Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Volume 6 Issue 1 Article 6

2014

Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance

activities
Paul Florian Dragos
Geography, Tourism and Sport Faculty, Dep. of Physical Education, Sport and Physiotherapy, University of Oradea,
Romania, dpaul@uoradea.ro

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Dragos PF. Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities. Balt J Health Phys
Act. 2014; 6(1): 48-55. doi: 10.2478/bjha-2014-0006

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Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities

Abstract
Background: What does it mean to be motivated? This is a question often formulated by psychologists
and other researchers of human behavior. However it is a question which interests more or less managers
and coaches, but the produced effects can be determinative for the activity of sports performance at all
levels. Material/Methods: The present work aims to analyze the measurements in which the actions
connected to athletes’ motivation , undertaken by sports organizations, influence and support their
activities in order to increase performance. For this purpose we used the literature survey, a questionnaire,
data analysis and data processing. This research was conducted on a total of 177 registered athletes
from various sports clubs. Stability issues were tracked in the sports club, the conditions in which they
operate, the level of motivation in training and competitions, team status, the level of aspiration, the level
of appreciation and rewards, etc. Results: It is remarkable that the athlete’s option for the possibility to
achieve high performance constitutes a more important motivator than the opportunity to have greater
earning money though financial conditions. Conclusions: The motivation in training shows fluctuations
due to factors of sports nature but also material stability, especially influencing athletes’ mental comfort.
The levels of assessment, communication and reward are important motivational factors with direct
effects on the results obtained by athletes both in competition and in training.

Keywords
motivation, sport, performance, sport management, leadership

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 BALTIC JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
© Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2014, 48-55
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
DOI: 10.2478/bjha-2014-0006

Study regarding the role of motivation in the

sport performance activities

Authors’ Contribution: Paul Florian Dragos

A – Study Design
B – Data Collection
C – Statistical Analysis
D – Data Interpretation University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
E – Manuscript Preparation Geography, Tourism and Sport Faculty, Dep. of Physical Education, Sport and
F – Literature Search Physiotherapy
G – Funds Collection

Key words: motivation, sport, performance, sport management, leadership.

Abstract
Background: What does it mean to be motivated? This is a question often formulated by psycholo-
gists and other researchers of human behavior. However it is a question which inter-
ests more or less managers and coaches, but the produced effects can be determina-
tive for the activity of sports performance at all levels.
Material/Methods: The present work aims to analyze the measurements in which the actions connected
to athletes’ motivation , undertaken by sports organizations, influence and support
their activities in order to increase performance.
For this purpose we used the literature survey, a questionnaire, data analysis and
data processing.
This research was conducted on a total of 177 registered athletes from various sports
clubs. Stability issues were tracked in the sports club, the conditions in which they
operate, the level of motivation in training and competitions, team status, the level of
aspiration, the level of appreciation and rewards, etc.
Results: It is remarkable that the athlete’s option for the possibility to achieve high perform-
ance constitutes a more important motivator than the opportunity to have greater
earning money though financial conditions.
Conclusions: The motivation in training shows fluctuations due to factors of sports nature but also
material stability, especially influencing athletes’ mental comfort.
The levels of assessment, communication and reward are important motivational
factors with direct effects on the results obtained by athletes both in competition and
in training.

Word count: 1,461

Tables: 0 Received: November 2013
Figures: 9 Accepted: January 2014
References: 20 Published: March 2014
Corresponding author:
Dr Paul Florian Dragos
University of Oradea, Geography, Tourism and Sport Faculty, Department of Physical Education, Sport and Physiotherapy, Oradea, Romania
B-dul Dacia, Nr. 58, Bl.U2, Ap.42, Oradea, Bihor, Romania
tel.+40745610669 e-mail: dpaul@uoradea.ro
P.F. Dragos, Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities

Introduction
This paper deals with the role of motivation in sport at the level of athletes [1, 2, 3, 4], which is
fundamental factor in achieving superior performance at all levels of activity.
The frequent changes occurring on the economic, social and sports plane, as well as the
proven importance of the motivational act, provide it with a special importance both as a theoretical
approach and especially as a practical approach [5, 6].
Thus, the present paper work aims to bring a modest contribution to the analysis of the phe-
nomenon of motivation, which became a factor of utmost importance for the high performance
sports activity as well.
From the etymological point of view, the term “motivation” comes from the Latin word “movere”,
which means movement.The Romanian Language Dictionary [7] defines motivation as being the
totality of reasons or mobiles (conscientious or not) which determines someone to do something or
achieve certain purposes.
Zlate defines motivation as the body’s inert state of necessity which orients and directs the be-
havior towards its satisfaction and, therefore, its elimination. Jones defines motivation as being the
measure in which a persistent effort is directed towards reaching a goal. Lewin explains motivation
through the stimuli which act upon the body, a fact which triggers a response behavior, while Nuttin
insists upon the dynamic and directional aspects of motivation [5].Thus, most authors relate moti-
vation to attitudes. Newcomb considers that attitudes are accompanied by reasons and that their
variable intensity depends on their intrinsic motivation. Motivation is thus both a prerequisite and a
product of attitude [8].
In the domain of high performance sports activities, motivation has been less related to direct-
ing functions and more to the activating ones [9, 10, 11]. Studying athletes’ motivation dynamics
[12, 13, 14], Vanek presents their following four stages:
1. Generalization stage when achild or a teenager is motivated by the tendency to move and
to succeed;
2. Differentiating stage, when a sports discipline is chosen;
3. Specialized preferences stage, when the athlete achieves performance in the chosen disci-
pline, goingthrough various motivational routes;
4. Motivational involution stage, when the athlete falls back under the influence of primary or
secondary motivations (material advantages, failures, injuries, lack of cohesion in the
group, etc.).
High performance sport requires efforts and giving up things which most often are difficult to
understand (activities taken to the limit of biological and mental bearing, repeated stressful situa-
tions, temporary deprivation of satisfying certain natural needs, etc.) [15]. Thus, the following ques-
tion is raised: what does performance sport offer to compensate for so many inconveniences?
Starting from the assumption that in time it has been proven that the difference of value be-
tween two teams or two athletes can be replaced by strong motivation and proper physical training,
this research was focused on the following themes:
- determination of the application level of methods and means mentioned in the specialty
literature;
- inventory through proper procedures and techniques of motivational indexes of the stud-
ied subjects;
- identification of internal and external factors which may stimulate performance;
- analysis of motivation policy in order to obtain high performance.

Material and methods

The choice of research methods and techniques has been made according to the studied is-
sue, with the established objectives and hypotheses, endeavor which has allowed us to get to
know the studied phenomena in relation with up-to-date theories, practices and realities. In conse-
quence, the following methods and techniques have been chosen:
- study of specialty literature
- a questionnaire.

49
P.F. Dragos, Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities

After establishing the research approach strategy, I have decided to accomplish the study on
a number of 200 athletes belonging to various sports clubs. Because of some of the potential re-
spondents' reserve and because of the mistakes in filling in the questionnaire, 177 correctly filled in
questionnaires were collected.
The sampling was mixed (random and directed) because of the following reasons:
- sports organizations of various sizes and statuses were taken into consideration;
- from each type, the subjects were selected first of all according to their availability to an-
swer the questionnaire.
The sample was subjected to analysis through the following:
- the practiced sport:most of them (29%) practice football, followed by handball (20%), vol-
leyball (12%), basketball (10%), tennis and karate (6%), judo and athletics (5%), sledding
(4%) and gymnastics (3%);
- the level of performance: level IV – beginners, level III - the ones who pass to the per-
formance sport, level II - performance athletes, level I - high performance athletes;
- gender: 63% are males and 37% are women;
- the level of instruction: high school (68%), academic studies (17%), post-graduate studies
(11%) and 4% graduated from or are about to graduate from coaching courses;
- gender: 63% are males and 37% are female;
- time spent at the sportsclub: the largest category comprises athletes who have spent up
to 3 years within the sports club where they currently practice (71%), followed by those
who have been with the current club for 4-7 years (20%) and those who have been with
the club for over 7 years (9%).

Data interpretation followed the analysis of some marks which can provide important aspects
regarding the level of subjects’motivation (stability within the club, significance and importance of
activity, material and financial conditions, status in the team or group, aspiration level, acknowl-
edgement of merits, etc.).

Fig. 1. The significance of the activity

50
P.F. Dragos, Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities

Fig. 2.The level of financial reward

Fig. 3. Thestatus in the team

Fig. 4. The importance within the group

Fig. 5. Working conditions

51
P.F. Dragos, Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities

Fig. 6. Motivation in training

Fig. 7. Motivation in competitions

Fig. 8. Aspirations at the sports level

52
P.F. Dragos, Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities

Fig. 9. Motivating factors

Discussions
Stability within a sports club [10] presents important landmarks in terms of athletes’ motivation.
The transfer of high performance athletes from one club to another is made only based on certain
reasons (more or less objective) related to the situation and moment in which the transfer is ac-
complished.
Just as working conditions represent an important motivating element for employees [16], ath-
letes are also more motivated when they benefit from proper training conditions. It is obvious that
providing quality conditions increases their pleasure and efficiency.
The athletes’ status in the teamor group [17] can bring supplementary motivation regarding
themselves and their colleagues. First of all, team captains, due to their responsibility, should moti-
vate the team, especially during difficult moments. Experienced athletes or influential onesinthe
group can constitute really strong points in terms of morals and motivation.
Each athlete of the group should be encouraged to express their opinions [18], even if unfavor-
able to some of the group, as long as they have reasons for them. They should be sure of the fact
that they have the possibility to express themselves favorably to the group, without having the ten-
dency to place themselves in the center of attention. They should also state their expectations
ofthe team, an element which favors good communication.
The level, to which athletes involved in high performance activity aspire, indicates their motiva-
tion level during trainings and competitions. If athletes do not have high aspirations, one cannot
have high expectations ofthem [12].
Material motivation cannot be ignored when it comes to athletes’ performance [19, 20]. Finally,
more emphasis is laid on the material part than on stimulation related to achieving certain great
sports performance.

Conclusions
Beside the material motivating methods and means, a series of non-material methods should
be used: methods which complete the material ones or, sometimes, even replace them.
The possibility of obtaining superior performance constitutes a motivating element which is, in
most cases, more important than the possibility of gaining money. In this respect, a statement
made by a famous football playeris relevant. He said: “You can buy players, but not history. I prefer
the glory at Liverpool than the money of Manchester City. I am proud to wear the cormorants’
shirt”.
An obvious relationshipwas noticed between motivation and individual performance: the
strongly motivated are always efficient; they succeed in everything they do and they become real
professionals, irrespective of their activity domain. The more motivated they are, the sooner they
succeed, the better they become, and all this without apparent effort.

53
P.F. Dragos, Study regarding the role of motivation in the sport performance activities

Graphically, the connection between them could be represented as follows:

Fig. 10. Motivational link

It is difficult to imagine something that is more important than motivation in obtaining success in
sports. Often, we are tempted to state that great performances are based on inborn skills. A closer
look upon the lives and training of great performers makes us acknowledge the fact that their per-
formanceisa combination of physical abilities and the intense desire to be better and better. The
sports literature and history are rich in sports names who excelled due to a strong inner desire to
succeed at the sports level, being able to supply the physical attributes such as height, velocity,
strength or skill.

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