

<p>Sport psychology is well recognised and accepted as an important aspect of sports training, especially for elite athletes. Sport psychology focuses on teaching skills and methods such as goal setting and mental preparation for athletes so that they can develop their psychological abilities to the same high level as their physical abilities. Few researchers have linked sports and singing training, but it appears that many of the techniques used in sport psychology could be of value in developing singers’ practice and performance skills. This study examined the overall impact of introducing sport psychology based training into the curriculum of a cohort of tertiary level contemporary singing students, using a qualitative case study approach. Five categories from sport psychology methods were identified for the purpose of this research: deliberate practice, self-efficacy, motivation, goal setting and peak performance were introduced into the teaching of the singing programme. Analysis of the impact revealed that sport psychology methods were not easily transferable into this vocal curriculum. The outcomes showed that the participants’ level of development in terms of learning skills was at a lower level than the demands of sport psychology</p>