Motivation

As coaches, it is important to understand why players do what they do. Sport Psychology for Coaches provides some interesting reading concerning motivation. Essentially asking, why do athletes play a sport, work hard to excel, want to be part of teams, etc. In summary, according to authors Damon Burton and Thomas D. Raedeke, athletes:

• if intrinsically motivated, play for the love of the game (enjoy mastering skills and seek pride in accomplishment)
  
• want to experience excitement (have fun)
• seek the acceptance of belonging to a group
• want to have control and autonomy
• desire the feeling of competence
• look for coaches to create activities that provide optimal challenges (stretches of their demonstrated abilities)
• need a role on the team, want to know what it is, want to help create it
• are outcome-oriented, thus can be success seekers or failure avoiders