MOTIVATION / 002 [WHY YOU TRAIN MATTERS AS MUCH AS HOW HARD YOU TRAIN]
Question
Does it matter why you are motivated, or only how motivated you are?
Study
In this book chapter, researchers summarised the research on Self Determination Theory in sport and exercise. This is one of the most studied theories of motivation.
Findings
Motivation differs in quality. Autonomous motivation means you train because you enjoy it or because it truly matters to you. Controlled motivation means you train because of pressure, guilt, rewards or fear of punishment. Autonomous motivation was linked to sticking with your sport, performing better and feeling better. Controlled motivation was linked to burnout, anxiety and negative feelings. The theory says three basic needs drive this: autonomy (feeling you have a say), competence (feeling you are capable and improving) and relatedness (feeling connected to others). When coaches and parents support these needs, motivation becomes healthier. When they frustrate them, problems follow.
What It Means for Athletes
Two athletes can train equally hard for completely different reasons, and that difference shows up later in burnout, dropout and wellbeing. The same feedback from a coach can support you or pressure you, depending on how it's given. Most research here is based on surveys at one moment, with fewer experiments, so see it as a strong framework rather than final proof.
Try this: this week, rate yourself from 1 to 10 on three questions. Do I have a say in my training? Do I feel I'm improving? Do I feel connected to my team or coach? Take your lowest score and make one small change, like asking your coach for a choice, setting a reachable challenge, or training with a teammate.
Source
Standage, M., Curran, T., & Rouse, P. C. (2019). Self-determination-based theories of sport, exercise, and physical activity motivation. In T. S. Horn & A. L. Smith (Eds.), Advances in sport and exercise psychology (4th ed., pp. 289 to 311). Human Kinetics.
BEHIND THE SCIENCE
Translating sports science into information athletes can actually use.